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Blog  /  August 9, 2019

4 Dietary Upgrades to Better Health

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Eating healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. Really, it doesn’t. Over the past several decades, we (society) have done a really good job of over-complicating something so simple. If you’re confused about what “healthy” even is, I don’t blame you. And, you’re certainly not alone. There are endless amounts of conflicting information available: Is the Keto diet the answer to all my problems? Or maybe Veganism is my best bet? But, what about Whole 30 that my friends are raving about? Does organic really matter? 

Health seems complicated. But, it doesn’t have to be. In fact, it’s actually quite simple. There are 4 dietary upgrades that you can make today so that you can experience all the benefits and enjoyment food has to offer. These concepts will allow you to effortless enjoy nutritious, flavorful foods and reap the health benefits of it. Because at the base of health are the foods we eat. Told ya: simple. 

4 Dietary Upgrades to Better Health

Keep these four dietary upgrades in mind to improve your mental and physical health, enjoy delicious foods, and feel nourished like never before:

Seasonally

Eating seasonally is important for many reasons. When we according to the seasons, we are almost guaranteed the ripest, juiciest foods. More importantly, foods in their ripest state contain the highest amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. More often than not, these foods are also the sweetest and tastiest. Win-win!

Seasonal foods will vary in different parts of the world, country, or even state. So, keep reading to learn about the current seasonal foods in your area! 

Locally

Locally-sourced foods are grown and produced within close proximity to where they are sold. Less transit time = fresher foods. In fact, eating locally goes hand-in-hand with eating seasonally. Why? Because your local farms will most likely only grow the foods that are appropriate for the current season. Eating locally-sourced foods is also a great way to support local farms and small businesses. And as stated above, these foods are often the most enjoyable- ripe, juicy, and tasty!

Local and seasonal foods will vary from location to location. Visit The Seasonal Food Guide to learn about local, seasonal foods in your area.

Colorful

Eat the rainbow! No, not the skittles rainbow, silly. The God-given rainbow, also known as: fruits and vegetables. Basically, the greater variety of color on your plate, the better. Each color provides different nutrients that our bodies need to live and thrive. These nutrient-dense colors are called phytonutrients:

Orange and Yellow- Beta Carotene, Vitamin C (Recipe: Parsley & Garlic Carrot Fries)

Green- Beta Carotene, Iron (Recipe: Paleo-is Packed Winter Salad)

Purple- Anthocyanin, Flavonoids, Resveratrol (Recipe: Red Cherry Dark Chocolate Crumble)

Red- Lycopene, Beta Carotene, Vitamin C, Flavonoids, Resveratrol (Recipe: Paleo Sweet Potato Meatloaf)

White- Glucosinolates, Polyphenols, Sulfur (Recipe: 20-Minute Paleo Garlic Mashed Potatoes)

I recently read that you should aim for 40 different kinds of foods per week. This goal will help you keep variety in your diet, and therefore, receive the different nutrients you need. I try to keep this rule in mind as I plan my weekly menu and compile my grocery list!

Quality

Last, but not least, food quality. Although last on the list, this may just be the most important food upgrade. Food quality > quantity. Always. It may just surprise how much quality really does matter. Poor quality foods usually lack essential nutrients, and sometimes, they even contain harmful additives, like: antibiotics, pesticides, GMO’s, and more!

What are considered to be poor quality foods? 

  • Processed or packages foods
  • Conventional meat and dairy
  • Conventional produce
  • Fried foods
  • Trans fats and hydrogenated oils
  • Artificial sweeteners

Here’s what you need to know to increase the quality of your food:

Meat & Fish- Always opt for grass fed and finished beef, pasture-raised pork/poultry, and wild caught seafood.

Eggs- Pasture-raised eggs are best, but free-range eggs are better than conventional. Avoid conventional eggs as often as you can because they lack the vitamins and nutrients, like healthy omega-3’s, that pasture-raised eggs provide.

Produce- Look for organic fruits and vegetables when possible. If not available or when all else fails, resort to the Dirty Dozen List for the 12 fruits and veggies that contain the highest amounts of pesticide residue after washing. These foods should always be bought organic! You can also refer to the Clean Fifteen List for the produce with the least amounts of pesticide residue.

In order to best comply with these dietary upgrades, I highly recommend buying groceries from your local farmer’s market. It’s a fail-proof way to access the highest quality, colorful, local, and seasonal foods around. This is especially true for produce, meat, and eggs. Bonus: as you get to know your local farmers, you will gain a better understanding of the importance of local, seasonal, colorful, and quality foods! 

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Kelsey, FNTP, CC
Hi, it’s me. I’m still here! 👋🏼 I’ve Hi, it’s me. I’m still here! 👋🏼 

I’ve taken an unintentional (yet, very long) hiatus from this social media account and my blog. But, I’m back for a good while (I think 😅). Here’s what’s been going on lately..

In case you didn’t know, I started my own  business as a Content Creator in 2018, while I was in school at the Nutritional Therapy Association. As a trained FNTP, my niche is specifically holistic health and nutrition. It’s a combination of my two expertise: nutrition + content creation!

As a FNTP with a strong passion for real food + balanced nutrition, I’ve always kept this account as an educational resource for you. And as a fun creative outlet for me, as well!

But, I’m here to say, it’s time for a new direction. As my content creation business continues to grow and as I become more invested as a Content Creator, it only feels right to bring a little bit of my profession to this space! 

So while I still plan to share nutritional tidbits and encouragement, I also want to use this platform as a resource for my content creation business.

Sound good?

If you’re a fellow FNTP or nutrition professional, feel free to reach out for content creation support! 

And, if you’re here for nutritional education, thank you for being here and participating in this awesome community!! 💛

#nutritonaltherapypractitioner #fntp #ntp #functionalnutritionaltherapypractitioner #contentcreator #contentcreation #contentmarketing #contentmarketer #nutritioncontent #nutritionresources
As someone who aims to as many real, whole foods a As someone who aims to as many real, whole foods as possible (and always GF), I’ve learned a thing or two about “healthy baking.” Here are the swaps I always make in my baked goods for healthy hormones, metabolism, and tastebuds! 👇🏼

• Grass fed (raw, if possible) butter instead of oil 
• @bobsredmill 1-to-1 GF flour instead of all purpose flour
• Raw sugar, coconut sugar, honey, or maple syrup instead of white sugar 
• Substitute a little bit of the flour with protein powder or collagen (usually about 10% of the total flour)
• Grass fed (raw, if possible) milk > nut milk
• Cassava, oat, or GF blend flour > almond flour

Save this post to refer back to this season! And, happy baking 🧁🍪

PS Get this oldie, but a goodie, Chocolate Zucchini Bread recipe on the blog! 👉🏼 @nourishedbykelseynicole

http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/
#holisticnutrition #nutritionaltherapypractitioner #nourishment #nourishedbykelseynicole #foodblogging #paleoblog #foodisfuel #foodismedicine #healthyrecipesideas #paleorecipeideas #nutrientdenserecipes #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking #healthybaking
Why I prefer to shop locally 🍎🥑🥕⠀⠀⠀ Why I prefer to shop locally 🍎🥑🥕⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Did you know local and seasonal foods are the most nutrient-dense? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Yup! Think about it: an apple from the grocery store can be found year-round and likely traveled THOUSANDS of miles to get there. Meaning, it was harvested days (if not, weeks) before being delivered to the store and eventually eaten. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So, to break it down, this is why I prefer to buy MOST of my groceries locally 👇🏼⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🍎 Most local foods are in-season, providing the most nutrients and best flavor!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🍎 I love the opportunity to support local farmers and small businesses.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🍎 I know exactly where my food came from. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🍎 It’s often cheaper to buy foods that are in-season, than those that aren’t.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Foods that I prefer to buy locally 👇🏼⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
 🥩 Meat⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🍳 Eggs⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🍓 Fruits⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🥕 Veggies⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🍯 Honey⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🧀 Raw cheese and milk⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If you can’t make it to your local farmers market every week, try to find a co-op nearby!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Do you shop locally?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#holistichealing #holisticnutrition #nutritionaltherapy #nutritionaltherapypractitioner #nourishment #nourishedbykelseynicole #functionalhealth #bioindividuality #holisticnutritionist #foodisfuel #hormonehealth #guthealth #nutrientdeficiencies #poordigestion #foodsensitivities #foodismedicine #seasonaleating #shoplocally
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve shared new c It’s been a hot minute since I’ve shared new content, but the Fall season is my absolute favorite (as are Fall foods), so I figured it’d be a good time to pop back on!

Fall foods to nourish your body 👇🏼

These foods are naturally their ripest and MOST nutrient-dense during the Fall season, which is why I load up all season long!
🥕 Carrots
🥔  Sweet potatoes
🍠 Beets
🎃 Pumpkin 
🍆 Squash 
🍎 Apples
🍐  Pears
🧄 Garlic

Other Fall staples that I include on a daily basis during the Fall:
✨ Bone broth
✨ Beef liver
✨ Fresh orange juice
✨ Raw honey
✨ Raw milk

These are a few of my favorite recipes to increase my consumption of Fall foods 😋
👉🏼 GF cassava pumpkin bread
👉🏼 Roasted fall veggie medley
👉🏼 Raw milk hot cocoa
👉🏼 Chili made with bone broth 
👉🏼 Apple crisp

Do you love Fall foods as much as I do??

http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/
#holistichealing #holisticnutrition #nutritionaltherapy #nutritionaltherapypractitioner #nourishment #nourishedbykelseynicole #functionalhealth #bioindividuality #holisticnutritionist #foodisfuel #hormonehealth #guthealth #nutrientdeficiencies #poordigestion #foodsensitivities #foodismedicine #fallseason #fallfoods
Your diet is only as beneficial as your digestion. Your diet is only as beneficial as your digestion.

Fact #1: You can eat all the healthiest foods in the world, BUT if you’re aren’t digesting and absorbing the nutrients, what’s the point?

Fact #2: Most of us have very poor digestion. In other words, we lack stomach acid and enzymes to break down and absorb the nutrients in our food. Signs of poor digestion = acid reflux, indigestion, stomach aches, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, and gas.

Sooooo, now what’s a girl (or guy) to do?

There are a few ways to help support healthy digestion and actually utilize the nutrients you’re eating, starting with:

	• Avoid drinking water (or any liquid) within 30 minutes of meal time. Liquids dilute the acid in your stomach leading to poor digestion.
	• Address any gut issues (SIBO, H. pylori, dysbiosis) that could be robbing your digestive tract of the ability to absorb nutrients.
	• Focus consuming plenty of whole foods that are rich in digesting-boosting nutrients, like: pastured whole eggs, grass fed beef, organic fruits, raw milk, etc.

Did you know you’re likely not absorbing all the nutrients you’re consuming??

👉🏼 @nourishedbykelseynicole

http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/
#holistichealing #holisticnutrition #nutritionaltherapy #nutritionaltherapypractitioner #nourishment #nourishedbykelseynicole #functionalhealth #bioindividuality #holisticnutritionist #foodisfuel #hormonehealth #guthealth #nutrientdeficiencies #poordigestion #foodsensitivities #foodismedicine #digestion #nutrients
There's a good reason carbohydrates make up ONE of There's a good reason carbohydrates make up ONE of the 3 essential macronutrients (protein, carbs, and fat).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Over the last several years, carbs have become the "enemy." And, we now live in a society that fears carbs.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But, what if carbs aren't the REAL problem?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Truth be told, carbs are a necessary and HEALTHY part of every diet. However, is one major issue that needs to be addressed.. THE OVERCONSUMPTION OF PROCESSED CARBS.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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There, I said it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Real carbs are NOT the enemy. Processed, refined, and packaged carbs ARE.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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As a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I'm a huge advocate for carbs. Fundamentally, they provide our brain and bodies with usable energy, replenish glycogen stores, fuel our muscles, regulate digestion, and so much more!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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My favorite REAL carb sources (that I eat almost daily) include:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sourdough bread (made local and fresh)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sprouted white rice⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sweet potatoes⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
White/red potatoes⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Squash⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Seasonal fruit⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Orange juice⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Jam/jelly⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Raw, local honey⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Did you know that carbs are essential? What's your favorite source of carbs? 😋
Unpopular opinion: your liver is the coolest organ Unpopular opinion: your liver is the coolest organ.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Think about it! The liver know which essential nutrients to absorb and recirculate, while excreting excess hormones, toxins, etc. And this is just the start of the list!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Seriously, your liver is the real MVP🏅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So, how do you know if your liver is functioning up to speed or if it needs a little more love? Signs of a congested or sluggish liver are:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Dark circles under your eyes⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Skin issues (rashes, eczema, acne)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Orange-pigmented skin⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• High cholesterol⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Alcohol and coffee intolerance⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Body odor⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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However, despite common belief, jumping straight to a juice detox protocol isnt necessarily the best way to address a sluggish liver.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Instead, if any of these symptoms sound like you, it’s time to give your liver some extra lovin’ 👉🏼 incorporate more liver-loving foods (beets, OJ, cilantro, beef liver), drink dandelion root tea, try castor oil packs, eliminate toxins from your home (plastic, fragrance, pesticides, etc), and get your SLEEP! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Tag a friend and spread the liver love! 💕⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/
PSA: the foods you eat directly impact your thyroi PSA: the foods you eat directly impact your thyroid!!! And, did you know most of us are currently dealing with some kind of thyroid dysfunction?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You can thank our chronically stressed out, fast paced, digital, and processed lifestyles.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Some foods actually work against our thyroid function, like processed foods, trans fats, PUFAs, cruciferous veggies, and even other raw veggies…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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While other foods work FOR our thyroid, supporting healthy function. These foods include:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Seasonal fruits⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Root veggies⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Raw, local honey⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Pastured whole eggs⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Grass fed beef liver⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Wild caught oysters⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Raw cheese⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Sourdough bread⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Pulp-free orange juice ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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So, if you’ve been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder or suspect poor thyroid function, enjoy plenty of these thyroid supporting foods every single day. Trust me, it’s not that difficult to do! 😋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Drop your thyroid Q’s below! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/
In all honesty, life has been BUSY lately, my crea In all honesty, life has been BUSY lately, my creativity is lacking, and social media hasn’t been at the top of my list😅 

But, this morning, I want to leave you with a few basic reminders to help support healthy hormones, metabolism, and immune function! 

✨ Toddlers need to eat 1,200 calories a day. YOU are not a toddler. Most adults need to consume ~2,000 calories daily, if not more. Don’t understand-nourish yourself!

✨ Sleep is necessary to form memories, build muscle, and support healthy immune function. Make it a priority to sleep at least 8 hours per night!

✨ Breakfast is actually the most important meal of the day. No, coffee doesn't count. My go-to breakfast lately = sourdough toast + honey, eggs + sea salt, and coffee with raw milk. Easy and delicious!

✨ Over-exercising is as dangerous as being sedentary. Exercising too much creates extreme stress within the body. Learn to rest and allow time for your body and muscles to properly recover!

Did you know these friendly reminders?!

http://www.nourishedbykelseynicole.com/
#holistichealing #holisticnutrition #nutritionaltherapy #nutritionaltherapypractitioner #nourishment #nourishedbykelseynicole #functionalhealth #bioindividuality #holisticnutritionist #foodisfuel #hormonehealth #guthealth #nutrientdeficiencies #poordigestion #foodsensitivities #foodismedicine #hormonehealth #metabolichealth #immunehealth
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