Our discussion now shifts from the emotional contributors to health to the physical. Nutrition – the foods we choose, prepare, purchase, grow, and eat – is a crucial determinant of how we feel and think. Quality nutrition is a big topic that involves questioning where our food comes from, how it travels from its origin to being on our plates, and what benefits it supplies to our bodies. For the purpose of achieving optimal well-being, the conversation regarding nutrition involves more than just the food itself, and expands to an exploration of our individual needs and how our bodies respond to the food we eat.

A personal inventory is always helpful to start off. Let’s use some of the components of the integrative health and wellness assessment. Find something to write with to jot down your answers, dedicate a few minutes to uninterrupted reflection, and ask yourself: Do I eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily? Do I have access to healthy food choices? Do I refrain from eating late at night? Am I aware of how certain foods affect my digestion? Am I able to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily? Do I eat mindfully? Do I chew my food thoroughly? Am I aware of portion sizes and how much food I need? And finally, do I feel energised after eating? Take a look at your responses and take stock of how you feel in your daily life. If there is a sense of fatigue, mental cloudiness, or consistent sluggishness, it may be linked to your nutritional intake.

Food deserves our careful attention. Think about how entire societal customs and traditions are centered on food, often unconsciously. Celebrations and family gatherings are often considered unsuccessful without full plates and bellies. Holidays are those days of the year when people gather their money to buy decadent sweets. When we meet friends, it is often to drink, eat, and be merry. Our relationships and social structures are commonly founded on breaking bread. Because of these norms, we must heighten our awareness and ask: Is my body really getting what it wants and needs?

The body is constantly sending clues about how it is responding to the food taken in. For example, tiredness after meals may be a result of overeating or too many carbohydrates. Bloating and excessive flatulence might be telling us that our organs are working way too hard to digest the foods we are eating. They may be clueing us into an unknown food sensitivity or allergy. Ongoing fatigue or a lack of stamina may suggest that we need additional calories or more frequent meals.

And continual hunger may mean we need to start eating less sugar and more protein.

By becoming aware of how we feel as it relates to what we eat, we can grow attuned to what our body requires for optimal functioning. We may have to break with some traditions or habits. Such is the quest for health and well-being.

Billy Rosa is a Registered Nurse, Integrative Nurse Coach Visiting Faculty, University of Rwanda