Why Your Nutrition Plan Is NOT Sustainable

Monday, September 30, 2024

Welcome to episode 38 of the Sweet Liberation podcast! Today, we're thrilled to dive into a fascinating conversation with Ryan Carter, a renowned Nutritional Health Coach and expert. As we explore Ryan's transformative journey from struggling with his health to becoming a leading figure in holistic nutrition, we'll uncover powerful insights on how regional diets, environmental factors, and personal empowerment intersect in the realm of health and well-being. Whether you're a health enthusiast or simply curious about the intricacies of nutrition, this episode promises to enrich your understanding of how to achieve and maintain optimal health. Where we dive deep into transformative health strategies and emotional well-being. Ryan Carter, unravels the complexities of health, happiness, and self-love, offering unique insights into how our modern lifestyle impacts our overall wellness. If you’re ready to challenge conventional wisdom and explore a holistic approach to health, this episode is a must-listen.

The Journey to Health Coaching

Ryan Carter's path to becoming a health coach was anything but conventional. Struggling with his health for years and facing the limitations of conventional medicine, Ryan turned to a more holistic and functional approach. His journey began with a realization that his health issues were not isolated problems but the result of a complex interplay of factors including diet, environmental influences, and lifestyle choices.

Ryan's story took a significant turn when he left his family’s antique shop—a place contributing to his health problems due to water damage and mold—and decided to pursue a career in nutritional therapy. Over the next four years, he immersed himself in learning, gaining various qualifications, and developing a comprehensive, integrative model of health that goes beyond traditional approaches.

Holistic Health: An Integrative Approach

Ryan emphasizes a holistic approach to health, where the focus is on understanding the body as an interconnected system. This perspective challenges the often fragmented views of health that isolate individual factors such as diet or exercise. Ryan's approach incorporates:

Personalized Nutrition: Understanding that one-size-fits-all diets don’t work for everyone. Ryan advocates for a tailored approach, considering individual needs based on location, lifestyle, and personal health conditions.

Empowerment through Knowledge: Ryan believes in empowering individuals with the tools and information necessary to make informed decisions about their health. This includes understanding the role of diet, environmental factors, and personal choices in overall well-being.

Environmental Considerations: The impact of geographical and environmental factors on health is a key component of Ryan’s philosophy. For instance, he explains how the diet in Nicaragua, where he currently resides, is influenced by local produce and how altitude and latitude can affect nutritional needs and metabolic processes.

Regional Diets and Nutritional Variations

In the podcast, Ryan delves into how regional diets vary significantly. For example, the traditional diet in Nicaragua includes plantains, bananas, dragon fruit, and other local produce, which contrasts sharply with diets in other parts of the world. Ryan highlights:

The Influence of Local Produce: Local diets often feature foods that are well-suited to the local environment and climate. For instance, tropical fruits and root vegetables are staples in Nicaragua, while in colder climates, root vegetables and hearty grains are more common.

Modern Influences: Ryan also discusses the impact of Western dietary trends on local diets, such as the introduction of processed foods and added sugars into traditional cuisines.

Altitude and Latitude: How They Affect Nutrition

Ryan underscores the importance of altitude and latitude in determining nutritional needs. At higher altitudes, where oxygen levels are lower, the body requires different nutritional support compared to lower altitudes. Similarly, the latitude affects exposure to sunlight and consequently, vitamin D synthesis and overall metabolic processes.

Latitude: The availability of certain foods and the body’s metabolic responses are influenced by the amount of sunlight and seasonal changes.

Altitude: The body’s need for certain nutrients can change with altitude due to variations in oxygen levels and metabolic demands.

The Connection Between Modern Living and Chronic Illness

Ryan begins by addressing the rise of chronic diseases in today's society, emphasizing that there's no singular cause for these issues. Instead, it's a combination of lifestyle choices, mindset, and emotional well-being that contributes to our health challenges. Ryan advocates for a radical life change that includes both nutritional adjustments and a shift in how we approach health.

Understanding True Goals Beyond Diet Trends

Ryan critiques the obsession with tracking glucose levels and calorie counting, suggesting that these methods often fall short in addressing deeper emotional and psychological needs. He encourages listeners to question their true goals behind such metrics—whether it's shedding fat or achieving a particular health milestone—and to understand the underlying emotional motivations driving these goals.

The Role of Self-Love in Health

A significant theme of the conversation is the importance of self-love. Ryan argues that genuine happiness and self-love come from within and are crucial for making lasting health changes. He highlights that food choices and lifestyle adjustments should be aligned with one’s true self, rather than being driven by superficial goals or trends.

The Impact of Environmental Factors

Ryan discusses the influence of environment on our health, noting that exposure to sunlight and engaging with nature can positively affect our metabolism and overall well-being. He contrasts this with conventional advice to avoid sunlight, which he believes undermines our natural physiological processes.

Practical Tips for Embracing Radical Health Changes

Ryan emphasizes the importance of starting with small, manageable steps rather than drastic overhauls. For instance, beginning with light exposure and gradually increasing one's time outside can lead to improved metabolic efficiency and reduced cravings. He also mentions the potential benefits of cold exposure and other stressors, suggesting that these can be adapted to individual comfort levels and gradually increased.

Notable Quotes from the Episode

"Radical life change alongside our nutrition is essential to really alter our health trajectory."

"Our bodies are smarter than we think; conventional advice often conflicts with our natural physiology."

"Health is a journey without a finish line; it’s the best investment you can make in yourself."

This episode of Sweet Liberation is more than just a podcast, it’s a call to action for anyone looking to improve their health and cut down on sugar without sacrificing joy and taste. To fully grasp the depth of this discussion and gain practical tips for managing your emotional health, be sure to listen to the entire episode on YouTube.