Day 3 of “The 12 Days of a Sanctuary Functional Christmas”
“The Three Macronutrients That May Impact Your Relationships This Holiday Season”
“During the Holiday Season, our patients generally struggle to participate in the festivities due to a variety of health issues. A large portion of those health issues involve dietary restrictions. Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are the three macronutrients which many are trying to balance or eliminate. The reasons are numerous. Some are watching their weight. Some are going keto. Some are dealing with severe food intolerances. Some are trying to continue lowering the inflammatory nature of their diet by reducing intake of sugar, processed foods, and bad fats.
In this time of the year, they face choices about whether to press forward with their health goals forgoing the “treats” and sometimes the social occasions that accompany those treats or just give in and indulge paying the price for such acts later. When asked, we try to help patients think through how to make those tough decisions.
Today on this 3rd day of the Sanctuary Functional Christmas, I want to encourage those who are facing decisions concerning the three macronutrients – proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Take the opportunity this Holiday Season to grow in food wisdom. Learn to discern carefully when a little is ok and choose wisely when it comes to the frequency of “giving in.” Some holiday options may need to be left alone and alternative traditions started. However, there are some that may be enjoyed in moderation. Learn what your body can handle and remember sometimes it can handle more in one season than in another. Some restrictions are not forever.
For those unaffected family members and friends, I encourage you to be creative with your recipes. Think about alternatives that might make it possible for your loved one to be included instead of excluded. Be open to starting new traditions or tweaking long cherished ones. So, on Day 3 of “The 12 Days of a Sanctuary Functional Christmas,” if everyone can think about the three macronutrients- proteins, fats, and carbohydrates- in the context of their relationships with one another, no one gets left out completely and everyone can benefit from participating in a few new food traditions.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
