After coining the term “rushing women’s syndrome”, Dr Libby Weaver inspired countless women to improve their lifestyle through her wellness books and inspirational seminars. Now she’s the golden girl of healthy living and is shining her light on the importance of nutrients as she launches Bio Blends, a new range of healthy plant-based supplements.
Why are we so deficient on the nutritional front?
Despite all of our amazing technological advances as a species, we still owe our entire existence to a humble 30cm of top soil and the fact that it rains. If a nutrient isn’t in the soil, it can’t be in our food.
Sadly, only three nutrients are typically put back into the soil as fertilisers – which means that there are about 52 missing. This means we all need additional nutritional support to make up for this deficiency in our diets.
Secondly, every day we are heavily exposed to pollutants through what we eat, drink, breathe and put on our skin. Eliminating these substances requires detoxification, which our liver is responsible for. So to ensure that this process works as efficiently as possible, we need to make sure that we have the right nutrients for liver support.
Does stress play a part?
We are living in a time like no other. We are connected 24/7 and pretty much on the go from the moment we get up until the moment we lay our head on our pillow.
Many women use coffee to wake up in the morning and alcohol to cool off in the evening – which adds further work for your body! Coffee stimulates the production of adrenaline, a stress hormone, which in itself requires even more nutritional support.
Additionally, most people could do with doubling the amount of their vegetable intake. All of this daily stress leads to a body that is not only depleted nutritionally but probably requires additional nutrients to cope with the pace.
Why do we keep reaching for coffee and sugary treats if they have no nutritional value?
The answer to this question is somewhat individual because we all have different reasons for continuing patterns of behaviour that we know aren’t in our best interest. However, on a biochemical level, our body will do what it can to keep us fuelled with energy. In the absence of sufficient nutrients, it will prompt us to reach for something that will give us the quickest shot of energy – caffeine and sugar!
Is there a rule for how many nutrients we need daily?
The more the better! Our meals should be mostly plant-based and include a variety of coloured vegetables. As a good rule of thumb, put your two fists together to get an idea of your portion size for each main meal and then eat as much additional green, leafy vegetables as you like.
What do we need the most support with?
It is my belief that strong liver function is a foundation of optimal health for both men and women. There are too many women who suffer unnecessarily from the symptoms of unbalanced
sex hormones. Things like PMS, mood fluctuations, fluid retention and breast tenderness can all be addressed by balancing out these sex hormones – and without sufficient nutrient intake, neither the liver nor the endocrine (hormonal) system can do what they need to do.
If there was one thing we could change to improve our health, what would it be?
I hear so many women say they don’t have time to cook for themselves or don’t have time to add anything additional to their schedule. It is undeniable that we all have a lot on our plates and I appreciate that most of us are juggling many different tasks and roles. But there is nothing on this Earth that replaces the power of a nourishing diet. In my book Women’s Wellness Wisdom, I write about taking responsibility for our nourishment. So many women could benefit simply by prioritising their own health and wellbeing.
Preparing real food may take more time, but it is time we have to allow for in our day. When we say, “I don’t have time” for something, what we are essentially saying is, “That is not a priority for me.” The reality is we can’t compromise our nutrition and expect to still have fantastic health.
Doc’s orders
Dr Libby is an author, speaker and nutritional biochemist. She is currently on a national speaking tour of NZ and has recently released her nutritional supplement range Bio Blends. For more info, visit bioblends.co.nz or drlibby.com.
