I met the amazing Tamara Luck a holistic nutritionist who has some really cool thoughts on wellness. It was inspiring to meet with someone who actually shared my views on a lot of concepts surrounding food, wellness and how the two play together.
As a chef, it is extremely rare to find other people in the field who also have a passion for using food as healing. Take a look below to read some of Tamara’s thoughts on nutrition, food, and wellness!
Interview
How did you get into Nutrition?
Growing up, my dad was in food science and my mom was a personal trainer. I felt naturally interested in nutrition and knew it was for me when I got so excited to learn in my nutrition and biochemistry classes in college. I remember my mind being blown when I learned how the vitamins in our food worked in our bodies.
What made you focus on holistic wellness instead of traditional nutrition?
I didn’t know too much about holistic health until I got sick. I was dealing with severe gut issues, hair falling out, anxiety, numb fingers, and migraines. When my migraines started happening daily, I knew I needed help. My doctor at the time didn’t take my symptoms seriously and did not put in any effort into figuring out why I was feeling so terribly. Luckily, I found a holistic practitioner who helped me identify my gut imbalances, and vitamin deficiencies to help me heal naturally! This way of healing and using food as medicine worked so well for me that I knew it was what I wanted to specialize in. To me focusing on prevention and healing the body naturally makes more sense than our traditional healthcare model which is all about managing sicknesses.
Number one tip for dealing with cravings?!
The top cause of cravings I see is that people restrict food and then have big cravings! Traditionally we are taught, especially if we want to lose weight, that we should eat less. But if we don’t eat enough, our body is going to crave food for energy. Sweets and carbohydrates are quick energy sources so it’s common to crave those. Eating nourishing meals with a mix of fiber, protein, and healthy fats helps to beat cravings.
In my practice, I also see vitamin and mineral deficiencies, gut imbalances, like yeast/candida, or hormonal imbalances that cause cravings. Most of the time cravings are not due to “lack of willpower” and actually have a biological reason behind them!
What is something that you have learned about nutrition that you try to incorporate into your life?
Something that I love is that each color and hue of fruit and vegetables represents different antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. This makes it fun to experiment with trying different fruits and veggies to get a range of different health benefits.
What are your thoughts on how social media influences our ideas of wellness?
On one hand, I love that this generation is more health conscious. How cool is it that we collectively have more of a focus on our physical and mental health?!
But on the other hand, I also see some major problems with how wellness is portrayed on social media. Some people are promoting products or practices that just don’t work or in some cases could even be dangerous if tried without working with a practitioner who knows your specific health conditions. I also always warn against brands that claim to fix all your problems or make it difficult to see all their ingredients and sourcing.
If you had a magic wand, what is one thing you would make everybody do to improve their overall well-being?
If I had a magic wand, I would want everyone to add more fruits and veggies to their diet. The fiber, antioxidants, and nutrients are so healing and nourishing for our gut and bodies. I would love to be able to gift everyone a farm share/CSA because that has personally helped me explore more fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Anything you would love to people to know?
Being healthy doesn’t have to be overwhelming or require a major lifestyle change. Small acts like trying new veggies, going on walks, or drinking an extra glass of water per day can make profound impacts!
Where can people find you to learn more?
People can find me at my website TheLuckWellnessCo.com or on Instagram @ TamaraLuckRDN
How cool is that!
If you enjoyed digging deeper into these topics than you will LOVE what Tamara and I have planned for May! The both of us will be there to answer questions and give you some practical tips from the cooking angle and nutrition perspective!
When is the event?!
Emails will be sent out with all the information regarding the event. Sign up here to be notified!