It's time to set the record straight.
Sometimes people say things to me like "Laura! You're a Naturopath, you can't eat/drink/say/do that!" And it always shocks me when they do, because I feel like I'm pretty open about who I am and what I do. I purposely post photos of coffee, wine, chocolate etc on my Instagram and Facebook pages and I don't pretend to be a fanatical Naturopath.
My policy is that I will never ask a client to do something that I wouldn't be willing to do myself.
I think that's pretty fair.
I look after myself very well. My partner and I cook our meals from scratch, I drink at least 2 litres of water a day, I buy as much organic produce as I can, I eat lots of veggies and fruit and I'm very aware of what foods and drinks my body can't tolerate and I avoid them.
But sometimes I just want to eat malteasers! And sometimes I drink one too many wines and sometimes I eat takeaway. Yes, I am human.
Have you heard of the 80/20 principle?
I haven't always been a Naturopath. I was once a child who loved kingston biscuits, musk lifesavers and rainbow paddle pops. I was once a teenager who went to backyard parties and drank waaaay too many alco-pops, and I was once a twenty-something who spent too many nights at cargo bar drinking QF's and cowboys!
Yes, I'm a reformed sugar addict and binge drinker. And my health did suffer for it.
Now I like to do things in moderation (most of the time). And I like to subscribe to the guideline of 80% for the body and 20% for the soul. This means that while I mostly fill my body with nourishing, nurturing food and beverages, sometimes I'll have a treat.
This principle works really well and I know a lot of Naturopaths and health professionals who also follow this, or similar guidelines. And this is what I expect of my patients.
Having a balance of the foods that love your body and the foods that you love helps you to be happy and healthy in the body and the spirit.
Following the 80/20 rule means that you don't need to feel guilty about having a treat. Give it a go and let me know what you think.
And for the record, when people try to chastise me for having a treat, my usual answer is:
“I’m a Naturopath, not a saint.”