Written by: Denise Stegall, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
We often speak of health and wellness as one topic, but they are two different things. They are related, yes, but not the same. Health refers to being free from disease. On the other hand, wellness is the state of living a healthy lifestyle. The balance of your physical, emotional, intellectual, environmental, social, spiritual, and work-space well-being.
Experts in health and wellness often focus on one aspect, like nutrition, diet (what you eat, not about losing weight), or exercise, which is quite broad. Others have a more precise focus.
Sometimes that focus is so narrow they can’t make true impact on health or wellness. Arguments like oat vs almond milk miss the point and are detrimental to overall health.
Let me explain.
The other day, I read an article that argued the nutritional benefits of almond milk versus oat milk, which in truth, is relatively insignificant. They are both satisfactory alternatives to dairy milk. The author did her research and was passionate about what she was writing, yet the benefits are so minuscule that in the overall scheme of health and wellness, I wonder if it even matters?
Here's a little background. Though it had been a niche market product for decades, almond milk jumped on the scene in the early 2000s and quickly became the most popular plant-based milk in the USA.
Oat milk is all the rage lately, yet it has been in the plant-based world since the 1990s. Oat milk's creamy consistency makes it a hit with coffee and cereal lovers alike compared to other plant-based products. Additionally, oats are low in allergens, unlike soy and nuts, so most people enjoy oat milk without an adverse reaction.
There are other sources of plant-based milk like cashew, hemp, coconut, soy, pea, and rice. They all have their advantages over drinking dairy milk, which may cause inflammation. It’s important to keep in mind that just like any so-called health food you can buy at the store plant-based milks can be filled with artificial ingredients and sweeteners. So, reading ingredient labels is important.
Your body needs three building blocks or macros to survive: carbohydrates, proteins, and fat, and plant-based kinds of milk have minimal amounts of each. They are, however, lower in calories than dairy, so if you're calorie counting, they are a good option.
Each plant-based milk has its unique vitamin and mineral profile, especially since many are fortified, which is beneficial. Overall choosing a plant-based milk option is a good decision.
However, when we get caught up in the minutia of these arguments, we lose sight of what is vital, how a person feels, functions, and survives. Interestingly, this is precisely how researchers and the FDA measure the effectiveness of new drugs. The fundamental role of health and wellness experts is to help people avoid diseases and illnesses like diabetes, obesity, other chronic diseases and avoid medication (as much as possible).
As experts in the health and wellness world, it's our responsibility to guide people to make the best decisions for their health and longevity.
Our techniques from psychology, nutrition, behavior change, and life coaching help clients overcome obstacles, and create and maintain a healthy lifestyle that works for them. That last piece s vital! There is no one size fits all when it comes to a healthy lifestyle.
I have always taught clients a foundation to make those choices in my coaching practice. The foundation is eating real food, making good decisions, and being accountable (for one's choices). Educating my clients and audience on that mind-body connection; how food makes them feel is the focus of my new book. You can get on the waitlist and get a download of the companion journal on our website https://livinghealthylist.com/hlhl-journal/
Rather than arguing minor details, the essential role of the health and wellness expert is to provide honest, reliable, unbiased information, tools, and strategies.
The goal at Living Healthy List is to excite, engage, educate and empower women to make the tough decisions that will help them create the healthy lifestyle that works for them so they can flourish in life.
Denise Stegall, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Denise Stegall is the CEO and curator of Living Healthy List.com. As an inspirational thought leader, she is determined to provide Living Healthy List readers with honest, reliable, research-backed information in health, wellness, personal development, and fun that can be implemented in real life.
Denise began her career with a bachelor’s degree in hotel, restaurant, business management with a focus on nutrition.
She’s condensed 25 years of experience and study in nutrition, cooking, exercise, and coaching to help women find a happy, healthy, lifestyle that works for them.
Her experience in cooking and nutrition delivers a unique perspective on what works (and doesn’t work) for most people. Her philosophy revolves around three fundamentals: Eat Real Food, Make Good Decisions, and Be Accountable.
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