Food is your foundation. I've been saying this on repeat for well over a decade now. Nutrition is the first wellness plate I address with women in midlife, because most of them have been trained to under-eat, over-restrict, and ignore their body’s cues. They’ve spent years trying to be “good,” thinking less food equals more success when in fact all it did was increase internal inflammation. Nothing thrives in a deficit, and that especially applies to your metabolism, your gut, and your hormones.

If food is your foundation, inflammation is the wrecking ball. When your body is inflamed, your nutritional needs go up, not down. It’s like trying to rebuild a house that’s on fire. You need more bricks, more support, more energy—not fewer calories. But chronic inflammation suppresses appetite in some, increases cravings in others, and disrupts nutrient absorption in everyone. That means you can be eating all the “right” foods and still be starving on a cellular level. Even if you don't feel hungry.

Inflammation damages the gut lining, where digestion and nutrient uptake happens. So even if you’re choosing healthy proteins, colourful veggies, fibre-rich carbs, and healthy fats, your body might not be absorbing what it needs. That leads to fatigue, hormone imbalances, and constant hunger because the nutrients aren’t actually making it to your........

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