Overfed but Undernourished?

Apr 10

Do you start your day with a cup of coffee or a latte and then not eat breakfast for hours, if at all? Do you eat lunch on the go or during Zoom meetings and then experience an energy crash in the late afternoon that has you reaching for the "injectables" of more caffeine or sugar? Are you so "hangry" at the end of your work day that you order dinner because you can't wait or plan to cook and eat a box of crackers while waiting for your food to be delivered?

Many people in our modern society are overfed and undernourished. Food is literally available 24/7, yet we either overconsume calories with such nutrient deficits or don't take in enough calories for our metabolic requirements and still see the scale not budge or move in the wrong direction. There is a real physiological reason for this phenomenon. When we consistently undereat for our baseline caloric needs, the body adapts to conserve energy, slowing down our resting metabolic rate. Translation? We burn fewer calories throughout the day, even at rest. Additionally, when we are undernourished, the body goes into fat-storing mode to prevent starvation, even with the plethora of processed and ultra-processed foods available at the tap of an app on your phone.

Malnourishment brings with it a host of other unwelcome symptoms, both physically and mentally.

Mental Health

Things like anxiety, brain fog, poor concentration, and irritability may be attributed to an inadequate amount of fuel to the brain and body. Moreover, the delicate balance of neurotransmitters that drive mood regulation and cognitive function are affected by poor nutrition.

Digestive Woes

As an Ayurvedic Practitioner, I see clients weekly who complain of digestive upset in the forms of gas, bloating, and constipation. The same adaptation that slows down our metabolic rate, slows down our digestive system to increase absorption and disbursement of nutrients. The Ayurvedic view on this is also an imbalance of Vata dosha, with increased air and space from too little food in the GI tract, too long between meals, or poor eating habits, resulting in gas, bloating, and constipation.

Cravings

Eating the wrong things at the wrong times with the wrong mindset can wreak havoc on our blood glucose and cortisol levels. As our dietary habits worsen, our cravings intensify. The intelligence of the body-mind down to the cellular level gets distorted, and soon, the salty craves more salty or sweet craves more sweet taking you further out of balance.

What to Do?

Don't despair! Small changes in eating habits reap huge improvements in health in a relatively short amount of time. Empower yourself by learning about nutrition and the body's metabolic needs. The world is open source, and knowledge is available to everyone now. When we prioritize our nutrition, we are practicing true self-care, which will support not only our energetic needs but also our mindset and our overall quality of life.

Three Different Ways to get started with Guided Support:

1. Better Yoga's Simple Ayurvedic Cleanse: Online with Kari and Larissa is a five-day digestive reset and an invitation to slow down and nourish yourself from the inside out (next cleanse is October 19-24, 2025).

2. Ayurveda for Healthy Weight: Sunday, April 27—Friday, May 2nd at Kripalu with Kari and Larissa is a five-day in-person education immersion into the What, Where, Why, and How of Healthy Eating and Weight Management.

3. One-on-one Ayurvedic Health Coaching with Kari: This is tailored to you and your individual constitution, needs, and goals. Packages are available.