The New Vitamin A – with Emily Rosen

Whenever we discover a new nutrient that has an important function in the human body, or when science finds yet another compelling benefit of a particular vitamin or mineral, the response is usually one of excitement and scientific celebration.

Well, here at the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, we’ve identified what we believe is a whole new form of Vitamin A. It’s called Authenticity. If you include more of this unique vitamin A compound in your life, some amazing benefits can happen.

Check out this new video from IPEtv as Emily Rosen, Director of the Institute reveals how authenticity can help us feel more energized, how it empowers our relationship with food, and indeed how it’s a surprise bonus when it comes to transforming just about any eating challenge. We think you’ll enjoy this fresh approach.

Here is a transcript of this week’s video:

Hi, I’m Emily Rosen, Director of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating.

Today’s topic: The New Vitamin A – Authenticity

More specifically, what does authenticity have to do with nutrition, diet, health, and our relationship with food?

I consider authenticity the new vitamin A – meaning it’s a very important nutrient to include in our lifelong meal plan.

I’m defining authenticity as being real, honest, truthful, to the point, saying what you really feel, saying what you really mean, being willing to speak what’s on your mind even though it’s likely that others won’t necessarily be all warm and fuzzy with you. Authenticity means we dig a little deeper into who we really are, and we let go of anything that’s in the way of expressing our real self. Easier said than done for sure, but once done, life tends to be way easier.

So how does this all tie into food and nutrition?

Here’s how:

It’s easy to turn to food when we are not being who we really are.
It’s easy to turn to food when we are avoiding what we truly feel.
It’s easy to turn to food when we are putting on a fake front – that takes a lot of energy and it’s very stressful.
It’s easy to turn to food when we are not living the life we’re meant to live.
It’s easy to turn to food when we are doing too much people pleasing.
It’s easy to turn to food when we are having a hard time in life, but pretending we’re not.
It’s easy to turn to food when we discover that the life we’ve been living has really been the life we thought we were supposed to do to please others – not the one WE really want.

All of these are examples of living an inauthentic life.

Living in-authentically is inherently stressful.

Meaning, it’s not natural for us, it takes great effort, and it goes against who we are at the deepest level of our being. When we’re living a lie, we need to constantly maintain that lie, cover our bases, and make sure no one discovers who we really are. I’m calling that stressful.

And for those of you who have a basic understanding of the work that we teach here at the Institute for the psychology of eating, you know that anything which is stressful creates the physiologic stress response in the body. Another way of saying stress response is: sympathetic nervous system dominance. When the sympathetic nervous system is most active, we create excess insulin and cortisol – two hormones that when artificially raised over time can produce weight gain, inability to lose weight, and inability to build muscle.

These hormones can also lead to inflammation and diabetes. What’s more, even a chronic low-level stress response can interfere with digestion and create a long list of digestive symptoms. Furthermore, long-term low-level stress can decrease immunity, cognition, memory, mood, and energy level.

And lastly, stress creates appetite diysregulation. That means you’ll be eating more than you want to. And most people don’t want that.

So the stress that is inherent in being inauthentic is a literal metabolic suppressor.

That’s why when it comes to moving towards our optimal health, weight, and metabolism – we must do work on self. We must look in the mirror and see who we are and how we’re showing up in the world.

Authenticity is life changing:

• It’s a powerful metabolizer
• It sets us on our truest course
• It keeps us in real relationship
• It allows us to be exactly what we are – human
• It removes the pretense and fakeness that we’re often taught as a way to get by in this world
• Authenticity removes the stress of having to be something we are not
• And again, removing self chosen stress is a huge metabolic victory

So the moral of the story here is that if you want to be at your metabolic best, then you need to be at your personal best.

Authenticity is a requirement for a life well lived and a body that’s well nourished.

Are you willing to be honest?

Are you willing to start speaking the truth in your life? Are you willing to be who you really are? Are you ready to stop living with so many withholds, and speak what’s really on your mind? Are you ready to stop pretending, and take the risk to be your most authentic self?

I hope this was helpful. In the comments below, please let us know your thoughts. We love hearing from you and we read and respond to every comment!