The Pillar of Nutrition

A lifestyle that fuels health, joy, and freedom

When you look up the word “pillar,” one definition says it’s “a person or thing reliably providing essential support.” It’s no surprise, then, that the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) identifies nutrition as one of its foundational pillars. Nutrition is essential support—for life itself.

Now consider this: nutrition is defined as “the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.”
But much of what we consume today doesn’t actually nourish us.

A Culture of Convenience, Not Nutrition

Today’s food culture has shifted. Much of our food is quick, convenient, hyper-palatable, and basically engineered. Scientists in labs work hard to design products that hijack our cravings by blending high salt, fat, sugar, and additives into formulas that are hard to resist… but also hard on the body.

These foods are often:

• Stripped of fiber and nutrients
• Loaded with chemicals we can’t pronounce
• Advertised as “healthy” but built in factories, not farms

Even the ones with health claims are often enriched with synthetic vitamins and fake flavors to disguise what’s missing.

No wonder the Standard American Diet (SAD) lives up to its acronym.

But Where Do I Start?

We’ve all wondered how we can do better. With so many fad diets floating around, it’s easy to feel confused and/or skeptical. One day carbs are evil. The next day fat is. There’s always a study to “prove” something. But the questions we rarely ask are:

• Who funded the study?
• What was the bias?
• Who benefits from the conclusion?

Even when a certain diet helps one condition, it might worsen another. This is where returning to whole, simple foods becomes grounding.

Food the Way It Was Meant to Be

Think back…
Food used to come from the ground.
It was planted, nurtured, harvested, and shared.
It spoiled after a few days—not decades.

It was vibrant with color, rich with nutrients, and full of life.
It gave energy, not exhaustion.
It was eaten until fullness, not guilt.

Yes, modern advancements in food safety have helped—but they’ve also introduced pesticides, preservatives, artificial coloring, and hormones that disrupt our health from the inside out.

The result?
Inflammation, chronic pain, brain fog, fatigue, disease, disability… and disconnection.

So What Can We Do?

The ACLM advocates for a whole-food, plant-predominant way of eating. It’s not about deprivation. It’s about abundance.

Many of you know,I went all in. That decision changed my health, my mindset, and my life. I know that may feel like too much at first. But what if… instead of focusing on what you’re “giving up,” you focused on what you’d gain?

Thousands of edible plants
Food that heals inflammation from within
Energy that fuels your purpose
Freedom to move, play, serve, and live without pain

A Gentle Challenge

This week, try one simple shift:

Add more plants to your plate.
Maybe start with a quarter. Then half. Maybe even three-quarters. You might be surprised by what happens...

As you add more plants, you naturally crowd out processed, inflammatory foods. As that happens, symptoms like:

• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Joint pain
• Excess weight
• Chronic conditions

...can begin to lessen or might even disappear.

Dare to dream of a disease-free day.
You are worth that dream. And it starts on your plate.

Bonus Resource – Busting Nutrition Myths
Want to check your food facts with science-backed info?
Download this fun Myth-Busting Guide from ACLM

Want Support or Just Curious?

Whether you're ready to take a bold step toward healing or just want to explore what's possible, I'm here to walk alongside you.

If you’re ready for support
Book a Find Your Energy Discovery Call – let’s talk about your health goals and explore what life could look like with less pain, more energy, and deeper purpose.

Just curious?
Schedule a Virtual Coffee Chat – no pressure, just conversation.

Local to the Low Country?
Let’s meet at Essentials or Prophet for coffee and a real-life chat.

Email me at: kim@hopeandhealinglifestyle.com

Visit my website: https://hopeandhealinglifestyle.com/welcome 

Final Thought

“Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.’”
— Genesis 1:29 (NIV)

You were created for life, abundant and whole. The garden was the beginning, and even now, it can be your way forward.

Let’s take the next step together.