Why Self-Love Starts with How You Nourish Yourself
We talk a lot about self-love, but what does it actually look like in practice? The answer might be simpler than you think - it starts with how you feed yourself.
The Research That Changed Everything
A major study published in Women's Health followed 5,600 women aged 40-60 for five years. The researchers wanted to understand what separated women who thrived in midlife from those who struggled.
The answer wasn't expensive supplements, fancy gym memberships, or complicated wellness routines.
Women who prioritized nutrition self-care showed 40% better health markers across the board.
That's not a small difference. That's the gap between struggling and thriving.
What "Nutrition Self-Care" Actually Means
The women in the study who showed the best outcomes shared specific behaviors:
They prioritized protein
Eating enough protein (1.2-1.6g per kg of body weight) to maintain muscle mass and energy.
They didn't skip meals
Even when busy caring for others, they made time to eat regular, balanced meals.
They chose nourishment over convenience
When possible, they selected foods that gave them energy rather than depleted it.
They treated eating as important
They didn't see their nutritional needs as less important than everyone else's.
The Self-Love Connection
Here's what the researchers discovered: How women feed themselves reflects how they value themselves.
When you skip meals to take care of everyone else, you're sending yourself a message: "My needs don't matter."
When you grab whatever's fastest because you don't have time for yourself, you're saying: "I'm not worth the effort."
When you eat standing up, rushing, not tasting - you're treating yourself like you don't deserve to be nourished.
But when you sit down to eat, when you prepare food that's both delicious and nourishing, when you take time to enjoy your meals - you're practicing self-love in its most fundamental form.
Why This Matters More After 40
As we age, our bodies become less efficient at using the nutrition we give them. This means:
- Protein needs increase - You need more protein to maintain the same muscle mass
- Nutrient absorption decreases - Making food quality more important
- Metabolic changes accelerate - Requiring more intentional nutrition choices
- Recovery takes longer - Meaning consistent nourishment matters more
In other words, the stakes for nutrition self-care get higher as we get older. The women who thrive in their 40s, 50s, and beyond are the ones who prioritize feeding themselves well.
A Simple Framework
Nutrition self-care doesn't have to be complicated. Here's a simple framework:
- Protein at every meal: Aim for 25-30g at breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Eat when hungry: Don't ignore your body's signals because others need you
- Sit down: Give yourself permission to actually eat, not just fuel
- Enjoy it: Food that nourishes you can also be delicious
Key Takeaways
- Women who prioritize nutrition show 40% better health markers
- How you feed yourself reflects how you value yourself
- Nutrition needs increase after 40, making self-care more important
- Simple, consistent practices matter more than perfection
- Self-love starts with treating your body like it matters
Your Self-Love Challenge
This Valentine's week, I challenge you to treat yourself the way you'd treat someone you love deeply.
Would you let that person skip meals? Would you give them the fastest, least nourishing option? Would you make them eat standing up, rushing, not tasting?
Of course not.
So why do we do it to ourselves?
You are worth nourishing. Your body deserves the same care you give to everyone else. And the research shows that when you prioritize your own nutrition, everything gets better - not just for you, but for everyone who depends on you.
Self-love starts with how you feed yourself. This week, let's practice.
Source: "Self-care behaviors and health outcomes in midlife women" - Women's Health (2024), 5,600 participants aged 40-60