Am I Nourished?

We live in a world where food is everywhere. Global cuisines, specialty snacks, wellness drinks, fortified products, superfoods, and endless “healthy” options fill our grocery stores and social feeds. With so much abundance, it is easy to assume we must be more nourished than ever. This question is deeply connected to the “N” in my Defy Your DNA approach, and it is worth exploring honestly.

On the surface, many of us do seem more proactive. We take vitamins, add greens to our smoothies, track our macros, and sometimes even rely on IV drips. These things can be helpful, but nutritional health has never been a one-size-fits-all equation. The real question is whether you are getting the specific nutrients your body needs based on your metabolism, lifestyle, stress load, environment, and genetic tendencies.

Despite our abundance of food, data shows that nutrient deficiencies are still incredibly common. Studies continue to find low levels of essential minerals like magnesium, zinc, and potassium in a large percentage of adults. Many people are also deficient in key vitamins that support energy and detoxification, such as B12, folate, and vitamin D. Even with supplementation, the body may not absorb nutrients well if digestion and gut function are compromised.

And this is where things get confusing. Nutrition has become noisy. Vegan, Paleo, Pegan, Keto, Carnivore, Whole 30, FODMAP, low lectin, low histamine. There are endless voices, many of them passionate and well meaning, yet the constant stream of conflicting advice can turn simple food choices into anxiety. It is no surprise that people come to me saying, “I genuinely don’t know what to eat anymore.”

My answer is grounded and uncomplicated: eat real, whole foods, as clean as you can reasonably access, in the right amounts for you. The challenge is that “for you” part. Whole foods offer a strong foundation, but even with whole foods, awareness matters. If certain foods consistently leave you bloated, fatigued, inflamed, or foggy, your body is sharing information that deserves attention.

After twenty years of running thousands of food sensitivity and digestion-related tests, clear patterns always emerge. Most reactions come down to either quality or quantity. Sometimes the body cannot recognize or tolerate a highly processed or genetically modified version of a food. Wheat is a common example. Other times, you may simply be eating too much of something, even if it is considered a “healthy” option. Overconsumption can overwhelm digestion and lead to inflammatory responses that ripple throughout the system.

And nourishment is never just about the food itself. You can eat the most beautiful, nutrient-rich meal and still not absorb it well. Stress while eating, low stomach acid, sluggish enzyme production, gut inflammation, or imbalances in the microbiome can all interfere with how nutrients move into your cells. Research continues to show that chronic stress alone can reduce digestive capacity by up to 70 percent, which means even “perfect” meals may not land the way you hope.

Your body is always communicating. It tells you when something supports you and when something overwhelms you. When you slow down and listen closely, you begin to understand what helps you feel fed, energized, and truly replenished.

Nourishment is not about perfection. It is about partnership. It is about learning the ways your body responds and giving it what allows it to thrive.