Manjuyod, Negros Oriental – With Valentine's Day fast approaching, everyone is busy in planning how to express their affection either through modest or extravagant gestures. However, it is also important to practice self-love this year!

Self-love is a topic that is frequently discussed nowadays. What does it imply? It sounds fantastic. Why is it important to love oneself and how can we accomplish that? Self-love entails treating oneself with kindness and respect, as well as fostering his/her own development and overall welfare. Loving oneself comes through in everything you do.

Here are three ways of loving oneself through diet to enhance your health and general well-being.

Making a diet for self-love. Connect with the thought that you deserve to feel well in your body; then, love your body by nourishing it with nutrient-rich, authentic, whole meals that will help you feel beautiful from the inside out. You should be aware that when you load up on protein, good fats, and fiber-rich carbohydrates, this combination of macronutrients will not only help you feel satisfied but also stabilize your blood sugar and give you the long-lasting energy you need to feel amazing.

Flexibility in choices of food. The guilt and shame of the inevitable slip-up are removed when you give yourself permission to eat a range of meals. Pick foods that you enjoy eating and that will energize your body. Food norms when broken, just make you feel worse about yourself. This then should be rejected.

Eat the food with the people you love. Food has so many more purposes besides merely supplying our bodies with nutrients. Food could nourish us, bring people together, and make memories at the same time. It serves as the glue that holds us all together.

So, start loving yourself by looking into your diet and food intake. Happy Hearts Month mga ka Nutrisyon! Remember, self-love is one of the keys! ND II Raya Faith A. Luce, RND