Nuances of Nourishment
- Carla
- Jan 29
- 4 min read
We live in a world that loves absolutes.
Everyone should drink this much water. Everyone needs this much protein. Everyone should lift weights, run, stretch, fast, fuel, and rest in precisely the same way.
And yet… we are anything but “everyone.”
I believe that Nourishment, at its core, is deeply personal. It’s shaped by our biology, our history, our nervous systems, our cultures, our seasons of life, and the realities of our day-to-day worlds. When we forget this, Nourishment turns from something supportive into something stressful; another box to check, another way to feel behind or “wrong.”
This is where nuance matters.
One Body, Many Variables
Your body is not a formula.
Hydration needs shift with climate, movement, hormones, stress, medications, and even how safe your body feels in each moment. Protein needs change based on activity level, digestion, healing, age, and metabolic health. Exercise that energizes one person may dysregulate another.
Blanket recommendations can be helpful as starting points, and are most helpful when not set in stone. They are not moral truths. And they are certainly not measures of worth.
What nourishes you today may not nourish you tomorrow, next month, or even next year.
A Field of Sunflowers
Sometimes I wonder if most people think of women over 60 the way you might see a field of sunflowers from a distance. At first glance, the field looks uniform; same height, same color, all facing the sun. It’s easy to assume they’re identical. It’s a field of sunflowers, after all.
And, as one walks into that field and looks closely, the differences are everywhere. Some blooms are broad and bold; others are smaller and still opening. Some lean, some stand tall, some are weathered by wind, others freshly turned toward the light. Each flower has grown in slightly different soil, with varying amounts of water, sun, and protection.
Women in this season of life are no different. We are not carbon copies sharing the same thoughts, beliefs, health histories, goals, or lifestyles. I strongly believe that Nourishment, like growth, must honor those differences.
Sticking with My ABCs
For those who know me or have heard me speak, one principle I strive to live by and practice is what I call my ABCs of Aging, especially when it comes to nourishment, is maintaining my ABCs: Always Be Curious.
When I encounter new information, trends, or recommendations, I pause and ask:
Is this something I want to learn more about?
Does this apply to me?
How might this apply to me?
Who is sharing the information? Based on what?
What more information do I need before accepting or dismissing it?
Curiosity creates space between information and action. It keeps us from mindlessly following headlines and instead invites us into discernment. It pushes us to determine what is best for us, leading to greater opportunities and possibilities.
Beyond the Headlines
We live in the era of Doctor Google and countless social media “Influencing Experts” (whatever that means, and don’t get me started). Information is everywhere, put out by anyone and everyone. Wisdom and discernment take effort, and they are well worth it, in my humble opinion!
When I say I like to go beyond the headlines, I don’t mean there isn’t helpful information out there, because there absolutely is. It simply means (in my view) you often have to look for it. And you usually must sift through a lot of non-helpful, non-factual, or overly simplified content to find it.
I gravitate toward voices who prioritize substance over soundbites. People who have credentials and experience. People whose intention is to have meaningful, nuanced conversations, not just sell products, programs, or services disguised as education.
Nourishment Is a Relationship, Not a Rulebook
When we follow rigid guidelines without curiosity, we can often disconnect from ourselves. Interestingly, when we approach Nourishment as a relationship, we create space for trust.
This kind of Nourishment asks different questions:
How do I feel after I eat this?
What supports my energy without depleting me?
What feels grounding right now?
How am I connecting with my community?
There is wisdom in your signals, even if they don’t match the trending advice of the moment.
Honoring Individuality Over Optimization
We are not here to optimize ourselves into sameness.
Health is not a singular look, weight, intake, or routine. It is adaptability. It is resilience. It is the ability to respond to life with support rather than judgment and punishment.
True Nourishment honors our uniqueness:
Different metabolisms
Different capacities
Different seasons
Different needs
Different outlooks
And most importantly, different humans.
An Invitation to Nuance
This space exists to bring nuance back into Nourishment, to soften the edges of rigid advice and replace it with curiosity, compassion, and personalization.
You don’t need to do what everyone is doing. You need to do what supports you.
And… that answer is allowed to be layered, evolving, and uniquely yours.
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