It’s officially that time of year.

The time of year where you start to notice more sniffles and coughs from your coworkers.  More runny noses and feverish temperatures from your kids. Or perhaps – no shows from your invited list of guests for a birthday party or fall gathering because they’re home sick with the flu.

If someone asked you how much fiber you get in each day – or how much you’re supposed to get –would you know the answer? You probably know that fiber is important for your health, but if you’re like most Americans, you’re probably not getting enough. In my work with clients, I find that many don’t know which foods contain fiber. Others have a narrow, misguided understanding of fiber sources they absorbed over the years through food marketing claims.

You probably know that taking a high-quality multivitamin can be an essential part of your weight-loss or health promoting plan, but did you know there are certain nutrients that appear to play a more critical role than others when it comes to your health and metabolism? 

Below are 5 critical nutrients we all, in truth, should be monitoring if we’re looking optimize our metabolic function. All of these nutrients are also among the most common deficiencies in our population, giving us even more reason to assess our intakes. 

The rise of social media has created one of the largest digital ecosystems where anyone can consume, re-share or publish almost any type of information they stumble across. While many argue this is a step forward in connectivity, innovation and unity, many don’t stop to pause and understand the consequences that can come along with it. 

With over-packed schedules, career demands, busy family lives, and even fitting in important healthy habits like meal prep and exercise, there’s little time for rest and recovery. It’s the American Way. We’re inundated with stimuli all day long, from the moment we wake up until our head hits the pillow. What’s more, we pride ourselves in being busy and productive. Many of my clients tell me they thrive off of the stress and even label self-care as lazy, self-indulgent, or just flat-out unnecessary. I, too, am guilty of powering through and ignoring the warning signs of too much stress.

There’s no doubt that achieving a weight loss goal is an incredible accomplishment, but when we don’t have a long-term strategy in place for how we plan to maintain our results, our chances of slipping back into old habits is extremely high. No matter where you are in your own journey, to help you avoid falling off track, we’re giving a first-hand look of how four individuals got started, stayed committed and continue to live a healthy way of life every day.  

When we’re in a hurry, trying to find healthy food options isn’t always convenient. Whether you’re in need of a quick snack or a healthy on-the-go meal, our hunger and cravings can get the best of us and sometimes give way to poor eating decisions.

No matter where you find yourself, remember that preparing or picking out healthier food options is possible – all you need is a sound strategy. As a general rule of thumb, our food selections should incorporate some type of lean protein, healthy fat and good-for-you carbohydrates so that we feel full, energized and less likely to succumb to cravings later on that may eventually lead to overeating.