6 Nourishing Ways a Nutritionist-Dietitian Uses Food to Heal Heartbreak

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As I am writing this, the song "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" is playing on repeat in the background. The song conveys that heartbreak takes away your peace, and I agree. It also steals my appetite.

As a nutritionist-dietitian, here’s how I nourished my broken heart and beat my poor appetite caused by heartbreak.

1.) Eat small, frequent, nutrient-dense foods.

The medley of emotions that I experienced throughout the first two weeks affected my desire to eat. But as I am only going through a phase, I made a pact with myself to strive for proper nutrition in order to function properly.

Thus, when I'm in a light mood at a certain time of the day, I eat meals that are simple to prepare yet complete in calories. I consumed a variety of the following:

• Yogurt

• Dark-colored fruits

• Lean chicken soup with dark-colored vegetables or noodles

• Porridge with boiled egg

• Lean chicken congee

• Tuna sandwich with cheese

• Soy milk and crackers

As a nutritionist-dietitian, I find these meals less chewy and soft to digest, which helped since I hadn't had the energy to eat in the aforementioned weeks.

But of course, as I moved along, I would occasionally treat myself to a serving of my favorite ice cream or a bar of dark chocolate.

There was a time, however, where my taste buds could only accept chicken congee. So, the entire day, my meal subsisted on a cycle of chicken congee paired with dark-colored soft fruits.

2.) Be mindful of overeating and undereating.

I accepted the difficulties that accompany heartbreak. Although I don't like it, I believe that experiencing these uninvited emotions is normal. I mean, after all, I am a person.

Nevertheless, I resisted letting the dense cloud of unfavorable thoughts hovering over me cause me to disregard my well-being. I have to admit that juggling self-care and heart healing is hard. I would constantly train my mind to eat healthy despite being under mental and emotional strain.

Since I am having no desire to eat, I found that little, frequent feedings throughout the day were effective for me. Skipping meals would lead to hunger pangs and possibly binge eating. In addition, I don't consider food as a way to reward my emotional state because doing so may lead to overeating.

When undergoing a challenge like heartbreak, it's important to think of food as nourishment, a way to provide the body with proper nutrients while we put a lot of energy into repairing the wounded heart and making a full recovery.

Originally published on my now-deleted blog under a different title. It has since been updated for lovewithhyacinth.com .

3.) Limit salt intake.

I limit my sodium intake to avoid feeling heavy and bloated the following morning. A high-salt diet also has a detrimental effect on my overall mood. I find it more upsetting when I am having crying spells due to heartache while also dealing with a distended stomach linked to sodium bloating.

I mean, I still want to fit into my jeans, especially when the heartbreak fades. Even in the middle of a storm, my goal is to come out happy, healthy, and beautiful. For me, that's the best kind of victory.

Therefore, I have minimized eating cured, processed, and canned foods, as well as highly salted snacks and chips.

Once in a while, though, I would give in and have a small bag of my favorite corn chips. But I do not think of it as a staple food, more so in this state of sadness.

4.) Choose energy-boosting whole foods.

I find this guideline helpful, given that I felt weak the first two weeks, probably due to the energy I expended on sobbing and entertaining negative thoughts.

To provide my brain with the glucose it needs, I have included in my meal plan foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates yet low in simple sugars, like:

• Bread

• Grains

• Noodles

For skin, hair, and body structure maintenance, better immunity, and hormone support, I incorporated protein sources such as:

• Lean meat

• Low-fat dairy

• Eggs

Lastly, to sauté my lean meat, I use vegetable oil, a source of healthy fat for energy supply and appetite sustenance.

Note: For cholesterol control, limit egg intake to three per week, no matter the cooking style.

5.) Stay hydrated.

I am going through a string of emotions that frequently cause me to cry. As they say, a broken-hearted soul experiences an overwhelming range of emotions. Personally, I notice that I feel sad, lonely, frustrated, and/or worried. Yes, breakups and heartbreaks can be so confusing that I can only express those pent-up emotions by crying. Somehow, it's therapeutic, as I feel calmer afterward.

But crying for a long time may cause dehydration, since the body loses water and electrolytes through tears.

To prevent this, I made sure to:

• Drink water regularly.

• Consume hydrating foods such as soup, fruits, and my choice of milk.

6.) Include antioxidants in my diet.

Antioxidants protect the cells in the body from damage caused by free radicals, which are generated by a type of molecular reaction that occurs during our internal bodily processes.

I have incorporated antioxidant-rich foods like:

• Papaya, tomato, and melon (dark-colored fruits and vegetables).

These may help prevent the negative consequences of emotional stress brought on by heartbreak, especially in the initial stages when I lacked the strength to exude inner joy.

Conclusion

These guidelines are generic, but they have aided me physically and emotionally. That, along with the emotional support from a few remarkable people, who have helped me through this phase.

Yes, I find heartbreak to be debilitating. But I know that, steadily, we can recover from this heart-wrenching episode. Slowly, yet with constant progress- that's what matters most.

Since no specific diet exists for breakups, I still suggest maintaining a balanced diet with both moderation and variety.

Seeking professional assistance during this tough time can also be beneficial.

Author’s Note: I wrote this post when I was right in the thick of a heartbreak. With my background in nutrition, I turned to the science of how food affects us when my emotions felt overwhelming. This piece was originally published on my previous site, The Atomic Diet (which has since rebranded), but the message remains the same: feeding yourself right is one of the best ways to start feeling better.

I'd love to hear your story. Get in touch with me.