Fueling Body & Mind: The Mental Health Connection to Food, Rest, and Self-Care with Laura Tolosi

Welcome to Season 8 of The F.E.E.L. Podcast (Finding Empowerment Embracing Layers)—and what a journey it’s been! Kicking off this new season, we’re honored to welcome back Laura Tolosi, a holistic wellness expert, emotional health advocate, and familiar voice from the Embracing Layers Radio Show. In this powerful episode, Laura dives deeper into how our physical health, emotional well-being, and nutritional habits are intricately connected.

From navigating mental health diagnoses to understanding the emotional reasons behind eating habits, Laura sheds light on how food impacts not just our energy but also our mood and clarity. She challenges listeners to pause and ask: “Am I eating to nourish my body or to fill a void?”

Laura also unpacks the often-overlooked importance of rest—especially how guilt can cloud our ability to prioritize restorative breaks. Whether it’s a power nap or listening to your body’s signals, Laura shares actionable insights on how intentional rest fuels productivity, balance, and emotional resilience.

✨ Key Takeaways:

• How food affects your mental and emotional state

• Recognizing emotional eating patterns

• The mind-body connection in wellness

• Letting go of guilt around rest and recovery

• Listening to your body’s cues for nourishment and self-care

🎧 Tune in for a conversation full of heart, healing, and practical tools for tuning into your body’s wisdom.

🗂️ Listen to Laura’s past episodes on the Embracing Layers Radio Show via Substack (available to paid subscribers).

Keywords: emotional eating, food and mental health, holistic wellness, rest and productivity, self-care strategies, mental health podcast, gut-brain connection, emotional resilience, stress and nutrition, healing through food, women’s wellness, healthy habits, self-awareness and nutrition, mind-body connection, wellness coach interview

Blog Excerpt:  I loved hearing Laura say what an integral part food plays in our health, including the mental aspect, which I think gets lost in translation sometimes. What you eat not only affects your physical state, but it also affects your mood.

Ways to Engage: Think about the purpose of the food you’re eating and the reason behind it. Are you actually hungry or are you trying to fill a void? Are these nutritious calories you’re eating or empty ones that make you feel tired rather than energized? Be mindful of the things you’re putting into your body and how it makes you feel.

Timestamps:

Prioritizing Self Care - ( 3:45 )

Confidently Setting Boundaries - ( 12:27 )

Taking Care of Your Emotional Health as much as Your Physical Health - ( 20:04 )

Support self & other women unapologetically - ( 29:09 )

Coming Back to Your WHY and Your VALUES - ( 32:43 )

Living Out of Your Own Expectations - ( 35:55 )

Accepting the Layered Aspects of Yourself - ( 40:11 )

Living out FEEL, how does it affect your relationships - ( 46:31 )

5 Activities That Nourish You - ( 51:09 )

5 Words for How You Want to Feel in the Next Six Months - ( 54:21 )

Original Music by Rio & Valencia Saint-Louis

Want to be a guest on The F.E.E.L. Podcast? - Send Melissa Crook a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/feel2021⁠⁠ or complete our contact form here: ⁠⁠https://www.embracinglayers.com/contact

• #MindBodyConnection

• #HolisticHealth