High protein, low fat, low carb, no carb, keto, paleo, Whole 30, clean eating. With the constant change in diets fads and names, how do you know what to eat?
This is a pretty simple question that many have made more difficult. Food is fuel to your body. The science is each item is broken down to nutrients then absorbed into our systems. The nutrients are carried throughout our body to cells to produce energy allowing those cells to function as they should.
The easiest food for our bodies to turn to energy is carbohydrates. The more refined, straight up sugar is the quickest and easiest for the body to breakdown into energy. This is why we crave sugar when we go without eating for a long time or when we are tired. It is quick and easy for our bodies to break down to use as fuel. But because it is quick and easy it doesn’t last long. This is why the carbohydrates you choose is so important. An apple, for instance, is going to do more for your body than a piece of chocolate. This is because it has more nutrients for your body to use than just the initial sugar-energy spike.
Protein is a very important part of our diets. It takes your body longer to break down and absorb the nutrients. But because of this, we stay full longer. This is the idea behind high protein diets. Your body has to work a little harder and longer to get that fuel. But, with because our muscles are made from protein, when we are eating a high protein diet we are able to build more muscle. Lean protein is best.
Lastly, fats. Our bodies are super efficient at storing fats. Fats are a great source of energy but because they are easily stored, fats can cause a lot trouble in our health. Man that stubborn belly fat, thighs, butt! Or the fat that is clogging up our arteries.
When choosing food to eat this is why it is important to chose lean meats. That just means cuts of meat that are lower in fat. As mentioned prior, fat is the energy source that is stored easily, so eating a bunch of fat-filled meats are not going to get you all the results.
You may be wondering why we were designed to store fats so easily. It is because of starvation.
Wait. What? Starvation? Yes, our bodies were designed with this process of storing fat because fat can provide a lot energy; people would go through seasons of food shortage. Seasons change. Food grows plentiful at time but then that season is over, the food that was produced will begin to decompose. People would store food that would last, but even then. What if an animal got into the supply? Or a fore engulfed the storage house? These are real problems. We were designed to survive. So those fat stores in our body would allow people to survive until the next season.
There are billions of people who still need this survival in the world, even in the US. However, for most of us reading this, this is not the case. I want to encourage you to eat intentionally well.
Food is fuel. Your body is complex. You need nutrients, vitamins, minerals, proteins, healthy fats from many sources.
The best practice for eating a healthy lifestyle is eating a well balance diet with mostly vegetables and fruits, lean meats, small amount complex carbohydrates and of healthy fats.
-Melissa
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