Nourishing Your Body 11/28/2011
First and foremost, my position on food is that whatever we choose to eat must nourish our bodies. I think we forget that in our instant society. If we are getting most of our calories from boxed and packaged foods, whether GF or not, then we are denying our body the nourishment it needs. It is not enough to simply meet our caloric requirement for the day but to be conscious of where those calories come from. I do not believe in “diets” as we tend to think of them in this culture of ours. I believe in healthful eating. Your body needs a minimum amount of calories to simply exist (usually between 900 and 1200). Need to do something more that just exist? Then you have to increase your calories. If you wish to increase productivity in anything then don’t restrict what you put into it. If you want more work out of an employee, you don’t reduce their pay; nor would you put less gas into your car and expect it to take you further than it did before. So why does it make sense to eat less and expect more out of your body? The bottom line is that it doesn’t. There is good research to support the fact that when you reduce caloric intake you lower your metabolism, which lowers your energy. Your muscle mass is your body’s engine, and to increase your engine you need to intake healthy forms of fuel. Increasing muscle through strength training and eating lean forms of protein is the bottom line for raising your metabolism. Enriching your diet with fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains (gluten free of course), beans, nuts and seeds and healthy fats will support a healthy body while you increase your metabolism. Yes, fat is essential for several functions of the body. The key is healthy forms of fat like coconut oil, grapeseed oil, rice bran oil and olive oil (extra virgin and organic if possible). Used moderately and at proper temperatures these fats can assist essential nutrient absorption (specifically vitamins A, D, E, and K). Also fats from vegetable sources (i.e. avocados and olives), fish (rich in omega-3 fatty acids), nuts and seeds (high in vitamin E and good sources of fiber). All of these forms of fat help the body maintain healthy brain and heart function and provide protection for cells and organs. Avoid hydrogenated fat! Protein specifically builds muscles if you are working to strengthen them. If you have fat to lose the best route is to work it off by increasing your activity level. Simply put, aerobic exercise is raising your heart rate while remaining in control of your breathing. Begin slowly if it has been a while. A simple but brisk walk for 15 minutes most days a week is a good start. Eliminate or at least cut back on the calories that do not nourish the body. The other thing you need to do to increase muscle is to work it. When muscle is left unused you lose it. We have all seen this for ourselves. Who has not seen the saggy skin flapping on the underside of an arm where your tricep used to be? Those triceps don’t get used regularly, do they? A strength-training regimen is essential to good health for life and no, you do not have to be some young, buff, brainless, beach bum. Say that 5 times fast and you will be exercising your brain as well. Strength training can be done at home with small hand weights and an elastic band. We can talk about healthy eating until we are blue in the face, but most of us know that nourishment for one may be poison for another; otherwise, there would be no need for a website like this. All my life I tried to do what I thought was the healthy thing. My body never co-operated with me and now I know why. I am so thankful that I learned of my delayed-reaction allergies. You may say, “why would you be thankful for that?” Because I no longer have to suffer with chronic fatigue, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, or depression. Be Well, Terri Comments01/13/2012 7:20pm
You have provided sound information on how to stay healthy here. Additionally, I would like to point out the importance of eating enough fiber as many gluten-free items lack the fiber that their wheat containing counterparts naturally contain. Also, probiotics and digestive enzymes can be of assistance in rebuilding the positive intensinal flora and aiding in the reduction of IBS (irritable bowel sydrome) and/or consipation issues. One should also consult his/her physician to determine if malabsorbtion is clinically evident, and seek to repair these deficiencies through the use of a multivitamin or supplements as directed by the doctor. Interestingly, about 70 percent of patients show symptomatic improvement within two weeks after starting a gluten-free diet, according to the New England Journal of Medicine,showing hope for those who have suffered with symptoms for a long time but haven't understood the root cause. Leave a Reply | Author[ Wife ] [ Mother ] On Facebook? Become a Fan: |
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