| We are surrounded with so much information regarding nutrition these days.. Eat this; don’t eat this; have more green tea; eliminate coffee; eat more grains; don’t eat grains; fat is bad for you; fat is not bad for you… count calories – don’t count calories! Poor person is being left
NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO!
And I understand why.
In the next couple of paragraphs I will try to explain what happens once we eat, how body metabolises macronutrients, and what makes you fat. Then it’s up to you to decide what to do what you want to do!
All the foods we eat is one, or more, of the following: carbohydrate, fat, or protein. This is it. So we either eat proteins (chicken), fats (butter), carbohydrates (like apple) or combination of two or all of these (for example milk has all three -protein, fat and carbohydrates; or nuts have fat and carbohydrates).
Carbohydrates are the macronutrients that are most easily converted into glucose which works as a fuel for our body (gives us energy). Carbohydrates can be categorized into refined and unrefined.
Refined carbohydrate is the one that has been modified in some way or another (for example apple juice – it’s refined as it does not grow on tree, it has been made from apples. Crisps are refined carbohydrates as they do not come out of the ground in that form).
Unrefined carbohydrates have not been modified – for example apple – it comes straight from tree; or potato comes straight from the ground. Unrefinde carbohydrates are the ones that have not been “touched” or “modified” by a man.
Proteins are essential macronutrients and we need protein for the proper functioning of muscles, bones, brain and other parts of our bodies. Proteins contain 9 essential amino acids which our bodies need in order to function properly. Protein comes from either animal (meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy) or vegetable (tofu, grains, nuts) sources.
Fats form the membrance that surrounds every cell in our bodies. Fats are crucial for our health. Just to clarify by fats I am referring to fats which come from either animal or vegetable sources and are not made by man in factories (these are hydroganated trans fat and should be banned!!!!!!). Because of different molecule structure of fats they can be categorised as monosaturated, polysaturated and saturated fat.
So what happens when we eat? And what makes you fat
When we eat something, our bodies absorb nutrients accross the surface of small intestine. As carbohydrates enter our bodies, they can be absorbed as sugars and become glucose. Glucose is the primary source of fuel used by our bodies. Once we eat fat, our bodies absorb fatty acids, and when we eat protein, it absorbs amino acids. It is important to note that we can actually make energy from either carbohydrates, fat or protein, however carbohydrates are the easiest foods from which to get fuel.
We need more than carbohydrates for energy. We also need vitamins – B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, folic acid and biotin as well as minerals – iron, calcium, magnesium, chromium and zinc, in order to utilise enzymes which drive as the energy burner.
As we eat carbohydrates our body decides how much of the energy is needed to be released immediately and how much should be stsored for future. As we eat carbohydrates our blood glucose level rises and it releases insulin which then converts glucose to glycogen, a starch which is stored in the muscles and liver available for energy use. If all the glycogen storage areas are full, insulin will convert the excess to fatty tissue and therefore we will become fatter.
I think it is quite clear now that FAT does not make you FAT. Pancreas (which is an organ located below stomach and one of its function is to produce 2 hormones – insulin and glucagon) will not release insulin if we eat fat or protein.
As only carbohydrates trigger release of insulin, it seems that the secret to weight loss lies with carbohydrates. Now I am not advocating Atkins nor I am saying we should cut out carbohydrates from our diet – no! What I am saying is that we should watch and monitor our foods and avoid all the processed crap that we buy at the supermarkets.
We need carbohydrates – but don’t forget that an apple or a grape is carbohydrate too! We were not designed to eat confectionery, chips, burgers which are full of additives, preservatives, sugars and all the other nasty stuff that manufacturers has put into. Sugar is your enemy – nasty processed horrible sugar!!! When we eat anything other than whole food (apple juice instead of apple; white rice instead of wholegrain) our bodies pump up TOO MUCH INSULIN! We don’t need that much sugar and you know what??? even when you are starving or craving some chocolate you should remember that your body really is asking for some nice healthy wholesome food…
My goal for the next 3 months is to eliminate all the processed foods! I do not need them! My body is my temple. I need to respect it, to nourish it, to look after it and to give the BEST ORGANIC FOODS. My body is the one I have until the end of my life and if I don’t look after it – who will? I WILL NOT SUPPORT BIG MANUFACTURING COMPANIES by buying processed foods which were designed to fool my brain and foll my body! I will not allow them to mess up with my hormones and my blood sugar levels. It is hard at the beginning but I know I can do it because I am stronger than a cookie or a piece of sugary chocolate.
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