Nutrition how important is it?

 I am sure you have heard the saying: You are what you eat. This is not just a funny statement, but an actual fact that has been proven time and time again.  Every cell in your body is controlled by nutrition, now notice I did not say food, for not all food have nutritional value.  Most over weight individuals are actually malnourished, that’s right you heard correctly, obesity is a form of malnutrition, your body has learn to feed of it’s self and produce excess fat.   The average American diet consists of junk food and empty calories. This in turn creates a deficit of vitamins and minerals that normally help nourish your cells which are responsible for all the function of your machinery. 

When we eat junk, our bodies will respond with toxic build up, gas, stomach problems, irritability, headaches, aches, pains, and depression, just to name a few. We however fail to understand or even accept that the reason we feel the way we do, is because we eat poorly.  Our bodies need vitamins and minerals, water, macro nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates and fats in a correct combination to have proper cell function.   Cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, just to name a few, are caused by the added processed garbage and fast foods we ingest.  Add lack of exercise, stress, and not enough rest and we have the human species before us today; tired, ill, over worked and under paid and who are constantly popping pills to feel and look better.   

We have been programmed to find quick fixes either via medication or through quick weight loss scams that not only place your health in danger, but ruin your metabolism.  We visit our health care providers with the idea in mind that they will make all ailments go away with a magic pill and make it all better. After all, every commercial you see on the hypnotic television set, instigates the idea to ask your doctor about the blue or red pill which will make everything okay. We of course ignore the long list of side effects and precautions that go with it just to receive instant relief and results.

We are a nation that is overfed, yet malnourished. We eat way too many calories in one sitting, empty calories that leave our bodies starved for nutrition.  This in turn creates sugar cravings which leads to increase insulin production and in turn creates hypoglycemia or diabetes.  Our Ancestors had no McDonalds, Burger King, pretzels, white flour, sugar and the junk we consume today. They ate what they killed, picked from a tree and went on with their business, they where grazers, hunters and gatherers, who did not indulge in today’s practice of consuming more than what they needed. When we needed energy, the body would get it from its stored fat and we maintained a leaner and healthier physique.  You see, fat is stored calories which is to be used in a time of need. With the way we eat today, and the lack of physical activity our fat cells are always in surplus and make us vulnerable for diseases.  We have taught our bodies to use processed garbage for energy; and our bodies have forgotten how to utilize that stored fat for energy. In turn, our entire life style brings forth ailments and imbalances that lead us into a dead end. 

We have created a love affair with food, forgetting its true intent and purpose.  We eat when we are sad, when we are happy, and create activities and festivities that revolve around food.  It is time we took our health into our own hands, and start to respect our bodies, learning what we need to eat for greater health.  Diets do not work and only create further damage to our metabolism and cellular function.  We do however need to learn the proper balance and nutritional intake needed to bring forth a well functioning metabolic rate, fat to muscle ratio, and overall fat burning.   Our bodies are resilient and will respond well when proper care is given. 

To get started start a journal and write all the foods you are eating on a daily basis. Learn to eat small meals through out the day with proper combination of protein, low glycemic carbohydrates and healthy fats. Make sure you are drinking a minimum of half a gallon of water to one gallon daily, water is very important for cell function and is a natural diuretic.  If we take a look at babies and how they eat every 2 to 3 hours, we can learn that this is our natural eating schedule.  By following this rule of thumb, small balance meals will place less stress on your digestive system, it will provide your body with an immediate nutritional need, and will not allow your body to store fat, hence increasing and improving your metabolism and over all health.

An example of a meal would be ½ cup of oatmeal cooked in water, this is considered your carbohydrate, 3 scrambled egg whites, this is considered your lean protein, and a handful of walnuts, this is considered your healthy fats.   If you follow the rule of threes, which means you divide your plate into thirds, utilizing the portions of proteins, carbohydrates and fats to make up your meal. This will improve your metabolism, allow your body to build lean muscles as long as you indulge in a work out routine that includes weight lifting, and follow a sensible nutritional plan.  

Staying away from processed food and eating nutritionally sound meals that will provide the proper vitamins and minerals needed to help your cellular system function accordingly is the name of the game. Remember, you are what you eat and nutrition is definitely the answer to a well balance and healthy body.

 

Mark Angelo Cummings is a Certified Nutritional Consultant, Master Personal Trainer and Occupational Therapist who has taken wellness one step further. . He can be reached at markangelocummings@yahoo.com for an individual program or call 954 347 1267 to change your life today.