Thursday, September 29, 2011

Food ... What Is Healthy?

One thing that comes up time and time again is people judging the way I eat, saying, "You eat every 2 hours? That's not healthy. That's too much." Or saying other things like, "I think moderation is healthy so I don't restrict myself like you do."

"Everything in moderation" has become a cover word for "I eat whatever I want and since a doctor said moderation is healthy, that's what I call it!"

This is where moderation gets most people!
This is kinda funny to me because I don't look at my lifestyle as "not healthy." I mean, I get sick about once a year - usually a head cold, I don't get a flu shot and never get the flu, I have energy as long as I'm not bulking up, and I feel good when I eat the right things. But what exactly are the "right things"?

Protein: We all need it every day. It stimulates metabolism and repairs the body. I'm not talking about the 40 grams per day that the USRDA recommends! I'm talking at the very least, your body weight each day in grams. So if you're 112 lbs, then you eat 112 grams of protein each day!

Carbohydrates: This one is tricky. You need to eat for your activity level. Since it's really easy to over eat carbs, they are also a danger to turning into fat. Carbs are the body's preferred energy source; 80-250 grams per day, depending on weight and activity, is about average. Most people who are not very active and also don't work out may be surprised where the carb calories end up: stuck right to their glutes and thighs.

Fats: We need SOME fats to digest fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A and E. But we don't need 70 or 100 grams per day! Fat is the easiest macro to turn into body fat! Carbs are the second easiest macro to turn into fat, and most people have a tendency to overdo the fats and carbs and underdo the proteins. Did you know that 100 grams of fat is 900 calories? Who burns 900  fat calories per day plus carb calories?

As I mentioned, the real key is to eat for your activity level. That means the whole "moderation" thing isn't going to work for 99% of people unless they have a fast metabolism.

Generally, people who subscribe to the "moderation" theory include saturated fats, sugar, oils, starches, alcohol, gummy bears (which are carnuba wax), dairy (which was never meant for humans to digest), and everything else under the sun. When this takes place, the hormones and systems in the body go totally crazy trying to check and balance each other out. There are increases in some hormones, drops in others, insulin spikes and drops, and fat storage.

Does this sound healthy? Or does eating foods that work with your body sound heathy? So what if I never eat ice cream ever again? So what if I never eat Pop Tarts or pasta again; eating those foods makes ME unhealthy? Just the opposite! Eating the foods that balance my hormones and make my body function properly makes me healthy and is what sets me apart from the moderate dieters who are always yo-yoing up and down, trying to be "moderate."

Here is MY idea of moderation. I eat clean say 90% of the time so when I feel like eating pizza, I eat it. My next meal is right back to clean food again to balance my body out again. It's give and take. I know if I eat the high calorie food, I need to balance it out right away. 

This could be the difference between balance and moderation!
Next time you go to put something in your mouth, think for one second. Think not just "Is it gonna make me fat?", but "Hormonally, what is this going to do and how will it effect me and my BALANCE?" Judging by the amount of adult onset diabetes and heart disease seen here in America, it looks like my "unhealthy" eating might just be keeping me healthy! It's more of a balance than just moderation.

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