When we think about food, we need to understand the balance of enjoyment, fuel, and information. If you are a member of Coastal Fitness Center you may have heard Miss Kathia refer to the analogy of the Ferrari. Think of your body as a Ferrari. You would never put regular fuel into your Ferrari. In order for your Ferrari to drive its best, you put premium fuel into it. In order for our bodies to run at top speed, we need to fuel them with the right, premium foods.
I take a balanced approach to nutrition. I tell clients that we need to enjoy food and enjoy life, but everything in moderation / balance. Too much of anything (even the things that are good for us) is never a good thing. There is a balance between food as enjoyment and food as information. Everything we eat, tells our cells what to do. Ever wonder how we make new cells, organs, tissues, muscles, brain cells?! The raw material comes from what we eat. The vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and macronutrients we consume inform our cells what to do. Do we want to be a Dorito or do we want to be a Vibrant Kiwi?
Unlike a car (Ferrari), we get one body. One, beautiful body that yearns to thrive. We need to give it the information to do so. Knowing how much food to put into our bodies and what types of foods is very important. Each one of us has a very individualized body and requires different amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. A good start to fueling your body is to know what your macro-balance should be. How many proteins, carbohydrates and fats should you be consuming? Your demographics (height, age, weight, gender), activity level and goals play an important role in this. The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have created RDAs (Recommended Daily Allowances) of every nutrient. These guidelines are a great start, but some individuals need a little more vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Selenium, etc. Getting blood work drawn gives us a small snapshot into our bodies and allows us to adjust what we are eating to help our cells thrive.
I spoke earlier about premium fuel, premium food. Eating a diet rich in whole foods with premium fats, carbohydrates and proteins will take your body and mind to the next level. Removing refined oils and packaged foods will allow your body to repair the damage of everyday life. Next time you throw something in your mouth, ask yourself “Am I okay with this becoming part of me long term?” If not, put it down.
Resources
Dr. Mark Hyman, @drmarkhyman, 2 Feb 2023, Quality Foods.