Your Body, Your Life

Wherever you turn (TV, online, magazines) you will hear conflicting information about nutrition.  The focus is always on what you eat, rather than on why you eat. If you are eating when you are physically hungry and stopping when you are full, you can (and should) eat anything you want.  When you eat something that has more fat or calories, it will just keep you full longer.  You can trust your body if you simply listen to it.

It’s important to see that all foods offer nutrition and are ‘good’ or ‘healthy’. This is important for biological and psychological reasons.  The body, when deprived of certain nutrients, will react in mood and energy changes.  The mind will obsess over anything it cannot have.  No food should be restricted—all foods offer some nourishment.

CARBOHYDRATES: (Sources: fruit, pizza, cake, cookies, bread, pasta, fries, oatmeal, chips, donuts, etc.)

• Provides energy (carbohydrates are the body’s fuel), regulates blood sugar
• Mood regulation via Serotonin
• Spares protein from being used for energy
• Provides vitamins and minerals
• Maintains heart, brain, liver, and nerve tissue function
• Body needs most of its nourishment from this—approximately 50% of intake

DIETARY FATS: (Sources:  butter, avocado, nuts, mayonnaise, peanut butter, oils, cream cheese, chocolate, etc.)

• Promotes healthy hair, skin, and nails, and regulates mood (helps prevent depression)
• Source of fat-soluble vitamins (required for absorption of A,D, E, and K)
• Acts as a cushion for the vital organs, and helps maintain body temperature
• Source of essential fatty acids (needed for hormone production)
• Slows digestion of food thus lending satiety to a meal (keeps you full longer)
• Should be second most consumed nutrient—approximately 30% of intake

PROTEIN: (beef, tofu, pork, nuts, eggs, dairy, poultry, beans, peanut butter, etc.)

• Growth of new tissue, formation of bones, teeth, muscle (including organs)
• Production of neurotransmitters, enzymes, hormones, and antibodies (fights infection)
• Help to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, and regulates acid-base balance
• Should make up approximately 20% of intake



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I went to the zoo today.  I saw all kinds of great animals:

• Elephants
• Zebras
• Giraffes
• Lions
• Flamingos
• Penguins
• Meerkats

I am delighted there are so many different types of creatures.  Sizes, shapes, colors—it is this variety that truly is the spice of life.  Each animal is biologically designed to match its role in the kingdom.

I think strange things (ie. wouldn’t it be funny if animals went to a human zoo). My mind wandered to imagining the elephants looking at the giraffes as the ideal body. What if elephants tried to diet and exercise in order to look like this ‘ideal’?  Even the lions and zebras; everyone in the kingdom wanted to look like giraffes.

Then I realized there was no way this could happen.  It would be horribly detrimental to the animals to try to be something else because each of their bodies are perfect for their lives. Lions cannot be weak from starving to be giraffe-like, or they would not be able to chase zebras.  For this reason, zebras better be eating good to get away from them.  No matter what an elephant does, it is not going to be skinny (thank goodness).

It was clear to me that even if all of these animals tried really hard, there was no way any of them would look anything like a giraffe. Plus, it would be a huge bummer if they did.  How boring would that trip to the zoo be?  Oh look, little Billy, more giraffes.

I noticed the animals all accept and honor their own shapes (I am assuming—I cannot talk to them).  The giraffes and lions don’t gather to have summits on how to help the elephants lead healthier lives.  Elephants are not even considered unhealthy for being their natural size (rather they would be thought unhealthy if they were skinny).  The elephants do not envy the giraffes for their willpower. They are all just living their lives, without one stupid, pointless thought about their bodies.

I quickly applied these thoughts to human society.  It would be amazing if humans could get past their bodies and on to living their lives. I have seen people of all ages wasting so much mental energy on something so unimportant. Everyone is waiting for the day they finally look like the ‘ideal’ before they will accept themselves.  This is why I’ve even had 90 year old, 85 pound patients refusing to drink an Ensure for fear of getting fat.

If you keep waiting to accept your body as is, you may be on your deathbed before you come to your senses.  It is not important what size you are or how much you weigh.  Your worth and your life are so much more than your body.