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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