Metabolism: You Are What You Eat

Food is Fuel!

The old saying “You are what you eat” is not just a cliché. It is absolutely true! The best way to look at this metaphor is to view your calories as fuel and your body as the vehicle that needs something to run on.  Just like a car, if you fuel your body with premium fuel, you will get a body that lasts longer, runs more efficiently and gets more mileage out of smaller amounts of eaten calories. However, if you fuel your body with less than nourishing foods, you are in essence wearing it out, depriving it of it’s power and degrading your fuel lines (that in this case would be your circulatory system, digestive system and nervous system.)

Metabolism is the word that describes the process of our bodies breaking down food to obtain energy, which is necessary so that our bodies can create the essential chemicals it needs to function properly. It slows and you gain weight when it is not nourished properly.

Your metabolism basically performs two functions:

1.     Anabolism in which smaller molecules from food are transformed into larger molecules of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

2.     Catabolism in which large molecules are broken down to release energy for muscle function, body temperature regulation and more. Through the process of catabolism, our bodies create waste.

It is your pancreas that decides whether or not a process should be anabolic or catabolic depending on what you have eaten.

Your metabolism also enables thyroxin to be released by the thyroid, which in turns determines how speedy these processes will occur.

This is why good nutrition is so important. You need to consume foods that are rich in the nutrients that your body needs to function optimally such as nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen and hydrogen.

You also need to eat a diet that is balanced with the big four components that make up that quality fuel that your body needs to run on including:

1.     carbohydrates (starch sugar and fibre) that the body converts into glucose for energy

2.     proteins for supplying the amino acids that build the proteins that make up all of our tissues

3.     fats to help form cells, absorb nutrients and reduce inflammation

4.     vitamins and minerals to help body regulate the metabolism so that nutrients are produced so the body runs smoothly

When you revise your lifestyle, by taking part in a Healthy and Active Metabolism Program, you learn what fuels a.k.a. foods are best to fuel your body so that it just doesn’t run, it practically purrs with good health. To learn more about Healthy and Active visit the website.. www. healthy-active.com

M.R.

Superfood Spotlight: The Good Fats in Avocadoes

Many years ago, it was thought that all fat was bad. In the time since the invention of the low-fat or no-fat diet, we have learned that some fats are not only good for your body, but also necessary. In fact, in the past twenty years Americans have decreased their dietary fat intake by 7% while increasing their obesity by 50%.

Fats are difficult for your body to dissolve, so it must spend extra energy doing it. They also help prevent blood-sugar spikes and are required for the absorption of some nutrients. When people decrease fat from their diet, they tend to replace them with high-calorie alternatives that are not only unhealthy but require less energy to digest.  Avocados are an amazing source of this good fat.

Avocado is Actually A Superfruit

Officially, avocados are a fruit. The oleic acid they contain is a monounsaturated fat, which will lower LDL (bad cholesterol) levels while raising levels of HDL (or good cholesterol). In addition, avocadoes are packed with vegetable fiber.

The high fat content does not just give you empty calories. Avocados contain many B vitamins, vitamins, C, E, and K, magnesium, copper, manganese, and potassium. In fact, avocados contain more potassium than a banana, which improves nervous system and circulatory system functioning. The nutrients in an avocado are required for metabolism and promote a healthy immune system.

Avocado is noted for reducing the pain of angina and preventing cancer in the colon, moth and esophagus. It is a filling food that prevents you from loading up on junk food if you are dieting.Adding an avocado into your diet as a between meal snack will lower the amount of food you eat at your next meal.

Avocados provide a complete range of essential amino acids. Just two tablespoons (1/5 of an avocado) of the fruit are considered a serving of mashed avocado, but you can one whole one each day. Keep in mind that one medium avocado contains about 23 grams of fat (1/3 of your daily requirement) and 250 calories, so adjust the rest of your fat and calorie intake accordingly.

Adding Avocadoes to Your Diet

Avocadoes make delicious smoothies. Combine 1 avocado, 1 banana, 1 ½ cups coconut milk, 2 ½ - 3 cups ice, ¼ cup honey, and ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt in a mixer. Blend until smooth.

Avocados are easy to add to your salads. Try spinach, sliced avocado, baby mozzarella balls, and grape tomatoes drizzled with Italian dressing. 

For exciting guacamole, mash 1 ripe avocado, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, ¼ cup chopped cilantro, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in 1 diced tomato, 1 finely chopped jalapeno pepper, and ¼ cup finely diced onion. Serve the traditional way with chips or top your burger with it.

Avocadoes can also be used as a substitute for fats such as butter and oil in baking muffins and cakes.

For more information about the  Healthy & Active Program please visit our website at www.healthy-active.com. You may also call us in Toronto at (41) 440-2217 and ask for Adrienne Wright Bulow or Dr. Michael Rahman or email us at adrienne@healthy-active.com.