Gillian Mckeith made these words famous on Channel 4 Series of the same.... but think about it, you eat food to replace dying cells and help repair and grow. If your body were a F1 car would you really put the cheapest fuel in it you could possibly find? You are literally, what you eat.
Many people buy ready prepared or packaged foods for convenience. But many of these contain what Paul Chek refers to as 'non foods'. A 'non food' is any food that costs more in nutritional value to digest, absorb and eliminate than it delivers.
Do you know the difference between strawberry flavour, strawberry flavoured and strawberry yoghurt?
Look in your fridge or freezer and pull out all the prepackaged foods. Then turn to the ingredients. How many do you not know what they are or can't pronounce?
The Food Standards Agency list a range of products which can be legally added to you food. A list can be found on the Food Standards Agency website
http://www.food.gov.uk/safereating/chemsafe/additivesbranch/enumberlist#h_2
Don't be confused about the term natural. Insects, insect larvae, monkey guts and even mercury are all 'natural' and are just a few of the ingredients which can end up in your food. [Paul Chek]
Always eat foods that are as natural as possible and have very little use of chemicals such as pesitcides or fertilizers in their creation. The Soil Association certifies produce which have passed a strict assessment in terms of how produce is grown and how animals are fed and treated..
The media often reports that there is no significant difference between organic foods and conventionally grown crops.
The Soil Association analysed 109 studies on conventional and organic foods. They determined that only 27 of these studies were valid comparisons - almost all of which found orgnaic foods to be significantly better. In many of the other studies, the organic produce was flowin in and was much older than the locally grown conventional crops, therefore decreasing it's nutritional value. [Paul Chek]
Typically, organic food as well as having less use of fertilsers and pesticides has higher levels of secondary nutrients such as phenolic compounds which are antitoxidants. According to research, phenolic compounds are ten times more efficient at mopping up cancer - causing 'free radicals' in the body than other antitoxidants such as vitamin C and E. [Paul Chek]
Organic foods have better protein quality due to the soil not being depleted of nutrients from the over use of fertilisers and pesticides.
Organic foods should also be free of pesticide and fertiliser residues present on conventional farms. This alone makes them worth the extra time and money they take to acquire. However, due to the amount of polution in the air and in the water system (nowadays, there is no totally pure source of water), organic foods are sometimes in contact with chemicals. So, it's hard to say they are totally free of chemicals.
Therefore, if we are what we eat, then we should always eat from the best sources of food, which typically means certified organic, locally produced and grown, which should always be thoroughly washed before use.
Sunday, 18 February 2007
Sunday, 11 February 2007
There is nothing more unequal, than the equal treatment of unequal people.
The above quote by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) could equally relate to the inequality of one diet fitting all, as it could to the Declaration of Independence and the affairs of the United States.
The UK Government recommends that you eat the following balance of food every day (as quoted from Men's Fitness March 2007):
35% - Carbohydrates, such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice or other cereals
33% - Fruit and vegetables - at least 5 portions a day, but aim for 9
12% - Meat, fish or vegetarian alternatives
15% - Milk, cheese or yoghurt
5% - (optional) Fatty and suggary foods such as mayonaise and sauces.
However, how many people look the same, talk the same or perform the same. Therefore, the idea that one diet can fit all is a myth and consequently you should always seek to eat according to your metabolic type.
There are 3 broad metabolic types:
Protein Type (Fast oxidisers)
Mixed Type
Carbo Type (Slow oxidisers)
When you don't understand how specific foods affect you, eating becomes a daily struggle. You struggle to feel satisfied, are constantly fighting weight, or struggle to get through between meals and end up snacking.
When you understand your metabolic type it is the first step in achieving or maintaining your ideal weight, increasing energy and endurance, strengthening your immune system and help in fighting diseases, increasing alertness and reducing anxiety and mood swings.
Understanding the metabolic type allows the creation of a 'custom' diet - one that's especially created for the metabolic type.
Protein Types:
Protein Types typically have strong appetites, have cravings for fatty, salty foods, failure with reduced calorie diets, fatigue, anxiety and nervousness.
Protein Types need a diet relativey high amounts of proteins and fat, compared to carbohydrates. However, all proteins are not created equal. Proteins high in fat and high in purines convert to energy at the proper rate for the metabolic type.
Consumption of carbohydrates should be minimised since they are converted to energy too quickly.
Carbo Types:
Many Carbo Types have relatively weak appetite, have high tolerance for sweets, problems with weight management, have variable energy levels and have a caffine dependenency. Therefore as a Carbo Type the diet needs to have relatively small amounts of proteins and fats in relation to carbohydrates. More than any other type, Carbo types have the freedom to eat a wide selection of carbohydrates - vegetables, grains and fruits. Because the body converts food to energy slowly, the amount of proteins and fats should be limited, as these foods would slow down energy conversion even more, leading to increased sluggishness and increased anxiety.
Mixed Types
Mixed Types fall between Protein Types and Carbo types. Typical tendencies of Mixed Types are, variable appetite, low crawings for sweets or carbohydrates, easy weight management - although if Mixed Types eats more of a Carbo or Protein diet then weight problems can develop.
Mixed Types require need a good balance of high purine, high fat proteins and low purine, low fat purines. Similarly Mixed Types need to make sure they get a good balance of vegetables and fruits that are good for both Protein and Carbo types.
Over time, eating to the correct metabolic type will dramatically improve your quality of life. Some benefits will be incurred straightaway, whilst others may take time to take effect.
In the next post there will be guidance on how to obtain your metabolic type.
The UK Government recommends that you eat the following balance of food every day (as quoted from Men's Fitness March 2007):
35% - Carbohydrates, such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice or other cereals
33% - Fruit and vegetables - at least 5 portions a day, but aim for 9
12% - Meat, fish or vegetarian alternatives
15% - Milk, cheese or yoghurt
5% - (optional) Fatty and suggary foods such as mayonaise and sauces.
However, how many people look the same, talk the same or perform the same. Therefore, the idea that one diet can fit all is a myth and consequently you should always seek to eat according to your metabolic type.
There are 3 broad metabolic types:
Protein Type (Fast oxidisers)
Mixed Type
Carbo Type (Slow oxidisers)
When you don't understand how specific foods affect you, eating becomes a daily struggle. You struggle to feel satisfied, are constantly fighting weight, or struggle to get through between meals and end up snacking.
When you understand your metabolic type it is the first step in achieving or maintaining your ideal weight, increasing energy and endurance, strengthening your immune system and help in fighting diseases, increasing alertness and reducing anxiety and mood swings.
Understanding the metabolic type allows the creation of a 'custom' diet - one that's especially created for the metabolic type.
Protein Types:
Protein Types typically have strong appetites, have cravings for fatty, salty foods, failure with reduced calorie diets, fatigue, anxiety and nervousness.
Protein Types need a diet relativey high amounts of proteins and fat, compared to carbohydrates. However, all proteins are not created equal. Proteins high in fat and high in purines convert to energy at the proper rate for the metabolic type.
Consumption of carbohydrates should be minimised since they are converted to energy too quickly.
Carbo Types:
Many Carbo Types have relatively weak appetite, have high tolerance for sweets, problems with weight management, have variable energy levels and have a caffine dependenency. Therefore as a Carbo Type the diet needs to have relatively small amounts of proteins and fats in relation to carbohydrates. More than any other type, Carbo types have the freedom to eat a wide selection of carbohydrates - vegetables, grains and fruits. Because the body converts food to energy slowly, the amount of proteins and fats should be limited, as these foods would slow down energy conversion even more, leading to increased sluggishness and increased anxiety.
Mixed Types
Mixed Types fall between Protein Types and Carbo types. Typical tendencies of Mixed Types are, variable appetite, low crawings for sweets or carbohydrates, easy weight management - although if Mixed Types eats more of a Carbo or Protein diet then weight problems can develop.
Mixed Types require need a good balance of high purine, high fat proteins and low purine, low fat purines. Similarly Mixed Types need to make sure they get a good balance of vegetables and fruits that are good for both Protein and Carbo types.
Over time, eating to the correct metabolic type will dramatically improve your quality of life. Some benefits will be incurred straightaway, whilst others may take time to take effect.
In the next post there will be guidance on how to obtain your metabolic type.
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