Eating a variety of whole natural foods will provide you with a balance of proper macronutrients - protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Remember our bodies evolved eating foods that contain all three, and many foods naturally contain a balance of all three. It is not wise to cut out one or two of these nutrients from your diet, and solely focus on just one.
Many different populations have thrived on different percentages of macronutrients. For example, the "Inuit" people of the arctic were extremely healthy living on a diet that consisted of 50-75% of their calories coming from animal fat. They did not experience high rates of obesity and diabetes until they were introduced to processed junk food high in refined sugar. The Hunza people of the Himalayan mountains live very healthy lives eating a diet that contains 75% fiberous carbohydrates from plants and nuts. They also make their own dairy products from animals that graze freely. These two cultures are among the many that prove there is not simply one diet that works for everyone. Take a look at your family history and try to discover what your native ancestors ate to be strong, vibrant, and healthy.
In upcoming posts this week, I will briefly cover the importance of the the three macronutrients. Check back soon and don't hesitate to post comments or send me an email question at "brecker@esu4.org"
Why is it not smart to just focuse on one of the three groups but all of them?
ReplyDeleteBecause as humans we evolved eating a variety of foods that contain protein, carbs, and fat. Our organs and tissues have needs for all three. For example, if you didn't eat any fat your nervous system and brain would shut down. If you didn't eat protein, your muscles would fail you. If you didn't eat carbohydrates, your energy would go down dramatically and your blood sugar would be unstable. The important thing is to try to eat a variety of fresh whole foods to ensure you are getting quality amounts of each.
ReplyDeleteIsn't fat not good for you? Is red, blue, and purple fruits better than other fruitz?
ReplyDeletecheck out my post above on fats
ReplyDeletedark pigments or colors are almost always a good sign that the fruit is packed full of antioxidants