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NEWS |
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Getting Value from Calories Excerpt from October 2003 newsletter Patsy Flanigan
We all like to get a bargain, but we don't want to get something cheap that doesn't last or meet our needs. Where could this be more important than in the grocery store where we make decisions that effect the very fiber of our being? To be able to choose our food not for taste alone, although that is important, but also for what the food is going to do to us; a little understanding of what happens to that food in our bodies is helpful.
Without getting too technical, remember that in the metabolism of all of the food that we eat, it is initially turned into glucose, a simple sugar, That is why, when we consume sweet drinks or candy, we get a quick spike in energy. This feels good, but we are not very satisfied and still hungry, so we may continue to eat beyond our calorie needs. The overindulgence in calories with deficit of nutrients is one of the basic causes of obesity.
Protein, fat, and more complex carbohydrates take longer to be metabolized, but sustain us longer. Even more important is the fact that protein, fat and the complex carbohydrates carry valuable nutrients. We eat to have energy, but also to build or repair our bodies, maintain our immune system and give all of our organs, especially our brains, the nutrients that they need to function properly.
What happens then, if we decide that all carbohydrates are bad, and only eat fat and protein, as in some diets? Yes, those weight loss diets do work because now the body must burn fat for calories, but it puts a major strain on the body. Recent research has shown that lack of carbohydrates can be a cause of depression, lack of energy and we all know about the bad breath, which is caused by the body being in a state of ketosis.
The answers are not easy, but like any other search for value, we need to take the time to make sure that we spend our calories wisely on foods that carry a variety of nutrients, so that we will be satisfied and not overeat. I would be remiss if I did not mention that nuts are one of those foods; containing protein, the "good" fat and other nutrients. They have been used successfully in weight loss diets adding enjoyment to the process of reaching an optimum weight.
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