Food blog

(Sans the Google Chrome extension)

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This article is for people who are more interested in their nutrition than what's happening on social media. For example (while it may not apply to everyone), I don't read a ton of health-related articles or posts. So this is one of those things that I have figured out how to work around on and as such does not require too much effort from me. But if you have specific questions about my nutritional choices you should ask me directly. Or, if you're just curious, you can click through to some of my other blog posts or visit my Facebook page to check out our latest updates!

So why do we need food?

I would honestly answer with no real purpose to say. The fact that we need food because we live in a world populated by humans makes sense. If enough resources for us to survive were available, all of us would want stuff. And yet.

People eat. It's natural. Our bodies evolved over millions of years over thousands of different species. Humans didn't evolve the ability to store fat for later use but we evolved the ability to digest and absorb nutrients. This is why we eat. To get your body all of its energy. Your diet, especially when you are active for long periods of time, is one of the main factors that determine whether you are healthy or sick. How often you rest can also affect your health. Exercise can make you stronger for longer periods of time, while taking a day off from exercise can cause your body to crash (or worse). In terms of the number of meals you eat, there isn't very much information on exactly what constitutes a 'healthy diet'. There is however a certain standard that many of the best sources will tell you. The USDA has put together a list called Healthy Eating Pyramid which breaks down what constitutes a balanced diet including plenty of fruit and vegetables, lean protein, etc. So when are we truly eating healthy? According to FAO, the average adult needs to consume roughly 1.2kgs of carbohydrates and 3.4kgs of proteins or more each day. As of 2017 the U.K.'s Department Of Health and Social Care recommends 2-3 portions per meal. A bowl of cereal made up of oats, fruit, milk, and possibly nuts and seeds should be sufficient. One portion will usually contain between 75-85% of your total calories for most adults. You are therefore getting close to 90% of your daily intake of carbs, 25-30% of your daily intake of proteins or fats, and 8-10% of your daily intake of salt. While there is a wide range of these numbers depending on individual preferences there is no set right amount to follow. All we have are guidelines. If you were wondering how many servings of fruit and veg a person should get, check out this post which breaks down how many servings for various days of the week you could feasibly include within your daily quota. For reference here is the breakdown here.

How much does junk food take away from you?

You may wonder how much junk food takes away from your health. Let's break this down:

1/6ths of your weight or muscle mass are composed of glucose or fructose (glycogen and maltose). Glucose is stored inside of your liver. Fructose comes from foods like fruits and vegetables (usually).

Fats are used to provide hydration to muscles (think water), so we can keep them fuller longer, and fatty acids help give our bodies fuel. They are stored in adipose tissue.

In order to maintain your blood sugar levels, fats are needed. Fatty acids are mostly broken down into acetate (the precursor to lactic acid) which helps our bodies turn protein into energy, to release glucose from carbohydrate consumption so that it can be stored and used, and to transport amino acids (our building blocks). Some of it is metabolised further into ketones or carbon dioxide.

Protein is broken down and turned into glucose and stored in muscle (think muscle tissue). When we eat meat, fish, eggs, cheese (especially low quality products) or chicken we are constantly supplying our muscles from protein and so that energy we gain from it may be released back into our bloodstream. This means that all that protein actually goes straight to the brain or the liver where it could potentially increase your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Lastly fatty acids can directly increase insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone that provides for your cells a way to respond and regulate blood sugar levels. It does this by helping your brain cells convert glucose into glucose molecules or ketones. Insulin also controls triglyceride levels, helping to reduce the risk of diabetes in people who are prediabetic. However most of the research has shown very inconsistent results, due in part to how insulin is measured and used. Most research focuses on measuring high insulin doses to see what this will do to the body.

It comes down to calories alone, however. Carbohydrates play a major role in providing energy for our bodies, while fats are mainly used for storing energy. Too much fat can lead to inflammation, high cholesterol, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression and liver failure. Consuming high amounts of saturated and trans fats can contribute to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Nuts and oily fish are good for you but they are high in polyunsaturated fats and saturated fats. These types of fats are less likely to be stored in the liver and can have negative effects on overall fat storage. Excessive saturated fats are linked to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Foods high in monounsaturated fats (such as olive oil) or omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon) have been associated with reducing the incidence of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Research shows that the healthier dietary patterns people follow, the lower their rates of chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. For more tips on better food planning, nutrition, and lifestyle read here.

Why do we feel sick after eating?

We are not feeling physically well even though we are consuming lots of things that our bodies need to function better. Well, your gut is sick due to lack of fiber and roughage. Many Americans are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. If you suffer from a condition, talk to your doctor first.