Eat Carbs!!

The energy we need for life is obtained through the foods we eat and the fluids we drink. They are broken down into 3 categories; carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It is absolutely necessary that we get enough from each category. Carbohydrates are the very thing that the body (including your central nervous system) uses for fuel. When we ingest carbs they're stored in our muscles and liver as sugars (glucose, fructose and galactose). Glucose (aka glycogen) is how carbs are mainly stored.  It is the same principle as fuel in the tank of your car. Carbs=Energy > More energy=More endurance. Any carbs that can't be stored in the muscles and liver or used right away get stored as fat which is also used for energy.

Want the perfect pre/post workout food? Eat bananas. Eat lots and lots of bananas. One medium sized banana has a generous 26 grams of carbs for just 105 calories. It has 10% of your recommended daily fiber, 15% recommended potassium, 17% daily requirement of vitamin C and 22% of vitamin B6. B6 is critical in helping carry oxygen through the body. I don't usually like to get into breaking down individual foods and micromanaging nutrients like that but some people like to see numbers and I really like bananas and want you to eat them. So there you have it. Bananas are the ultimate workout fuel.

Fats are also used as a secondary fuel source during long and slow (aerobic zone) workouts but in order for the fat to be facilitated it requires the aid of glycogen (carbs) to help break it down for use. Adequate carbohydrate intake also helps prevent protein from being used as energy. If the body is short on carbohydrate intake then it will turn to breaking down protein to make glucose for energy. That doesn't sound like a big deal but it is.

Protein's primary role is to work as the building blocks for muscles, bones, skin, hair, nails and all other tissues. By falling short on carbohydrate intake and relying on proteins for energy you are limiting  the body's ability to build and maintain tissues. Additionally you will be putting undue stress on your kidneys as they work harder to eliminate byproduct of protein breakdown. Protein is not a very good source of energy... so save that protein blast for after your workout if you feel you must add extraneous protein. (more on that later)

Now let's talk a bit more about fat in our food. All fats eaten are directly stored as fat. Plain and simple. The fat you eat is the fat you wear. The amount of naturally occurring fats in whole plant foods is all we need ever. There is a TON of misinformation out there about fat being good and carbs the enemy. It is bad information. Terribly mislguided and dangerous information. Eating bacon instead of fruit or putting butter in your coffee sounds like a really bad idea because IT IS! The caveman diet (I won't even say the "P" word) is a plan for people looking for good news about bad habits and is also nothing more than a fad. As if any of this matters...Cave men lived to be 25-30 yrs old, likely ate plant foods more than animal due to availability and lastly I'm pretty sure they didn't have bacon, coffee or butter. How a caveman became the yardstick by which some are measuring fitness (never mind wellness) is beneath my thinking.

Then we had the rage of the Atkins diet. (which is still popular but has different names now) It was a plan that eliminated carbs and focused solely on fat intake. The body, when deprived of the essential fuel of carbs (glycogen depletion), goes into a state of emergency called Ketosis. It is a survival mode that flips the switch to use fat as energy. Survival modes are meant for emergency conditions we may encounter as human animals. We are not meant to remain in a survival mode long term. Fat is poor quality energy but since it is the only option the body has then that is all it can use to survive. The result will be fat loss from your body along with clogged arteries, damaged kidneys, brain damage, nervous system damage and a destroyed metabolism to name just a few. It is the definition of a short term and unsustainable solution with "buy now pay later" consequences. Incidentally, Dr. Atkins (the mastermind behind all this) died of a massive heart attack. His family has much to gain from the fortune he built through the Atkins line of products. They have said he died from falling down a staircase. They leave out the part that he fell down said stairs after suffering massive heart failure. But I digress...

So with all that said... it leaves the question of how much of this or that should I be eating and drinking?? There are infinite answers to this eternal question which consume the internet. If you have read my blog you know by now that I will always point in the direction of eating a plant based diet. Plants, grains, legumes. seeds, etc provide the perfect blend of low glycemic carbohydrates. That is to say carbs that burn slow to provide sustained energy. If whole plant foods are eaten in a wide array then you will be getting all of the essential amino acids (building blocks of protein) your body needs to create just the right amount of proteins that it needs for the specific load you are putting on it. All other fats and proteins will be ingested incidentally as you eat each plant based meal. It's nothing new that I am writing here... Eat Plants. 

If you don't see yourself eating 100% plant based that's okay. Maybe one day you will naturally be led in that direction but regardless of that if you are eating at least 50-75% plant foods for all of your meals then you will see a considerable difference in energy levels, weight, endurance and overall wellness. A conscious effort to cut your meat consumption by 50% is the best way at first. Start making meat a side dish and leafy greens, vegetables, fruits and grains the main part of your plate. It was my experience that as I made my way toward plant based eating I wanted less and less of that meat entree. In the end I didn't even know why I continued to put it on my plate. Old habits die hard I guess. Eventually I just laughed at myself and said "I'm done." At that point I was down to a little bit of dairy and just fish as my meat. It seemed silly to hang on to those small things. Self discipline in ridding those things completely from my diet has been very rewarding both physically and mentally. I'd also say that word "spiritually" but it causes people to run away quickly. (but that too)