Healthy Eating Guide: Part 1
Posted November 13th, 2006 at 4:12 PM by Jonathan Faccone
Section: Nutrition, Healthy Eating
Food is viewed by many as an enemy; a lurking temptress ready seduce you and lead you down the path to weight gain. People have been quick to believe, that when it comes to food, “less is more.” However, the negative effects of this long-standing mindset are unavoidable: Obesity in America is at it’s highest rate ever and according to data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), more than 58 million American adults between the ages 20 to 74 are overweight. Needless to say, its time to reevaluate our eating habits and our views of “healthy eating.”
There is good news for all of food lovers out there; studies are continually showing that eating smaller meals throughout the day has several health benefits. Why? Because when people don’t eat regulary, the body goes into starvation mode; unsure of when the next energy source will be available. Subsequently, the body stores more fat and cholesterol in an effort to create backup energy supplies. As a result, your metabolism becomes less efficient at burning calories; making you more susceptible to weight gain and can lead to the loss of muscle-mass.
Conversely, eating frequently has can speed-up your metabolism. According to Melissa Stevens, nutrition program coordinator for preventive cardiology and rehabilitation:
Your metabolism speeds up because your body “learns” that more food will be on the way, thus burning off calories instead of storing them and absorbing less cholesterol and fat … a recent study published in the British Medical Journal found that people who ate six small meals each day had an average cholesterol level that was five percent lower than people who ate only one or two big meals each day. The study, conducted at the University of Cambridge, found that eating more frequently also lowered levels of artery-clogging LDL cholesterol.
Eating frequent meals provides the body with a steady flow of nutrients; leaving you feeling energized and more focused. This is particularly important for athletes who need a consistent supply of nutrients and sustenance in order to perform at an optimal level. Eating consistent and nutritious meals enables the muscles to receive the necessary fuel for performance and recovery.
It’s important to keep in mind that eating more does not mean that you should indulge in six daily meals of of Whoppers and french fries. However, it does mean eating nutrient-rich food that will provide your body with what it needs to stay healthy and fit. This includes fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole-wheat grains, beans, legumes, nuts and all other foods that are low in saturated fat and high in essential nutrients.
There is one potential pitfall to this healthy lifestyle: convenience; leaving many struggling with the necessary preparation and planning that is required to be consistently eating healthy meals. In Part 2 of my “Healthy Eating Guide”, I will explain how to avoid this problem and stategies for easily integrating a healthy lifestyle into even the busiest of schedules.
Sources: [Powering Muscles], [Health Goods], [Cleveland Clinic], [Mercola]
***Note: We encourage EVERYONE to see a doctor before altering their diet, taking a supplement and/or performing athletic, fitness or other strenuous physical activity. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any information, instruction, opinion or advice contained in the content. Please also see our complete disclaimer.***
Tags: burn fat, calories, cholesterol, healthy eating, healthy food, lose weight, metabolism, nutrients, nutrition, obesity, overweight, saturated fat
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The Final Sprint
[…] Healthy Eating Guide: Part 1Food is viewed by many as an enemy; a lurking temptress ready seduce you and lead you down the path to weight gain. People have been quick to believe… […]
November 28th, 2006 at 5:55 pm