The Right Foods for the Job
Healthy Food
Choosing what foods to eat while dieting can be tricky. This is one area that is loaded with controversy. Some people swear by the low-fat approach, while others tout the value of low carbohydrate diets. Each type of diet works for some people, and not for others. Lifestyle and activity levels play a role in this choice.
There are certain foods that should be included in any diet. Leafy green vegetables, whole grain cereal or bread choices, lean proteins, fish, and low fat dairy products (unless lactose intolerant) are all good choices and have vital nutrients that the body needs. These foods provide fiber, protein, and vitamins to keep the body functioning properly.
Athletes, especially those involved in sprinting, jumping, lifting type events, need carbohydrates to fuel the muscles during workouts and competition. Software exists that can help you to determine exactly what you need.
The brain needs carbohydrates to function, as well. For these individuals, an extremely low carbohydrate diet can be counterproductive, and at times dangerous. A low fat approach may be better. This does not mean eliminating all fat from the diet, there are some essential fats that the body needs to cushion and protect the organs, lubricate the joints, and build and manage hormones. These can be obtained through fish, nuts and seeds, and olive oil.
A person who is sedentary may need to lower carbohydrate intake because the body will not be using as many carbs for energy. Increasing lean protein sources and some of the healthy fats can offset the carbohydrates.
The body will need some carbohydrates for short-term energy needs and to feed the brain. Extra carbohydrates must be stored and the only storage area for these is fat.
Cardiovascular, especially long duration, exercise uses fat for the main energy source. Long-term energy is produced by the aerobic energy system and this system relies on the break down of fats for energy. This was the original basis for the low fat diet, thinking that decreasing the fat in the diet would require more fat to be liberated from fat stores. In reality, this is backwards. Just as in the starvation response explained above, the body will hoard nutrients, as well. Knowing that fat is a potent energy source and can be used for long-term energy needs, the body will protect its fat stores. If there is fat coming in through the diet it will be more willing to let some be taken from the fat stores for current energy needs.
This doesn’t mean a diet of only fat is a healthy, or wise, choice, but including some healthy fats in the diet, about 20-25% of the daily intake of calories, is a good idea when trying to lose fat. You can monitor your diet with Software that can help you to determine exactly what you need.
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