nutritional_finance

Energy is a fascinating aspect of life. It is all around us and it's ebbs and flows effect our every moment. How we personally access and utilize energy is the very foundation of awareness and being in choice.

I've chosen recently to go back to basics by consulting with a an excellent nutritional coach, Gretchen Stemmer. The following are images which grew out of our conversations.

In regards to nutrition, we have a basic financial situation. We eat (earn) and store (save) nutritional currency that is utilized (spent) as energy during activity.

Carbohydrates are our main source of energy/fuel (funds/prosperity). The two primary forms which the body utilizes are glucose (ingested sugar/spending money) and glycogen (usable sugar stored in body tissues/emergency savings). If too few carbohydrates are take in then the body will need to withdraw from savings what is needed. This can be appropriate in an emergency situation. But as a lifestyle can lead to some serious nutritional financial crisis.

Erratic carbohydrates intake may be experienced as fatigue (poverty) due to blood sugar imbalance. Insulin is a hormone intricately involved in stabilizing blood sugar (prosperity). Temporary imbalance may result in the body's financial market going into a scare leading to low mood swings, fatigue, headaches and irritability. In it's extreme this is seen in an athlete "hitting the wall" and collapsing. Chronic imbalance can manifest as a full blown financial depression/market crash developing as diabetes or hypoglycemia.

The body also feels more prosperous when there is a balance in the relationship between the spending money and savings. This balance can provide a smoother, more consistent transformation of nutrients into activity.

Two basic ways to achieve and maintain this balance are to put into practice awareness concerning the speed in which specific carbohydrates are use by the body and how the timing of eating (making deposits) effects the ability to spend nutritional currency.

The carbohydrate menu offers both simple and complex carbohydrates. In the past it was thought that simple was fast acting and complex slow acting. Now it is realized that fasting acting carbohydrates include both simple and complex. On the one end fast acting carbohydrates break down easily and are quickly speed up system giving us a burst of energy appropriate for short term needs and emergencies. The frequent exclusive use of fast acting carbohydrates place the body in an energy pattern similar to drugs. This can increase the risk of addictive eating patterns. On the other end of the spectrum slow acting carbohydrates offer smoother more, consistent energy flow for long term energy needs. Slow acting carbohydrates offer less chaos reducing mood swings and crashes.

Fast acting carbohydrates include sugar, rice, bread, cereals, white potatoes, ripe bananas, carrots, oatmeal, honey, corn.

Moderate acting carbohydrates include pasta, rye, raisins, sweet potatoes, legumes (lima, navy, pinto, butter beans), peas, bulgur, couscous, beets, oranges, grapes.

Slow acting carbohydrates include apples, milk, yogurt, lentils, chickpeas, peanuts, peanut butter (without high sugar), soy beans, pears, peach, grapefruit.

The timing of eating can enable the most efficient use of energy. The traditional approach of three squares meals a day and the heaviness or lightness of a meal is arbitrarily based on culture rather than nutritional wisdom concerning activity needs. A more potent concept to incorporate is that food is best utilized within a three hour period of intake. This means that six smaller nutritional events a day during waking hours results in less energy used in digestion, generally less disruption to body systems and other functions and consistent energy/mood flow. Smaller amounts are also more easily digested offer better nutrient absorption and less wear & tear on digestive and elimination system. Meals then offer refreshment rather than the familiar sleep/coma feeling common after a Thanksgiving dinner.

A moderate amount of fat in the diet is essential for the absorption of fat soluble vitamins.

Fats and proteins in balanced eating also help slow down the effects of fast acting carbohydrates making them more usable over a longer period of time.

These ideas are just some basics. There are many concepts & theories concerning diet & nutrition. I encourage you keep learning about food and nutrition throughout life from many sources - books, nutritional coaches, etc. We are not only what we eat, but how we eat. Bon Appetite and enjoy !