Real Food
The following contains
information gleaned from a conversation with the pleasant and knowledgeable
Melissa Gauna, Certified Holistic Nutrition Consultant. Melissa will be presenting “Healthy Eating
for a Healthy Life” on Saturday, March 30, 2013, 3:30 pm, at Choe’s HapKiDo of
Cumming.
America has an obsession with food. We are either dealing
with obesity, or inundated with the latest diet
craze. Unfortunately, many of the fad
diets are, at best, based on partial information, and at worst, based on
misinformation. How do we navigate the
overwhelming amount of information available, and are there any nutritional
guidelines that work for everyone?
Fortunately, there is a simple, trustworthy answer to
getting back to healthy eating.
Basically, eat whole foods. Whole
foods are defined by anything that roams on the earth, swims in the water, and
grows from the ground. These foods
contain all the nutrients our bodies need to maintain optimal health;
carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
Each of these three macronutrients (carbs, fats, and
proteins) should be consumed in proper proportions. Carbs should make up 40%, fats 30%, and
proteins 30% of a balanced diet. Of
course, this is a very general guideline, and these percentages can be
individualized with the help of a nutrition consultant.
Here is a very brief list of some great sources of
macronutrients. Carbs are found in
fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, berries, kale, spinach, broccoli,
and cabbage. Look for healthy fats in
real organic butter, tropical oils (coconut oil), nuts and seeds, and
avocados. The best sources of proteins
are grass-fed beef, eggs, cold water fish (sardines), and wild game. Often proteins and fats are found together.
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| Healthy Living |
Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand. In order to get the most out of your workout
and provide your body with what it needs to lose weight and gain muscle, you
have to fuel your body with the right kinds of foods.
An hour or two before exercising, eat both
carbs and fats. Carbs, which provide your body with quick energy, are balanced
by fats that provide energy for a longer time. Then, an hour to an hour and a
half after exercising, eat foods containing protein such as trail mix, eggs,
chicken, or tuna. These protein-rich foods will help repair and build muscle.
So much of the processed food found in grocery stores barely
resembles whole foods. Processed foods lose many important natural nutrients
that are then replaced by synthetic nutrients.
Processed foods such as low-fat versions often contain lots of sugar.
Eating sugar laden foods can cause spikes in blood sugar. Our bodies can be stressed by working
overtime to even out these sugar spikes. Fat and fiber can help to even out
blood sugar.
Pay attention the next time you are at the grocery store. The whole foods are generally found around
the outside of the store. Stay away from
the aisles in the middle of the store.
For a healthy life, Melissa recommends, “Eat real food, exercise, enjoy
sunshine, and drink water.”
Susie R.
Kickboxing Instructor
Choe's HapKiDo Karate Academy of Martial Arts and Kickboxing in Cumming Suwanee GA
3020 Old Atlanta Rd
Cumming, GA 30041
(678) 513-5436
Susie
is an Instructor at the Cumming - Suwanee Location of Choe's HapKiDo
Karate. She teaches fitness kickboxing and Martial Arts. Choe's
HapKiDo of Cumming serves people in the Cumming, Suwanee, Johns Creek,
Duluth, Alpharetta and Buford areas of Georgia.
