Food Is Your Fuel...What Are You Running On?

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What exactly is nutrition? Is it simply knowing that an apple is healthier than a brownie? Or does it imply a specific type of diet? Nutrition, by definition, means providing your body with the proper nutrients allowing for proper growth and development. More simply put, nutrition and eating right gives you nutrients and energy while satisfying hunger. Nutrition is NOT a means of satisfying stress, depression, or boredom.​Think of it this way: food is your fuel, what are you running on? Just like you have to put gasoline in your car for it to run properly, we have to supply our bodies with the proper foods so that it will “run” properly also. So, what is in our “gasoline”. Our gasoline aka food is made up of 3 main components: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. About half of our diet should be carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of fuel or energy. Good sources of carbohydrates are whole grains such as breads, pastas, rice and cereal. Protein should be around a fourth of our diet. Good sources of protein include lean meats such as chicken and fish as well as beans. Fat should be approximately a third of the diet and is essential for proper growth and absorption of some vitamins and minerals. Just be sure to choose the “good” fats. Good fats are liquid at room temperature such as olive oil as well as those found in nuts and nut butters.​ The amount of calories you need a day depends on your height, weight, age, and gender. It also depends on how many times you exercise and at what intensity. One pound of fat equals 3,500 calories. This means that if you want to lose weight, you must burn off 3,500 calories to lose one pound. The opposite is true in that if you want to gain weight, it takes 3,500 calories to gain one pound. On average, a person’s natural metabolism burns 1,000 calories a day. This metabolism is characterized by day-to-day living activities such as breathing. Whether you are looking to lose or gain weight, just keep in mind the fuel you are putting into your body!

Stephanie Bailey, Dietetic Intern, University of Memphis

BIOMechaniks: Train the mind and the body will follow