When it comes to the food we eat, it’s actually fairly simple. There are three macronutrients: protein, fats, and carbohydrates. These three food categories should be taught and understood by every American in grade school. Instead, they taught us misinformation about ill-fated Food Pyramids and My Plate. Our education system was manipulated by corporations and industries to preach percentages and portions of daily food, that served their interest, not optimal health. Those educational tools failed to teach us and our children why and when we should choose each category of food as fuel. It also placed the highest priority on carbohydrates instead of proteins and fats.
If someone was trying to weaken and sicken society, they’d have them eat the bulk of their food from carbohydrates. Taking away protein, because of the perceived health risk of heart disease from saturated fat, leads to a very unhealthy and weak body. Telling everyone to eat “fat free” foods, and limit saturated fat (an essential natural fat), leads to an unhealthy immune system and nutrient-robbed brain function. It turns out that our ancestors knew these simple facts about protein and fats. All hunter-gather societies prioritized these macronutrients and splurged occasionally and seasonally, on carbohydrates (honey, berries, etc). When we send nutritional aid to malnourished children around the world we send eggs, meat, and dairy. These protein and fat nutrient-dense foods nourish their developing brains and bodies. We don’t usually send processed foods like cereal, chips, cookies, pasta, and candy.
Protein is king. It makes up the tissues and frame of the body. All muscle, bone, skin, hair, and cell structure is made from protein. It makes up the enzymes that power many chemical reactions and the hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the blood. Protein is made from 23 basic building blocks called amino acids. There are nine essential amino acids that must come from the foods that we eat. These nutrient-dense superfoods are beef, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy.
Fat is essential for life. Dietary fats provide long lasting energy and support healthy cell function. It also protects our organs and helps sustain body heat through thermoregulation. Fat keeps cholesterol and blood pressure under control, and assists with absorption of vital nutrients. Fat is essential for healthy brain function. Over 70% of our brain matter is made from fat. We have been misled as a society that there are good fats and bad fats. Saturated fat comes from animal-based protein sources and was mislabeled bad fats. How can this be, when we humans produce saturated fat and it’s essential to life? The truth is that saturated fat is normal and healthy. These nutrient-dense superfoods include fatty fish, avocado, nuts, olives, and seeds.
Carbohydrates are energy and vitamins. Carbohydrates come in many forms. The preferred sources are fruits and vegetables. These contain vitamins, minerals, and essential fiber. These can be thought of as prebiotics because they are the nutrients for our gut biome. Our happy healthy bacteria in our gut needs these fiber-rich foods for fuel. The carbs we should avoid at all costs include: processed foods, sweetened foods, cereals, overly-processed breads, pasta, fruit drinks, coffee drinks, smoothies, sodas, and candy.
We at Fast Eat Live help our clients to organize these three macronutrients into phases 1, 2, and 3 each week. This creates balance, places value on the best nutrients, and prioritizes foods you love with events and with people. Our motto is to “Live a life worth celebrating!” Contact us for questions or help in learning how to eat with purpose at faseatlive.com. ◆
