There are three macronutrients (or “macros”): carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Many diets out there claim you should be avoiding carbohydrates like the plague, but not all carbohydrates are the devil. Restricting any macronutrient could lead to nutritional deficiencies and other health issues as a consequence. That said, some carbohydrates are better than others.
When you’re Heading Healthy, you’ll want to concentrate on whole, real (i.e. complete) foods and try to avoid refined carbohydrates. Complete foods have many things to offer your body in the way of micronutrients, vitamins and minerals – along with energy. Man made foods are stripped of all their essential factors through the refining process. This means, they are empty calories.
Try to remember that “eating” is meant to be an activity by which we refuel our bodies. We often forget the true goal of eating because we are so easily distracted by tasty smells, yummy textures and mouth watering advertisements. Our bodies, however, don’t. They require vitamins and minerals to survive; to build new muscle, brain matter, even bone. Wonder why you’re always hungry after eating a donut? That’s because it’s nutritionally void of anything your body truly needs! So, when your body finishes storing all that unnecessary sugar as fat, it reaches out for more – in hopes you’ll eventually swallow something it can use!
Let’s compare one of our favorite staples, Kale, to another food many claim to be “healthy,” Whole Wheat Bread.
Gram for gram, Kale has 200% more Vitamin A and Vitamin C. A single serving of Kale (1 cup) also has more Iron, Vitamin B-6 and Magnesium than a single slice of Whole Wheat Bread. Not to mention, Kale has ZERO sugars. [1] You body also needs the right balance of Sodium and Potassium. If you’re on the standard American diet, you’re likely getting way too much of the former and not enough of the latter – which means you’re likely suffering from increased thirst, fluid retention, acne, cramping and high blood pressure (all signs of a potassium deficiency). [2]
Hungry? I guess you could have two slices of lifeless whole wheat bread (crust optional). Of course, your body isn’t going to get much of anything out of it other than a huge insulin spike, the blood sugar crash an hour later, followed by the urge to eat more, and after years of this practice…disease. Why? Because your body isn’t getting what it needs.
Instead, why not eat a huge bowl of Kale sauteed in some Walnut oil and lightly showered in sea salt! Your body will use all that Vitamin A towards better vision, the Vitamin C towards a healthy immune system, the Calcium towards supporting strong bones and teeth, the Iron towards oxygen rich blood, the Magnesium towards relaxing your body, and the Vitamin B-6 towards making serotonin (which among other things reduces anxiety and depression). [3] The healthy fats from the walnut oil will keep you satiated way longer than any bread product, and you’ll get the added boost of all the trace minerals from the sea salt (which, by the way, may reduce the signs of aging, prevent muscle cramps and regulate your sleep). [4]
Wanna lose weight and eat your kale, too? Have as much as you want!
[1] Google.com
[2] https://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/low-potassium-hypokalaemia
[3] https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/serotonin
[4] https://draxe.com/10-benefits-celtic-sea-salt-himalayan-salt/
