Why Do We Eat?

INTRODUCTION

Do we ever stop for a moment and think 'Why do we eat?' What is the purpose of shoveling food into our mouths on a daily basis, multiple times? Are we consciously thinking of the nutritional content, or lack of it and the subsequent impact that has on our health and wellness? Or do we just continue following the promotions in our high street stores, eating the produce that looks appealing and which promises benefits of health and weight loss? As long as it tastes good and we feel full that is all that matters, right?

Food today is without doubt part of a screwed up industry. Many processed brands and foodstuffs will promote their products as being 'healthy' or as being beneficial to 'aid weight loss' and yet the irony is that the real and whole food that do offer these benefits, like fruit and vegetables, are just left to self promote with very little in the way of advertisement boards enticing you to spend your coin on that product range. How mad is that? More importantly, WHY is that? Well without prejudice to any major brands, I personally think it is all down to money and profit margins. In fruit and veg there is probably less profit to be made compared to mass produced processed food, what do you think?

Society is caught up in a vortex of confusion not knowing what to eat and what is good for us and what is not. So, in this article I thought I would promote some information relating to vitamins and minerals that we need together statistics showing how we, as a Nation (UK) are falling short of those needs.

VITAMINS & MINERALS

The basic purpose of eating is to fuel our bodies with the right vitamins and nutrients to allow our bodies to operate and to exist. To provide the energy and protein required to sustain us in daily work, for growth and repair of bone, muscle and tissue. To support the immune system and to ensure that our bodily functions operate in the manner that we need them to in order to live a healthy and long existence. Nutrition can be a complex subject, however, I hope to break it down into something a little more manageable to understand.

5 MAIN FOOD GROUPS

If we live our lives and eat from a well balanced diet then we stand to benefit physically as a person. Essentially there are 5 main food groups that we should be feeding from, these are:

1. FAT - There are many types, two main types being Saturated and Unsaturated. It is a good choice to avoid saturated fats. Animal fat in particular like sausages, ham, bacon pies should be avoided.
2. PROTEIN - Essential for growth and repair and can include meat, fish, eggs, beans, pulses & nuts
3. CARBOHYDRATES - 2 types, Sugars and Starches. The latter being more fulfilling than the former. These can include Sugars: Bread, sweets, sugar, biscuits AND Starches: Whole grains, potatoes, brown rice.
4. VITAMINS - The most essential vitamins are A, B vitamins, C, D, E & K which benefit the body in the following ways:

• Vitamin A - Assists immune system in fighting infection
• B Vitamins - Whole range of B vitamins which help the body store energy, help create red blood cells etc...
• Vitamin C - Assists the body in healing tissues, organs....
• Vitamin D - Beneficial to the bones
• Vitamin E - Supports the immune system
• Vitamin K - Helps with the clotting of blood

5. MINERALS - These fall into 2 main categories, Micronutrients and Macronutrients. Which can include the following:

• Macronutrients - Carbohydrates - Proteins - Fats - Fibre & Water
• Micronutrients - Vitamin A, Bvitamins, Vitamins C, D, E, K and Chromium - Copper - Iodine - Manganese - Molybdenum - Zinc - Selenium

SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM

By eating a balanced diet consisting of the above vitamins and nutrients we should be getting everything we need to live and perform at an optimal level? Well, not necessarily so. Buying vegetables and fruit and expecting a certain payback in terms of nutritional content is nowhere near as guaranteed as it used to be. Fruit and veg do not have the same levels of nutrition that they had 30/40 years ago due to a number of reasons which largely include a higher yield in crops (more crops being grown in a given space), soil being over harvested, genetic modification of food, insecticides and pesticides. All of these have indicated that fruit and vegetables of today can have anywhere between 5-40% less vitamins and minerals and similar reduction in protein*.

This creates the problem and indeed misconception that people believe they are eating a healthy, nutritiously dense diet, however, in probable reality, they are falling well below the recommended levels of nutrition. There is of course, the option of organically grown food and the endorsed 'Buying Local' method to get what many believe, a better quality of food. Although this comes at a price and rarely, if ever is organically prepared food as affordable as mass produced.

Listed below are some statistics that, whilst may not be a direct link to the reduction in nutritional content of our food, show the lack of nutrition in general in our diets as a nation. All statistics were taken from the National Diet & Nutrition Survey (NDNS) which is a rolling program surveying 1000 (500 adult, 500 children) subjects each year. The following information is from the Survey years 1 to 9, 2008/2009 to 2016/2017.

1. Over 9 year period (2008/2017) all age and sex groups mean fruit and vegetable intake was below the 5 a day recommended limit.
2. All age and sex groups showed a significant reduction in Vitamin A and folate.
3. There was a significant decrease over time in Sodium intake in all the age and sex groups.
4. Significant increase in intake of Vitamin A, D and folate with increasing income for all age and sex groups. There was also an increase of micro nutrients with increased income.
5. Vitamin D concentrations were lowest in all age and sex groups during January to March and higher during July to September. Between January and March the following, as a percentage, were lower than the threshold of 25nmol/L which is classed as being 'at risk from deficiency':

a. 19% 4 to 10 yr old

b. 37% 11 to 18 yr old

c. 29% adults

The above statistical information is simply alarming. It clearly indicates an inherent problem with the nutritional intake among those who took part in the surveys, and therefore comparable to our society in general. It can be clearly seen that there is a reduction of vital nutrients being consumed with the increased risk potential to health and wellness of those involved. The data at No 4 above, relating to Vitamin A, D and folate, strongly suggested that a healthy and nutritional diet was achievable more by those with an elevated income.

OBESITY

In additional to the apparent nutritional deficit in our diets, we are also experiencing, a significant rise in obesity as a nation. The statistics below were been taken from the 'Obesity - House of Commons Briefing Paper, No: 3336 dated 20th March 2018':

1. Obesity levels are higher among 45 - 74 year olds

2. Obesity levels have increased from 15% to 26% since 1993

3. 1 in 10 children are obese by 5 years old and 1 in 5 by the age of 11 years old

4. The paper presented that, out of every 100 adults:

a. 26 are obese (BMI >30)

b. 3 are morbidly obese (BMI >40)

c. 35 are overweight (BMI >25)

d. 37 are normal weight (BMI 18.5 - 24.9)

e. 2 are underweight (BMI <18.5)

WHAT CAN WE DO?

The single most important decision to make in our lives, has got to be that of incorporating a Lifestyle Change. By changing those habits that come with an elevated risk of illness or disease. Those risks that we may not see manifesting yet, but ones that are sure to catch up with us, the older we get. We need to make decisions NOW that our future self with thank us for. We need to UNDERSTAND THE CONSEQUENCES associated with our actions, the cause and effect!

Exercise is a key component of a healthy lifestyle and it is not necessary for this to be significant exertion, but just enough to raise the heart rate from its resting rate over a sustained period, progressively increasing over time. Any exercise regime should of course be planned and balanced to include strength/resistance training and cardio respiratory training, for maximum benefit.

Diet (as in what we eat ALL of the time, not just for a few days or weeks), is also a key part of a healthy lifestyle and there are suggestions out there that your appearance and health is 80% based on what you eat and 20% on what you do in the gym! You are what you eat and if you shovel junk into your body, then do not expect to be blessed with good health and wellness. The body needs nutrition, FACT, so give it what it needs and your body WILL reward you.

ISAGENIX - RESULTS YOU CAN'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE!

It is true, Isagenix produces nutritionally rich products that fulfill the basic performance needs of the body by providing, in every Isalean shake:

1. 22 Vitamins and minerals in EVERY shake

2. The equivalent nutrition to 3 plates of organically grown food

3. 8g of Fibre

4. 24g Undenatured Whey Protein

All of the essential vitamins, minerals, fats, fibre, protein, macro and micro nutrients captured in deliciously tasty shakes. Shakes that are scientifically tested and proven to work and that come with a 100% money back guarantee. Results you can't get anywhere else! Products that can significantly support health and overall wellness.

I incorporate the Isagenix products into my lifestyle, and as can be seen from the picture above, they clearly work for me and have left me feeling more alive than I have for a long time. I am happier in my own skin, with more energy and with better sleep. Lethargy is no longer part of my life and I can complete a days work, training in the gym and still have enough energy to prevent me falling asleep in front of the TV :) Life is Good!

For further information on the Isagenix products and associated programs please feel free to Link in with me and message me, I will be more than happy to help you in anyway I can.

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References:

*Donald R Davis PhD, University of Texas, Austin, USA as published in 'Hortscience'

**The National Diet & Nutrition Survey (NDNS) is a rolling program, cross sectional survey designed to assess the diet, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the general population (UK) aged from 1.5 years upwards. It draws its statistics from 1000 people (500 adults/500 children) who take part each year. Further information can be found at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/772434/NDNS_UK_Y1-9_report.pdf