All Calories are NOT Created Equal!

All Calories Are NOT Created Equal
5 Important Points to Keep In Mind

The most deceptive health secret is the calorie. Painted as an enemy and something to be avoided. This is not entirely true! Here are some easy pointers…

1. Quality or Quantity?: Turns out the quality of calories is more important than the amount. Mind you, portion control is needed… but the 50 calories of an apple are NOT the same as 50 calories from a snickers. One of them feeds your body and is utilized as fuel, the other… not so much; one guess as to which is which. Go for natural calories and nutrients, avoid chemicals and synthetic calories. 

2. You Might be Missing Out: With the stereotypical calorie “truths” we miss out on some needed high caloric foods such as avocados or nuts. These foods contain beneficial and much needed healthy fats, natural sugars, proteins, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. That is way to much goodness to deprive your body of based on a misconception of the calorie. 

3. Recommended calories for when Your hungry:First recommendation is eat 5-6 small healthy meals a day to avoid starvation. Let’s be honest though, without discipline time can get away from us and we miss meals. SO! When you have the massive munchies and need something quick go for 16 oz of water, wait a few minutes, and then follow up with something that is a balance of good fats, protein, and carbs. Ex: Natural Yogurt – 12 almonds – 1 small apple
My favorite way to make it easy on yourself with portioning and figuring out what types of food you need is the 21 Day Fix.

4. Order of your calories: Believe it or not there is an efficient order to eat food that leads to better digestion based on what it takes your body to metabolize them. Drink 16 oz. of water and wait a bit before your meal (drinking it during the meal actually dilutes the digestive juices slowing the process down) then proceed to: Fruit >greens >grains >meats >fats. 

5. Chew it: Take the time to chew… focus on it’s texture or savor the flavor. This activates all the metabolizing functions in your body from the mental stimulus to the digestive juices. Eating too fast slows the body’s ability to figure out it needs to start digesting and when it’s full which leads to way to many calories. Then, afterwards, you enter what my brother calls “Erf mode” you have food coma’d yourself to the point where your body has to focus all it’s energy on digesting leaving you exhausted.