Nutrition: this word is music to our ears, and its harmonious tone makes our health dance for joy.  We know our bodies like good nutrition and depend upon it to thrive, but even with this universal comprehension, the drive-through line at McDonald’s continues to grow and super-sized meals are still in style.  Why do people constantly choose taste over nutrition content?  Maybe they assume that something so pleasing to their palate can’t be entirely harmful to their body.  Even though the word “nutrition” has a positive connotation, the complex question still remains: why is nutrition important?

To respond to this query, let’s first examine what happens when nutrition is ignored.  What if a person solely consumed fast food, focusing their diet around grease instead of essential vitamins?  The 2004 documentary, Super Size Me, tests this theory and follows Morgan Spurlock on his 30 day junk food experiment, where every meal consists of McDonalds and every “super size” offering must be accepted.  During this month of indulgence, Morgan experiences physical and emotional health complications including mood swings, illness, and liver damage, and it takes him 14 months to lose the 24 pounds he gains.  The final destination of his fried fare journey could have easily been predicted, as it is no surprise chronic fast food consumption encourages obesity, disease, and a desolated state of mind.

Why does bad food make us feel so crummy, and what is it about good nutrition that makes our internal organs flourish?  Basically, our bodies need sustenance from a balanced amount of carbohydrates, protein, and fat, along with additional vitamins and of course, water.  Most of the foods we consume contain more than one essential nutritional component.  So if the ever-famous Big Mac contains carbs, fat, and protein, why is it considered unhealthy?  It is all about choosing the “right” foods in these categories, and if our cuisine choices don’t contain vital minerals, the three necessary nutrition groups can’t perform properly.  Read on to find out what their important roles are within our bodies:

Carbohydrates: Aw the controversial carb!  So many people view carbs as the enemy, when they are infact our body’s main source of energy.  They are broken down into glucose, which fuels our bodies.  We need to ensure we acquire the adequate amount of carbohydrate; low carb consumption will leave us tired and unenergized, and if we consume too many carbs, the excess glucose will be stored as fat.  We also need to be careful and picky with our carb selection, choosing foods comprised of whole grains and fiber (brown bread, black beans, fruits, and vegetables) and shunning the simple carbs formulated from simple sugars and refined flour (like that Big Mac bun).  The latter not only promotes weight gain, but since simple sugars are metabolized quickly, they will give us a short lived burst of energy then leave us feeling lethargic, sluggish, and hungry.

Protein:  When we consume protein, our bodies break it into amino acids, and these crucial units work hard to build and repair many tissues and organs including our muscles, skin, bones, eyes, and hair.  Protein also strengthens and assists internal functions such as immunity, metabolism, and digestion.  Be sure to make wise protein decisions such as lean poultry, egg whites, and low fat dairy.  Red meat is acceptable in moderation, but ensure you’re consuming lean cuts (ostrich and bison are also good picks) and not a fat-ladened slab like the patty of the Big Mac.

Fat: Since our bodies cannot manufacture healthy fat, we need to obtain it through food to ensure proper cellular function.  This dietary requirement transports vital nutrients throughout our body, but it is critical to know the difference between the good fats and bad fats.  Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are our friends, and they faithfully benefit our cardiovascular health.  We can find them in fare such as nuts, avocados, seeds, and olive oil.  Omega3, a polyunsaturated fat component, is especially beneficial, and it holds the power to prevent heart-related ailments and rejuvenate our skin.  Certain fish, such as salmon, mackerel, and herring, are rich in omega3s.  Saturated and trans-fats are our enemies and have an opposite effect on our heart, leading to health complications such as obesity, high cholesterol, stroke, clogged arteries, and other chronic illnesses.  Your health begs you to not consume this unhealthy fat, which can be found in cookies, cake, candy, other processed foods, butter, and fatty meats such as, that’s right, the Big Mac patty!

Vitamins and Minerals: Our bodies depend upon a variety of vitamins and minerals to facilitate and augment chemical reactions: vitamin A enhances our vision, vitamin B assists our body to convert carbs to energy, vitamin C strengthens our immunity, zinc aids our metabolism, and the list goes on and on.  These essentials are derived from healthful foods, such as fruits and vegetables, and if our diet fails to be nutritionally balanced, we can become deficient of a vital mineral.

Water: We’ve all heard that if we’re stranded on a deserted island, we could survive longer without food than water.  This is because our bodies are comprised of mostly water, and this substance is needed to shape and energize cells and enable our organs to function properly.  Dehydration carries heavy consequences, and even mild forms of this condition can reduce our metabolism by 3%.  Therefore, drink up, and enjoy this refreshing, calorie-free beverage!

If a food contains no nutrition value, it cannot enhance bodily operations and serves as empty calories.  By now it should be evident that a fast food addiction is a dangerous obsession.  I’m not saying that you can never visit the golden arches; our bodies allow the occasional “cheat,” and it takes 3500 calories to gain a pound.  However fast food, along with any junk food, should be viewed as a rare treat and not a lifestyle.  Our bodies begin to crave our most frequently consumed foods.  Therefore, wean yourself off McDonald’s, and train your taste buds to enjoy nutritionally-rich fare.  If you find yourself falling victim to habitual fast food ingestion, remember what our buddy Morgan endured, or better yet, rent the movie!   

Train Well, Eat Well and Live Well with www.TrainEatLive.com