We all have a choice when it comes to our meals and snacks; we can have something healthy, as in a grilled chicken sandwich on whole wheat, or not healthy, as in the double-meat, double cheese burger and large order of fries; we can choose an apple with some peanut butter, or six oreos. In fact, in doesn't even have to be the large order or several cookies, it can be a small amount - it's really the kind of food.
Your body stores the foods you eat (in the form of glucose) in your muscles, liver and fat tissue. When you eat foods of low nutritional value, as in white bread, potatoes, and cookies, your body releases a hormone called insulin; a high amount of insulin in your body prevents these foods from being metabolized properly, and instead of being able to use this food in the form of glucose for energy, it stores all this as fat. Carbohydrates are the first thing your body uses for energy, but it has to be the right kind - complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables. These enter your bloodstream slowly, so doesn't allow for this big release of insulin, thereby allowing your food to be used as energy and not stored as fat. When these complex carbohydrates are combined with protein and/or good fats, it limits the release of insulin even more, further putting your body in fat-burning mode. Not only do things like white bread and cookies prevent fat-loss, but they also result in you feeling fatigued and sluggish - AND they make you feel hungry again right away. Making the right choices results in a steady, even stream of energy into your muscles, and a steady decrease in what you see on your scale! Have a good week - Melissa
