Episode 4 - Eating and Nutrition

This episode can have a profound impact on your brain, body, health, and happiness, and the topic is the E from our TEAM acronym, which stands for eating. Eating (or nutrition) can be a complex and multifaceted subject, but the key thing to remember is this…..it's all about fueling our bodies and minds with the nutrients and energy we need to live well and operate optimally; it’s not just about weight or excess fat we carry. Nutrition goes well above that, and I discuss that on this episode. Here’s an analogy….“Gas vehicles are designed to use one energy source - gas. If you start putting other items in your gas tank, your car won’t operate optimally, internal parts can be damaged, and you can quite literally destroy it. The human body is similar. We weren’t designed to put all of the things in our bodies that we are today, particularly in large quantities …the ultra processed foods, saturated fats, trans fats, excess amounts of sugar…….we are damaging our bodies and brains, not operating optimally, and some people are destroying themselves.” This episode is essentially a nutrition 101 and 102 class tied into one, and includes some of the most important information about healthy eating.  At the end I provide some simple strategies you can do to improve your eating habits as well as some helpful hacks to help you to sustain them.  I purposely avoid using the word “diet” because I think the word gets misused and is misunderstood….the failure rate of diets is incredibly high, and people that go on diets to lose weight often put more weight on than they started with. I believe nutrition is a lifestyle, not a short term fad. Hippocrates once said, "let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." If you want to feel good, look good, have more energy, operate optimally, and unleash your ultimate self, you have to commit to eating healthy. It's a non negotiable in terms of wellness. You can’t outwork or out exercise poor nutrition, its that simple.  You have to feed your body appropriate and adequate micronutrients and macronutrients.  While most people are aware that food impacts their body, but what you eat also has a direct correlation to your brain’s performance and overall health.  In fact, it can protect you against and lower the risk of suffering from many of the diseases that are common right now. This may sound obvious, but a healthy “diet” is one of the most important steps you can take for a healthy, happy, and productive life.  But, to be blunt, if it were that obvious more people would be doing it.  We are approaching obesity rates of nearly 50%, and the life expectancy of Americans ranks close to 50 out of almost 200 countries.  The Standard American Diet (or, SAD - how ironic) is awful for overall health, incredibly inflammatory, and a leading cause of many diseases and a shorter lifespan. Healthy nutrition is the foundation for a healthy body and mind, and it is important to understand the fundamentals of balanced nutrition that includes both macronutrients and micronutrients (“macros” and “micros,” as you may have heard it). Tune in to learn more!