All excess calories – no matter the source – become body fat. You know where you stand regarding this issue. Fat is comprised of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen – just like carbohydrate – but the quantity of carbon and hydrogen atoms far exceeds its oxygen counterpart. A gram of fat yields more than twice as many calories as a gram of either carbohydrate or protein.
Like protein, fat is integrated into the membrane of every cell, and fulfills many vital physiological and structural purposes in your body. Dietary fat insulates the body from exposure to low temperatures, lubricates your joints, mitigates organ trauma during concussive force, ensures the seamless function of endocrine glands and hormone production, and protects nerve tissue.
Dietary fat regulates blood pressure, heart rate, blood vessel constriction, blood clotting, and the nervous system. Dietary fat plays a role in the manner carbohydrate is utilized and serves as a source of energy when your carbohydrate supply is low. The delivery and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K to ensure overall health and vitality is yet another role of dietary fat.
Fat is a macro-nutrient. It has the capacity as a dietary component to provides energy like carbohydrate and protein. Not all fats are created equal. Cholesterol is another concern. Cholesterol is an alcohol lipid (sterol) found in animal fats. Plant foods are cholesterol-free. Your body produces the cholesterol it needs with precision. Excess cholesterol through your dietary choices will simply be harmful to your body. Eating harmful fats is hazardous to both your snowshoeing and your health.
Research repeatedly validates that dietary fat derived from plant sources [polyunsaturated and monounsaturated] best serve humans. The saturated fat found in animal foods have been linked to the chronic and degenerative diseases afflicting our society. These “Diseases of Affluence” include but are not limited to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Excess fat in the bloodstream – thanks to an elevated dietary intake – lines blood cells and vessels with plaque and limits oxygen transfer to your brain and muscles. Plaque inhibits insulin from transporting glucose to fuel the cells. This sustained inhibition creates high levels of blood sugar which fosters diabetes, candida, and the like. Your body does not have a daily recommended requirement for saturated fat; yet, these fatty acids are often the first types ingested – and it shows.
Poor dietary choices and a lack of physical activity have played significant roles in the overweight and obesity epidemic. The most recent data indicate that 72 percent of men and 64 percent of women are overweight or obese. The data also indicate that persons not overweight or obese contribute to the burgeoning number of chronic and degenerative diseases simply by adhering to the Standard American Diet (SAD).
Milk is a perfect example. This substance is highly-touted for its ability to provide your body with nourishment through vitamins and minerals for growth and vitality among other claims. Keeping your body in an alkaline state has more to do with bone health than a lack of dietary calcium.
Stress and consumption of acid-forming foods contribute to osteoporosis versus a lack of milk. North America consumes milk like there is no tomorrow – and our rate of osteoporosis is among the highest in the world. There are natural and plant-based sources for calcium, vitamin D, and the rest of what your body needs to thrive.
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