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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Day 81 - You Are What You Eat


We have all heard this term before, but don't think that everything you put in your mouth stays in your body and is digested. Just keep in mind, there are things that come out the other end - and that will be as far as I go with that!

When you eat your food, your teeth chew it up, then the juices in your stomach breaks things down further into a paste. This paste then travels through your intestines where the nutrients are absorbed through the spongy walls. For most people, however, 5-10% of this paste just keeps passing on through and is expelled as waste. 

For the most part, fat digests easily and passes through the intestinal walls quickly. Keep in mind that animal protein sources are absorbed better than plant-based sources. Then we come to carbs. Glucose and starchy carbs (i.e. chocolate, potatoes) are absorbed rapidly, whereas high-fiber carbs like in fruits, vegetables and grains take their sweet time passing through your system.

Not only that, but fiber seems to prevent your body from absorbing certain calories and can even lower cholesterol levels. Therefore, a specific amount of broccoli and chocolate may register as the same number of calories in a laboratory, but that does not mean that they act the same way in your body.

Studies have shown that individuals with high-fiber diets have close to 20% of their daily ingested calories move through their digestive system without being absorbed. Less calories this way can lead to less body fat!

Quote of the day:
"Happiness is more a state of health than of wealth."
-Frank Tyger


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