Gettin' Schooled

So...I started reading this book about 4 months ago (and, yes, I will start every post with, "so..."). I say that I started it because like most books, I haven't finished it yet...but I want to...really bad...when I have more time (hahahaha) because it is a really interesting book. It is called, "The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood," by Dr. Sears (the dad) and his whole family. It not only made me think a lot about what I am feeding my kids but it also made me think about my own nutrition - which is why I am writing about it now.

The ideas of "metabolic programming" and "nutrigenetics" got me thinking. I am going to do my best to explain them with my half-functioning mommy brain, so here goes:

Our cells were programmed to accept the optimal energy source - fruits, vegetables, and proteins. (ding-dongs and onion rings - not so much) When that energy source is readily available, our bodies function properly and our cells are happy (I chose the word, "happy," it's not very scientific, but it helps for me to see my cells with happy faces). When we eat a lot of processed, junky food, our cells don't know what to do with it, so they morph and adapt to accept this foreign energy source. We are still able to function, but we are sluggish, foggy, cranky, sick, and tired. Our body starts to produce chemicals that wreak all kinds of havoc on our cardiovascular system, organs, and our immune systems. In fact, the chemicals trigger the immune system and it starts attacking our own bodies...that is a whole other topic though. The best part is that our body can recover...even though it is best to eat the "right" way from the start...as adults we can still undo some of the damage that has been done and retrain our gut to crave good foods rather than junk. The process will take time and will in the beginning require a lot of more thinking and planning, but eventually the cells can be restored. You see this happen on shows like the Biggest Loser when people walk in with Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure and walk out healthy.

Isn't that fascinating? ;) It really makes you think about how perfect God made our bodies down to every little cell! It gives me hope.

A friend of mine, who is very wise, uses the phrase, "fake it 'til you make it." I like that phrase. Until all of this stuff becomes habit and is second-nature to me, I am going to be that annoying consumer...you know the one I am talking about. The one who stands for like and hour in front of the cereals at the grocery store with a calculator and a WW book trying to find the healthiest one. The one who looks at every label scouring it for ingredients that they can't pronounce. I AM going to spend an hour deciding what I can eat at Chili's before we leave (I did this last night), I WILL ask for the nutrition facts while we are at the restaurant (I also did this), and by golly I am going to smile all the way to the car knowing that I made a good choice!