The food you eat is so much more than calories.

I’m sure you’ve heard the term that it’s simply “calories in, calories out”.  If you just maintain your energy balance, you’ll lead a long and healthy life, it’s that easy.  Except, that just isn’t the case.  Our body consists of complex, intricate systems that work together to maintain the balance needed to sustain life.  The food that we consume is meant to provide the many nutrients needed to maintain these systems.  The macronutrients; carbohydrates, proteins and fats, provide the energy sources to keep our organs functioning and cells alive.  The micronutrients, such as calcium or vitamin C, are essential for the complex processes such as bone mineralisation and wound healing.

When you sit down to a plate of roast chicken with sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts, it’s so much more than a tasty meal.  The chicken is providing protein that gets broken down into individual amino acids that are used to make hormones, neurotransmitters and enzymes.  The sweet potato will be broken down into glucose molecules that are essential for brain function and muscle contraction, provide antioxidants that prevent cell damage and fibre that to keep your gut bacteria happy.  The brussel sprouts are also a source of fibre, which keeps your bowel movements regular, improving your heart health. Olive oil is a great source of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, which are linked to improved heart health.

So rather than looking at your food in terms of how many calories it contains and how much exercise you’ll need to do to burn them off.  Think about your cells, organs and gut bacteria and question if what is going into your mouth is going to help them out or make their job harder.