More Cavemen In Sports?

Because of my life long involvement in sports, I always get excited when I see athletes go paleo.  Athletes need to eat optimally to maximize performance.  The status quo for fueling an athlete was always loading them up with "complex carbohydrates".  The tide is turning.  A friend emailed me this article on Grant Hill and Steve Nash, two of the best but oldest players on the NBA's Pheonix Suns.  

Grant Hill and Steve Nash

"You see a guy like Grant (Hill) come here and it seems like he's drinking from the fountain of youth,"

We're not sure what Hill's been drinking during this healthy run in Phoenix, but we know that he - like Nash - follows a consistent, comprehensive training regimen. This includes a diet that, according to witnesses, is about as a strict as what you see on those reality TV survival programs.

OK, they're probably not wolfing down handfuls of pre-game crickets, but chicken, fish, dried fruit, vegetables and raw nuts are in, while pasta, rice, breads and other processed foods routinely are out.

Sounds like paleo to me.  Nutrition really is the fountain of youth. Exercise without the proper food will do nothing but wear you down and make you hungry.


CP

What Are We Made Of?

Just thought you should see this chart.  Two major organs of human body are mostly water (as I am sure the rest are too).  The second most common component of the brain is fat (lipids).  The second most common component of muscle is protein.  

Composition of Brain and Muscle
	Skeletal Muscle (%)	Whole Brain (%)
Water	75	77 to 78
Lipids	5	10 to 12
Protein	18 to 20	8
Carbohydrate	1	1
Soluble organic substances	3 to 5	2
Inorganic salts	1	1
(Reference: McIlwain, H. and Bachelard, H.S., Biochemistry and the Central Nervous System, Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1985)

Carbohydrates can be naturally produced by the body to cover the 1% composition of the muscles and brain.  Although, I am not advocating zero carb, the body runs very well on low carb.  Yet "experts" recommend time and time again we eat more "healthy carbs" and less "deadly fats".  "Experts" will usually say moderate amounts of protein should be consumed.  The problem is that complete sources of protein are usually bound to fat in the form of animal products.  A catch 22 if you want to eat unprocessed, real foods.


Based on the composition of our bodies and the composition of the Standard American Diet, it is no wonder that people are increasingly getting weaker and having psychological issues.  As for the preponderance of carbohydrates in the SAD diet, the brain and muscles don't want more than 1% of carbs so the body stores it in the adipose tissue cells.  


CP

Gas Prices Hitting Your Pocket Book?

Gas prices are crazy and they are going to get worse.  Here's an idea to help you save some money elsewhere.  Drink water.  It's nearly free at home or about 1 cent per cup if you choose to filter it.  Clean sources of water are usually available at the work place and are almost always free.  Yup, it is that simple to save.  Soda, soft drinks, or pop as it's called around these parts costs over $10 per gallon.  It certainly isn't as good for you as plain, old water.  Water is the only liquid anyone ever needs to put in their mouth.  After a period of removing soft drinks from your diet, you will find water very quenching.  I can guzzle a glass of cold water in a matter of seconds and absolutely love it.


Let me be clear though, water is not the only liquid I drink but it probably consists of 75% of what ends up in my belly.  I do get crazy on occasion and treat myself.  The other 25% is homemade smoothies, tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages.  Coffee and tea are also inexpensive but I don't drink a lot of either because of the way they can make me feel.  Wired and sometimes nauseous.  Anyways, that is what I drink but if you are not convinced to stop drinking soft drinks for financial reasons, how about for health reasons?


Here are some key stats from a study regarding regular and diet soft-drink drinkers.

For regular soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:

• 26% for up to 1/2 can each day
• 30.4% for 1/2 to one can each day
• 32.8% for 1 to 2 cans each day
• 47.2% for more than 2 cans each day.

For diet soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:

• 36.5% for up to 1/2 can each day
• 37.5% for 1/2 to one can each day
• 54.5% for 1 to 2 cans each day
• 57.1% for more than 2 cans each day.

The study referenced is here.  Easy to read article is here.  Too bad they also didn't compare non soft-drink drinkers.

The crazy thing is people who drink "diet" soft-drinks are doing it to lose weight yet they are the ones who are more likely to become overweight.  I am not going to speculate on the cause of this phenomena.  I am not sure whether diet beverages are actually causing people to become overweight.  It could be likely that overweight people happen to drink diet soda more often.  In the end, it's crap and it's not helping anyone lose weight.


CP

Just Say No!

Thank you to Bonnie's Blog for pointing me to this video.  As a follow up to my post yesterday, here is  a talk from a former pharmaceutical drug rep.  I can tell you from my professional experience and from the work experiences of very close friends, this women speaks the truth.  Funny thing is she references a video I posted here.  She really hits on psychiatric drugs.  Maybe one should look further into the gut-brain relationship before relying on medication.


Are you fixing your health problem(s) or becoming a drug addict?




I don't know your personal situation or why you may be on a "maintenance drug".  Don't use this excuse because a myriad of ailments can be CURED or drastically reduced by eating the right foods and not eating the wrong ones.


CP