Why Fuel Matters
​
"Eat the food that fuels you, not just the food that moves your senses."
​
Lindsay Malone, MS, RD, CSO, LD
​
Food is the fuel that runs our bodies. Just like you wouldn’t put sludge in your gas tank - you want to be mindful of what you eat every day.
We know through research that food isn’t just food. Yes, food provides energy and also tastes good but food also:
-
Supports brain health and cognitive function
-
Influences our genes
-
Prevents common chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and dementia
-
Speeds recovery by repairing the body at a cellular level
-
Controls our energy levels and the quality of that energy
-
Supports healthy body composition (fat vs muscle, bones, etc.)
My view of nutrition is through an approach called Functional and Integrative Medicine. This perspective views the body as one whole organism, not separate pieces that are addressed individually.
A common analogy we use is a tree. If you imagine the human body like a tree and the branches and leaves are our various organs and systems.
​
​
​
Traditional medicine addresses problems mostly at the top of the tree - almost as if to only water the leaves of a dying tree. Functional and Integrative Medicine will focus on the roots of the tree - much like you would logically do in your own backyard.
The roots of the tree are the essential components.
-
Nutrition
-
Exercise
-
Stress
-
Rest/relaxation
-
Relationships
We know that nourishing the roots of the tree is the best way to create health and treat disease in the branches and leaves of the tree. The same goes for the human body. A solid foundation is required to achieve optimal health.
Food, as a central component of a healthy root system, functions as medicine (not “like” medicine) but actually as medicine - healing the body at a cellular level. Healthy cells build healthy tissues and healthy tissues build healthy organs and organ systems. You get the idea.
Of course, taste is an important consideration - we are wired to eat food that tastes good. But, keep in mind that whether you are recovering from an injury or working towards achieving optimal health, the question entering your mind at chow time should not only be “What tastes good?” but also “How do I want to show up today?” and “How will this food support me and my body today?”.
With these questions in mind, you are more likely to eat the food the fuels you, not just the food that moves your senses!
Let’s hear it! Tell us about the important work on your agenda for today with the #fuelmoverecover