Why do we eat??

Have you ever really stopped and wondered why we eat? Is it just something we do when we get bored?  Or is it something we always do at certain times in the day because it’s the law, breakfast, lunch and dinner and basically any other time we feel like it…snack time?

We as humans need three things to survive: oxygen, water, and food.  We don’t really need a phone or and the internet although sometimes it feels like we have lost an arm if we don't have them.

We can live only a few minutes without oxygen, don’t try holding your breath that isn't a challenge!!! We can live only a few days without water. We can live much longer without food.  But it’s the food we eat—and more importantly, the nutrients that the food contains—that determines whether we simply survive, or thrive.

There are basically two types of nutrients in food. Firstly there are the macronutrients. These are the ones we all know about, are more familiar to us, and we commonly talk about, if we have nothing else to talk about; proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. How many times do we check food labels to see what’s in the food, me, probably hardly ever did. And the only time I did was when I had nothing else to do. But the marconutrients are the ones that we’d probably look at.

Then there are the micronutrients. These are vitamins, minerals, and other compounds required in smaller amounts for our bodies to function normally.  These are probably less familiar to us. But in fact these are essential to us. Every single process that happens in our bodies depends on these micronutrients to work. They really are the tools for your body to repair itself and function properly.

Our bodies are fantastic. They are designed to be healthy and strong. We have an incredible immune system that keeps us well. We are not designed to be sick, which is really reassuring. Our bodies are on our side, it wants us to thrive, to be well and not age (too quickly).

We need about forty different micronutrients (i.e. vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals) to function properly. When we don’t get enough of them, our bodies can’t work as it should, and it certainly can’t repair itself.  This is when we start to develop disease.  Our bodies are at ‘dis-ease’.  It is almost like your car breaking down. Parts need to be replaced over time. So we take it to a garage to get it fixed. We are lucky. Our bodies are repairing us all the time. If we have a cut…it’s miraculous how within a few days our body has repaired it. If we get a cold….our body fights the infection and we get better.  If we go back to our car, if the garage doesn’t have the parts it needs the car still won’t get repaired. It’s the same with us, if we don’t have the nutrients our body needs it won’t be able to repair itself properly.  This is how our body becomes dis-eased. Like our car, we would become worn out.

Unfortunately, the way food is processed today and to be honest, the food choices that we make mean that the food we eat is hugely nutrient deficient. Even the soil in which food is grown is also nutrient deficient so the plants can’t uptake the nutrients we need. Nutrient deficiency is so widespread even in the relatively affluent world; probably more so, as the processing of the food removes most of the nutrients. This is the crap food we eat on a regular basis.

In surveys it has been shown that there are chronic deficiencies in zinc, calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and vitamin E. There are also deficiencies in vitamin C, and iron. In many cases, these aren’t mild nutrient deficiencies.

So what happens??

If we aren’t getting these essential nutrients our bodies can’t repair itself properly.  As this deficiency continues over time our bodies just wear out. This is when we begin to see disease in our bodies and we age quicker. Because nutrients fuel all processes in the body, nutrient deficiency affects literally every cell, organ, and tissue. Nutrient deficiency is associated with a long list of problems, including:

• Weakened immune function.

• Premature aging.

• Cancer and cellular damage.

• Cardiovascular disease.

• High blood pressure.

• Depression and anxiety.

• Infertility.

In truth, it’s almost impossible to find a health condition that is not associated with nutrient deficiency. Given the importance nutrients play in maintaining optimal function, our health is absolutely dependent on the food more importantly the nutrients we absorb.

So there is more to eating than we think.  It isn’t just something we do. It is essential to keep us well and our bodies fully repaired and in tip top working order.