Why Food Matters

According to the dictionary definition of food, food sustains growth, repairs, fuels vital processes, and furnishes energy.

Food drives both illness and wellness.

Food fuels the two energy handling processes in the body—growing (glycolysis) and burning (Krebs cycle) or living and dying. In short, it is the most important factor influencing people’s life span and health span.

It is estimated that genetics accounts for 25% of a person’s longevity and the other 75% is influenced by the person’s environment (including diet). Given that the US ranks 28th in life expectancy among the most developed countries in the world and has experienced reduced life expectancy four years in a row, coupled with the rise of chronic disease and the severity of the statistics, I would argue that while we can’t calculate the specific percentage of someone’s life span that is impacted by nutrition, food is a large part of the puzzle.

If correct nutrition is essential for optimal bodily functioning consider this:

• 28% of medical schools have formal nutrition curriculum

• Medical students receive an average of 19.6 hours of nutrition eduction during their med school career

• The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) argues that all of nutrition comes down to “eat right and exercise” which translated means calories in vs calories out (yet not all calories are created equal)

The opposing messages about food, health, and nutrition can be overwhelming but it is simple: EAT REAL FOOD. What does that mean?

• Shop your local farmer’s market

• Shop the outer edges of your grocery store

• Avoid processed foot

• If it has a logo, it isn’t real food

• If it has a nutrition label, it is a processed food

• If it has any form of sugar in the first three ingredients, it’s a dessert