Peace, Fitness and Food!

I realize that I should have called my website peacefitnessandfood.com- after all, without proper nutrition we may feel fit and at peace, but can we really be?  As trainers we often say that good abs aren’t made at the gym, they are made in the kitchen and that goes for way more than just our abs.

Principle #8 in the China Study says “Good nutrition creates health in all areas of our existence.  All parts are interconnected.” At first we may read that line and say “well, duh..of course all parts are interconnected.”  In reading (and rereading the book, I not only agree, but understand.  In one study done on two groups of rats, one group was fed low-protein diets and they were “not only spared liver cancer, but had lower blood cholesterol, noticeably more energy and VOLUNTARILY exercised twice as the high-protein rats.”  When you go out running or get to the gym and notice some people breezing through their workouts, what they eat, no doubt, has a great effect on their workout.  In turn, their great workout has an effect on their emotional and mental well being.  Feeling good about ourselves makes us more likely to respect our health and our bodies and in turn, practice good nutrition.

A few people have asked me about what I need to supplement my health without eating animals.  So far, my blood work has been normal.  No deficiencies.  Actually the only vitamin that a healthful plant-based eater probably needs, is B-12.  Besides cholesterol (which we don’t need any added as our bodies make their own) B-12 is the only thing we can’t get from plants, that we can get from animals.  Even at that, B-12 stores in our bodies for up to three years, so just because you give up animal products today, doesn’t mean you are deficient!  And if you are just leaning into a plant-based lifestyle, you probably still get more than enough.  Additionally,  if you are eating organically grown vegetables (like lettuce) they probably grow in soil that is rich in this vitamin and absorbs it through its growth.  As suggested, I take a small B-12 supplement once in a while.  As far as all other nutrients, they are  ALL abundant in a diet that includes a wide assortment of plants.

For me, I have gotten well past the need for more protein.  Even the mainstream dietitians believe that only 20% of our daily intake should come from protein.  Do the math.  If you are eating 1500 calories a day, that is only 300 calories from protein.  If you had a burger yesterday, that was probably more protein than you needed the whole day.  And that is according to the “mainstream” professionals.  According to Dr. Campbell, we are getting more than enough daily protein from plants and minimizing cancer and many other diseases of affluence at the same time.

My horoscope today said I should not stifle my opinons, but instead share them.  It is my opinion that we have been duped by the government when it comes to health and nutrition.  We need to get over some of the myths we have been sold since birth (beginning with cow’s milk).

It is not my opinion, but instead a fact that changing to an (almost) entirely plant-based diet has changed my life.  I am no longer conflicted about how or what I eat.  I cannot begin to explain how good that feels!  Its also a fact that regardless of what I eat (or don’t eat) I will always want to be a few pounds lighter.  I am, after all, a woman.

I’ll be at TFC this morning for class and then to play around with Carol, the kickboxers and Tony Horton’s kenpo video.  But first, I am off to make a healthful breakfast.

Wishing you peace, fitness and food!  Enjoy the day.