The Balanced Approach Program:
The first thing you need to do is individualize your program
based on:
- Metabolic Profile/Sports Nutrition: Clean Protein, Good Fats,
Non-Gluten Carbohydrates
- Digestion: Cultural Background, Food Sensitivities, Blood
Type
- Ayurveda: Five Elements,
Six Tastes, Qualities of Foods, Imbalances
- Strength in Balance:
Exercise, Stress Management
As weve mentioned before, Americans are spending over $50
billion/year on weight loss, but the country is now 55% overweight
to obese. Diabetes is on the verge of becoming an epidemic. The
American Dietetic Association, The American Heart Association
and The American Medical Association are as frustrated as the
consumer about this problem.
After 18 years in the nutrition and fitness industry it seems
that clients are more educated about nutrition, but more confused
about how to bring all the information together.
The real answer lies in determining who you are based on your individual
needs.
The first component is to determine your metabolic profile
and proper ratios of protein/fat/carbohydrate. You need
to understand your hormonal profile: Do you gain weight in your
gut or in your lower body? Are you sedentary or extremely active?
Are your weekends very active but your weekdays spent sitting
in front of the computer? Are you a body builder or a competitive
runner?
All of these people have different macronutrient needs. Each
individual needs to determine the correct ratio of protein, fat,
and carbohydrates for their body type and activity levels.
Protein:
They would also benefit from consuming better quality ("clean")
protein sources, free from antibiotics and pesticides and hormones.
It is important for everyone to understand how these additives
affect our digestion, gut microflora, immune systems, and hormonal
levels, we can begin making more educated choices about what we
put into our bodies. Adding 3-4 ounces of good quality, clean
protein (depending upon your size, weight and goals) every three
hours can help keep blood sugar levels from dropping.
Fat:
Most Americans are shown to be overweight but fat-deficient
of the good fats - mono and essential fatty acids
(EFA's). EFA's have been shown to be improve hormonal balance,
sugar cravings, skin problems and inflammatory conditions.
You need essential fatty acids to burn body fat! Fish
oils and EFAs such as flax, borage, lecithin, and pumpkin seeds
are necessary for skin, hair, nails, and fat metabolism. Individualizing
the proper ratios for your body type, sport, activity level and
goals is the only answer to how much protein or fat or carbohydrates
you need.
Carbohydrates:
The third macronutrient, carbohydrates, seems to have people
totally crazy. Most people have read enough to realize that over-consuming
too many starchy or gluten-based carbohydrates - breads, pastas,
bagels, etc. - will cause insulin spikes and increased body fat.
That's how they fatten-up cows. Cows naturally eat grass, but
to make them fat they are fed grains. It's the same for many
humans. If you are an apple shaped, insulin resistant person and
you tend to hold weight in the stomach and face, you could have
a carbohydrate/insulin management problem. Too many carbohydrates
will cause you to increase body fat. If you hold weight in your
lower body it could be a growth hormone problem. The bottom line
is that you need to figure out your own needs based on your own
situation, and not try to fit into one diet made for everyone.
Digestion:
After figuring out your protein, fat and carbohydrate needs you
should understand digestion and food sensitivities. Statistics
show that nearly 80% of the American population is suffering from
some type of digestive disorder or Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
What most people don't understand is how food sensitivities relate
to culture and genetic profile. Most Native American people are
type O blood types - the original hunter & gatherer. Their
traditional diet was mostly animal protein - buffalo, venison,
rabbit, and whatever they could forage - corn, berries, etc.
With the introduction of wheat, gluten, soda, alcohol and processed
foods into their diets, they are now one of the most obese, diabetic
populations in America suffering from abdominal obesity. The typical
fast food, high-carbohydrate diet is a disaster for most Type
O Native people.
The answer again is very individualized. You need to ask yourself
a few questions: What is your cultural background? What is your
blood type? How is your digestion? Do you suffer from gas, bloating,
constipation or diarrhea? Have you been on antibiotics recently
or as a child? How is your stress level? Are your adrenal glands
and immune system overworked and under supported? Stress has
a direct affect on sugar cravings and abdominal fat and digestion.
These are just a few of the questions we consider at The Balanced
Approach.
By pulling together the correct ratios of protein, fat, and carbohydrates;
considering food sensitivities and how they affect digestion and
optimal efficiency; you know have two pieces of the picture.
The third component is your Ayurvedic constitutional type.
This will tell you about the emotional connection to food and
help you to understand how imbalances can affect digestion, weight,
health and food cravings. You will begin to pull together a plan
that will meet your individual needs and help you reach your goals
without creating more anxiety (see
Ayurveda).
The fourth component to consider is your fitness goals
and how to balance them properly - see Fitness: Strength
in Balance.
back to top
|