As runners and active humans, we are so focused on our immediate energy needs that we obsess over macronutrients (e.g. macros) and forget that not only is every individual different, but we need MORE nourishment and nutrition-rich foods to support our higher activity levels. Exercise puts stress on the body, and in a culture accustomed to processed foods and factory farmed meat and dairy, it's more difficult than ever to fuel ourselves optimally.
Eating healthy fats is one very important aspect of nourishing your body, not only to run better today, but to support your long-term health.
"As a result of our reliance on nutrient-poor processed foods, the majority of Americans are overfed, undernourished, and running on empty. Refined foods provide mass without sustenance. For an athlete, running on empty can lead to immediate negative consequences and long-term health concerns.
On top of this, runners are constantly bombarded with messages about weight loss, calorie counts, juice cleanses, low-carb diets, low-fat diets - the list goes on. These messages lead to an unhealthy relationship with food, imbalanced eating, food phobias, obsessions over weight loss, yo-yo dieting, cravings, undernourishment, weight fluctuations, and eating disorders.
...For an athlete who is constantly breaking down the body during intense training sessions, nutrient-dense foods are critical to a faster recovery time.
...With so much misleading information out there - most of it driven by food corporations - it's no surprise that something as basic and intuitive as eating has become so complex. The result...is that we're no longer in tune with one of our most basic needs: eating." (Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky; Run Fast, Eat Slow)
Be your own advocate, and set yourself up for success, not only today, but for the long-term.
Learn and establish the tools for a plant-based lifestyle that focuses on feeding you and fueling you. Your energy levels, performance, and recovery all depend on how you fuel your body, your machine.
My 3-Month Plant-Powered and Fit Program starts August 1. It your guided, step-by-step plan to power up your nutrition and performance.
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