Fats; Macronutrients Overview; Distinguishing warming vs. cooking (WAS: Hot Food??)

[Guest guest]

Hi Kat,

 

First, I apologize for taking so long to respond. Your message " slid down in

my inbox " , so to speak.

 

Second, no, I am not saying that plant-based fat is " good " , " bad " , or the

like. I'll explain a bit further ...

 

All foods contain some combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. I

am unaware of any exceptions, as these are basic ingredients of life as we

know it.

 

- Carbohydrates are our fuel; when we break these down (digest), eventually

thermomechanical energy is released. By " thermomechanical " , I mean energy we

can use effectively to cause movement and to create heat. For practical

purposes, carbohydrates include simple sugars (monosaccharides such as

glucose and fructose, and disaccharides such as sucrose, maltose, dextrose,

lactose), starches, and fiber. Starches and fiber are broken down further

into subclasses. Large mammals make lactose in mother's milk and as a waste

byproduct of muscular activity. THE VAST MAJORITY OF MICRONUTRIENTS WE

REQUIRE ARE WATER SOLUBLE OR WATER TRANSPORTABLE.

 

- Proteins provide the building blocks of our structure; along with

hydraulics (such as blood flow), they serve as the mechanisms of movement at

every level, from the molecular to contraction and relaxation of the largest

muscles in the body. And when digested, proteins provide the building blocks

(as amino acids and smaller substances) for many substances that are

integral to our metabolism.

 

- Fats provide additional fuel. When digested and transformed into

structured body fat, fatty components serve as insulators in various

capacities: thermal, electrical, etc. In addition, certain nutrients are fat

soluble or fat transportable. Well-known examples are vitamins A, D, E, and

K. Fats in certain configurations are used in other essential metabolic

roles. WHEN WE CONSUME EXCESSIVE FAT, GENERALLY MORE THAN 10% OF OUR TOTAL

CALORIC INTAKE, THE INSULATIVE QUALITIES OF FATS BEGIN TO WORK AGAINST US.

For example, fatty substances begin to insulate the inner walls of blood

vessels, inhibiting transport of blood sugar (glucose) from the blood into

the cells. Because insulin mediates this transfer process under " normal "

circumstances (no excessive blood fat), this general condition is now called

" insulin resistance " . Additional related diagnoses include, among others,

hyper/hypoglycemia, chronic fatigue, diabetes 2. However, these are not

generally blood sugar problems, but rather blood fat problems.

 

So Kat, I hope that, with this bit of background, you can more readily see

that all life requires at least SOMETHING from each of these three

macronutrient groups. Therefore, all foods that occur in Nature contain some

combination of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

 

I suggest that you experiment a bit:

 

First, drop out the olive oil for a couple of weeks, continue everything

else as is. Observe yourself, notice what happens.

 

Second, remove the almonds from the breakfast smoothie. If you wish, eat

them instead as part of your evening meal. Of, just drop them out for a

couple of weeks. Then eat some almonds straight, with nothing else ...

observe yourself, notice what happens.

 

Third, begin experimenting with that avocado. Try 1/2 avocado. Try some days

with no avocado, others with a whole avocado. Just observe yourself, notice

what happens.

 

Regarding your husband, you can warm many foods without " cooking " them. Just

put the food into a pot on a low burner setting or flame, stir with your

hand. When it's too hot to handle, remove the pot immediately. That way, you

can begin to distinguish warm from cooked, and he can enjoy warm soup. (And

so can you, if you wish.

 

Best,

Elchanan

_____

 

rawfood [rawfood ] On Behalf Of

traciekatt

Thursday, August 23, 2007 9:14 AM

rawfood

[Raw Food] Re: Hot Food??

 

Thanks for the tips and response Elchanan.

 

Are you saying that even plant based fat is unhealthy or just in large

amounts?

 

Since I have been eating one avocado daily I no longer crave French Fries

and Potato Chips. I don't eat 3 avocados a day actually just one, a few

almonds with my morning smoothie and perhaps some olive oil at night with my

raw vegetables. I find that when I include healthy fats I will eat less and

more quality foods. Maybe I am going overboard with the fats but it is

cetainly more healthy then the potato chips, right?

 

Do you eat avocados, nuts and oils at all and/or how much?

 

My husband is the one obsessed with hot food. I can not see that changing

any time soon! For me though I could live without it except for cold days

when I love to eat soup...

 

Thanks Again,

Kat