Eating Post-Workout; Eating and Illness [Glycogen] (WAS: [digestion)

[Guest guest]

Hi Nancy and all,

 

Nancy, I appreciate the comments you shared the other day, that we share similar approaches. Thank you for pointing that out. I am hopeful that you are curious and eager to expand your knowledge and understanding.

 

I agree substantially with what you share, below. And I notice, at the end, words that provide an opportunity for discussion. You write:

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But it is a great natural supplement for those who are starting out and those who just need that extra boost after a work out or if ill, etc.

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I'd like to address "after a workout" and "if ill" separately, because these are quite different circumstances.

 

1. After a workout

 

One part of the 80/10/10 program that is not widely known is this: that we thrive when we eat a large fruit meal shortly following physical activity. During intense activity, our system draws down part of our glycogen reserve. Glycogen is a starch our bodies manufacture and store, primarily in the muscles and liver. Our bodies are able to convert glycogen into glucose (fuel) more rapidly than fat, which makes glycogen our first-line fuel reserve. However, our bodies can only store a limited amount of glycogen, perhaps in the range of 1500-2000 calories (give or take, varies with size and musculature).

 

NOTE: This amount of energy roughly equals that stored in about 1/2 pound of fat. Therefore, during sustained exertion/activity, our bodies begin drawing down the glycogen reserve and almost simultaneously begin converting body fat into glucose (fuel). But this is a slower, more costly process with "side effects" (production of ketones, for example).

 

There is a period immediately following intense activity, perhaps 1-2 hours in most people, where our bodies are designed to replenish our glycogen reserve at an accelerated rate. This is important because:

 

a. If we do not take advantage of this built-in capacity, then we tend to replenish our glycogen reserve only partially on a daily basis, leading to tiredness, unhealthful exertion, and ultimately that "day off" most high-performing athletes "require".

 

b. When we make this a fruit meal, we replenish our supply of water, and with that water comes a fresh supply of electrolytes and other things. The result: most aches and pains disappear -- often overnight!

 

So what we're looking for here is fruits in particular ... foods loaded with water, simple sugars, vitamins, minerals (electrolytes) and soluble fiber and low in just about everything else. So the typical "green smoothie", while constructive, is not optimal at this time.

 

2. Illness

 

"Illness" typically refers to some set of symptoms we experience when our body is attempting to clean up some mess we've either created (as by improper eating) or encountered (as by exposure in the outer environment). A significant paradigm shift is available to us all, wherein we choose to perceive symptoms for what they really are:

 

a. Symptoms are the healing process itself. When we interfere with our symptoms, we block our body's own processes for cleansing, restoring, and replenishing itself.

 

b. Symptoms are messages generated by our subconscious mind to draw our conscious awareness to some required act. Often, the required act is one of abstinence ... our system is requesting that we STOP doing something. For example, pain means "Don't do that; don't use that part in that way."

 

 

NOTE: I have offered before, and now offer again, one of the free audio programs provided by the Path of Health Community, entitled "Messages From Within: Exploring Symptoms and Senses".

Getting Started #2 of 4: Messages From Within--Audio--Path of Health

 

With respect to "illness", common symptoms include fever, tiredness, digestive upset, etc. And in the large majority of cases where such symptoms are present, people experience a noticeable decrease in appetite. This occurs precisely because, as you point out, Nancy, digestion is costly, requiring a considerable expenditure of energy and other resources. When the body is engaged in some elevated cleansing process, energy and resources are diverted toward the target of the cleansing, and away from many other locations in the body.

 

Therefore, rather than having smoothies at such a time, we may serve ourselves best by consuming little or no food at all. In fact, fasting with a lot of water and rest during such a time does more to hasten PERMANENT completion of the cleansing and restoration process than any other course of action of which I am aware.

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More food for thought, thanks for "listening".

 

Best,

Elchanan

 

 

On Behalf Of pnparletteSent: Friday, August 03, 2007 9:16 AM Subject: RE: [digestion

 

Having studied digestion extensively, I can say that it takes a LOT of energy to digest and most Americans have such compromised digestive systems that they do not break down nor absorb well. This is one reason people who drink smoothies and fresh raw juices see great health benefits right away. You are basically saving LOTS of energy on the digestion process which can be used towards restoring health and the nutrients being already in liquid form can be readily absorbed by the body. Personally I have either a smoothie or vegetable juice each day - about 8 oz. it doesn't have to be a lot since you want to eat plenty of fruits and veggies too. But it is a great natural supplement for those who are starting out and those who just need that extra boost after a work out or if ill, etc.

 

Nancy