What do we really need as far as
daily food intake? Are we determining this need based on calorie
needs alone, or do we factor in our vitamin and mineral needs? If
you were to ask the average person, the only consideration given
would be to his or her calorie needs. Vitamins and minerals are
still a fairly new topic for everyone, and not really considered
when determining food intake needs.
Calorie consumption on the other
hand, has obsessed our nation for the last several years, and is
the only factor we consider when determining our food intake requirements.
This factor will probably not be changing anytime soon, since most
everyone in the medical, health, and fitness professions equate
food requirements with calorie needs, also.
So, what contributes to our determination
of our daily food intake requirements, from a purely caloric standpoint?
What do we use as our guide to determine these levels? Most everyone
looks at your current body weight, your physical activity, your
age, and your gender. There are established guidelines for combining
each value from each category, and then being able to configure
your needs. It’s amazing that this much effort has been given
to calorie and food intake alone. Could you imagine the possibilities
if as much time was dedicated to deterring vitamin and mineral values
as well, and then working with each person to accomplish these levels.
Since obesity is marching aggressively
to the front of the “current epidemics” line, we should
take a moment to address the number one cause of obesity. It isn’t
the improper functioning of the thyroid gland, or any other system
in the body. It is our problem of overeating. We simply eat too
much.
In the area of medical inventions,
an arm band has been created that can tell you your caloric burn,
through every daily activity. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to
take that one step further, and be able to distinguish caloric intake,
caloric burn, how many calories you actually need, and how many
you have left to consume. If you had such an instrument, persons
wearing them would be more conscious of their food intake, and if
it were equipped with loud sirens if you were to overeat, do you
think anyone would overeat? No. You can bet they wouldn’t.
Who wants to be accused of overeating, especially if they know that
they have reached their limit?
It’s the regulation of our
food intake, the provision of tools we need to make healthy decisions,
and preventive education that would prohibit many of the health
problems we are experiencing today. A population that is health
conscious and controls their daily food intake is not an obese population.
Nor are they a population with extreme hypertension, diabetic, and
cardiac problems. All of these problems can be associated with obesity
and nutritional abuse.
Can you imagine, however, how many
doctors and prescription drug companies would have far less income,
if our nation were healthier, leaner, and had fewer diseases? As
our baby boomers age, and strive to retain their youthful looks
and health, more and more emphasis will be placed on educating ourselves
about our food intake and what we do and do not need. Maybe at some
point, someone will say, “hey, what about an armband to help
control caloric intake?”
Our Daily Food Intake Requirements:
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