A Calorie is not a Calorie.

Dietitians today say that we the people are eating too much and exercising too little. While that's true, it is not the reason alone, or even primarily, for our sad state.

Simplified the wrong theory is this: If a person eats only a specified number of calories and burns an equal amount of calories during the day, that person should be fit and lean. They are being responsible for their health.
So, this person could eat only 13.3 Twinkies and fit the FDA's guidelines for calorie intake. They could run for half of the day and break even.

It seems strange to write it out, but by and large, we believe it. We are wrong.

All calories are not created equal. This is one problem I have with diets of today. A popular diet plan says you can eat only cake in a day, as long as you only eat the "right" amount of "points" (I'm sure it suggests better balance, but the point stands). It makes eating a mathematical experience. Ugh. Maybe this works for a short-term fix, but I don't know anyone who went long-term on such silliness. Counting calories is the pits. It's not the way eating was meant to be.

Were our ancestors suffering on a large scale from obesity, diabetes, heart disease? No, they ate food. That is the main difference. They ate food. We eat food-like substance. Chemical and dye-laden foods that have been changed so much from their natural state that our bodies no longer know what to do with them. I liken it to a garage where we put all the stuff that we don't know what to do with. That's what our bodies do with the stuff they don't know what to do with. Why do they hold on to it? Because it's all they've got! They will try and make it of some use.

Here's the next thing: our bodies are STARVING. They are starving for real nutrition. Not a multi-vitamin. Not a low-fat, low-carb food item. They want real foods. Real, whole, and natural. When our bodies get food, they rejoice! They clean out the junk and do some re-modeling. As for supplementation, I think it can be necessary for rebuilding certain things your body lacks. Check out this book, The Diet Cure. It is such a fascinating read, and it may give you tools to overcome food addictions, depression, etc. and help you restore a natural, healthy you. *

God is the one who made our bodies, and He made the foods that should go in them for the best health and vibrancy. Read the Word of Wisdom again in this light. If we want the blessings contained therein we have to abide by the laws. Put in the right fuel. Eat FOOD, un-tampered with and from home, or as close to home as you can get it.

Here is quite a lengthy, but informative video on sugar. Here's a shorter video summary of the original. It explains how we are ingesting toxins on a large scale and not knowing it. It explains obesity, diabetes and heart disease differently than you may have heard before. I don't suggest these things to scare anyone. I have found greater freedom from knowing the truth and changing to live in better accordance with it, one step at a time.

I like eating. I like good food. I don't count calories. Try it. I think you'll like it too.

*Any book I suggest is likely filled with great information, or I wouldn't do it. But very few are perfect sources. Measure it up with the Word of Wisdom. Take the good and/or experiment until you find the right balance.