How I Ended Up on a Low Carb, High Fat Diet and Stuff I've LearnedAlong the Way [Part I]

Recently I saw the ABC's Catalyst program about the low carb, high fat diet,  "Low Carb Diet, Fat or Fiction".  It is an informative and well-rounded report.  You can watch or download it here.  It runs for about 29 minutes.

I didn't set out to go on a low carb, high fat diet, but in my pursuit of a processed-free, nutrient-dense diet, I realise that's actually where I have ended up.

Initially when doing the detox program that kick-started my journey and healing process, I went gluten-free for two months.  I chose to reintroduced gluten into my diet after that, but on a greatly reduced scale.

I thought that my diet wasn't too bad but I decided that I would stop eating all refined carbohydrates; so nothing that contained any refined sugar or flour. I used to mostly eat wholemeal bread but I made a decision to only eat wholemeal bread, pasta and rice.  

I stopped eating sandwiches because I wanted to lower my gluten intake and increase my intake of plant foods.

Breakfast in a Jar

I like to leave for work early to beat the traffic and get a good parking space. So I prepare and drink a lemon water from a travel mug on my way to work and I pack my breakfast to eat at the office.

This is a favourite that I can prepare at night and store in the fridge for a quick grab on the way out the door in the morning.  I pop it in an insulated bag with an ice pack.

Packed in this jar are raspberries, blackberries and blueberries, a tablespoon of LSA (ground linseed, sunflower seeds and almonds), 4 dessert spoonfuls of full cream natural yoghurt (I like B.d. Farm Paris Creek organic Natural Yoghurt with probiotic cultures),  a handful of raw macadamia halves, a sprinkle of dried goji berries, a little pure maple syrup and a good dash of cinnamon.

Berries because they are a great source of antioxidants, and they're delicious!

Yoghurt for protein and probiotics.

Nuts and Seeds also for protein, minerals: calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, selenium, B vitamins, vitamin E and good fats.

Pure maple syrup - a natural sweetener that is a source of manganese and zinc.

Cinnamon - an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial spice that is also a digestive aid and a source of calcium.

~ take every opportunity to put the good stuff in ~

 

This blog is about me, what I'm doing, what's working for me, and what's not. It includes my experiences and opinions. It is for general information only and is in no way intended to replace the advice of a health care professional.

Food for Thought on Food Choices

From my experience the past couple of years, eating the way that I have, I have really learned to listen to my body.

I believe that when I'm hungry it's my body's way of asking for fuel.  That is probably no great revelation to anybody but by fuel I mean nutrients.  The nutrients that my body needs to function the way it was designed to.  By nourishing my body with nutrient-dense foods I am meeting that need, enabling my body to do its job with ease, and I am satisfied.

When we fill up on foods of empty, or limited nutrition, the body continues to signal that it is hungry because it hasn't received what it needs.  This results in:

• over-eating;
• the body working harder, prioritising and compensating(*); and
• stores of "fat" from foods of little nutrition because the body cannot use it and doesn't know what to do with it.

It makes sense.

Nutrient-dense eating = all round better function = a healthier, leaner and happier body!

(*) When we consume refined foods such as refined sugar which has been stripped of nutrients and essential digestive enzymes in the refinement process, the body pulls stored minerals (especially calcium) from the bones, tissues, and teeth in order to digest it.  This is called "leaching".

Source:  "The Science of Skinny" by Dee McCaffrey - chapter 4 "A Scientist's View of Sugar and Flour".

~ take every opportunity to put the good stuff in ~

 

This blog is about me, what I'm doing, what's working for me, and what's not. It includes my experiences and opinions. It is for general information only and is in no way intended to replace the advice of a health care professional.