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Eating Doesn’t Have to Be So Complicated: 20 Things NOT Necessary to Being Healthy.
If you follow me on Instagram, you probably read a condensed version of this 20 Things NOT Necessary to Being Healthy post in my feed this past week. The response from you all, was absolutely incredible, so many “amens” and “preaches”, loads of “thank you I’ve been feeling this way too” and “I really needed to hear that”. I received countless private messages and emails and so many of you shared my sentiments with your own community – first of all THANK YOU! I am happy to know that my thoughts resonated and also that I am not alone. It’s so easy to get caught up in it all. I also felt, given the response, this rant deserved a post of it’s own, so it would have the opportunity to live on more permanently and hopefully inspire even more folks, to feel free of this thought process and empowered to shift the focus.
I’ve recently been coming to the realization that the world of health and wellness, at certain times, can feel a bit like a “cool kids club”. With our social feeds abundantly filled with “wellness expert”s touting everything from a detox tea that is the answer to your weight loss woes, to diets that will evidently cure all or oils, powders and mushrooms that will make you better, smarter, prettier, more energized and ageless. It’s hitting a tipping point and it’s all so wildly confusing and overwhelming.
Beyond that, having the opportunity every week here in my own community to feed the most humble of meals to the underserved, to those without homes and those without the means, many times, to get themselves a meal of any kind – my focus has really shifted to making health as accessible and inclusive as possible.
Here’s a Reminder / Insider Pro-tip for You –
NOT a SINGLE ONE of these Things are NECESSARY to Living Well and Being Healthy: -
Benefits of MCT Oil – Why I Use It, How it Differs from Coconut Oil, Liquid MCT Oil vs Powder + More
The list of health benefits of MCT Oil or medium-chain triglycerides, a type of fat, includes fat loss, appetite suppression, increased energy, improved cognition, improved athletic performance, to name a few. Read on to see why I use it, how it differs from coconut oil, how to take it and more!
A balanced, nutrient-dense diet rich in healthy fats is essential to us being our very best! Every single cell in our body needs fat to function, most especially our brain cells. Our brain is actually the fattiest organ in our body at over 60% fat. You already know my feelings on the importance of healthy fats in a well-balanced, nutrient-dense whole foods diet, but you can read more about the Benefits of Healthy Fats.
At this point I have to imagine you’ve heard the buzz surrounding MCT Oil. One of the quickest sources of clean fuel for both the body and the brain, MCT oil is hands down one of the best ways to power up your performance or kick start a nutrition program.
What is MCT Oil?
“MCTs” are medium-chain triglycerides, a form of saturated fatty acid that has many health benefits, ranging from improved cognitive function to better weight management. MCTs are a type of fat that can be readily used for energy by your body and do not have to be broken down before use. They are precursors to ketones and help your body burn fat instead of burning carbs. Ketones are one of the brain’s two primary fuel sources, and also a vital source of ATP energy for the body. ATP energy is what allows every single muscle in your body to move. While ketones from fat, rather than glycogen from carbohydrates, are the primary source of fuel for those on a ketogenic diet, but you don’t have to fully go keto to benefit from MCT oil and ketones.
MCTs get their name because of the length of their chemical structure. All types of fatty acids are made up of strings of connected carbon and hydrogen. Fats are categorized by how many carbons they have: short-chain fats (like butyric acid) have fewer than six carbons, medium-chain fats have between 6–12 carbons and long-chain fats (like omega-3s) have between 13–21.
Most fats consumed are taken into your body then must be mixed with bile released from your gallbladder and acted on by pancreatic enzymes to break it down in your digestive system. Medium-chain fats are digested easily and once they reach your intestine they are sent via the bloodstream directly to your liver, where they have a thermogenic effect and the ability to positively alter your metabolism. MCTs even pass the blood-brain barrier to supply your brain with an instant boost of energy. MCTs are absorbed more quickly than longer chain fats, as there is less work for the body to do, in breaking down the carbon bonds, meaning they can be used quicker as fuel, rather than being stored as fat.
Medium-chain Fatty Acids May Help With: