Do you feel that you have POWER over your metabolism? In other words, do you feel that the diet you eat places you in control of how you look, feel, and move? If you eat the “Standard American Diet” (SAD), the answer is probably “no.” This is because the “western” diet is full of foods that are high in calories but contain little nutritional value, but also because the amount and types of foods that we, as a society, have been told to eat have caused a shift in our metabolic balance because of the burden they place on our hormones. The issue of calories is part of the equation, but should no longer be the focus.
We can argue about the “value” of calories all day, but when it comes down to it, the presence, or absence, or specific hormones dictates how our body processes food, and the food we eat dictates how we produce hormones. The nutrition standard we have right now prevents the optimal production and function of specific hormones, and thus causes not only weight gain (and all the diseases and conditions associated), but also prevents gains in muscle mass. So I propose a paradigm shift. If we shift the focus from “I can only eat ‘x’ amount of calories,” to “I need to eat food ‘x’ because it will have a specific effect on the production or role of hormone ‘y,’” we can lose fat, increase muscle, and improve our health.
After reading this book, I am sure you will agree.