Rest Day

Awaken Nutrition Tip #3

You are what you eat! Have you heard this before? I’m sure you have at this point as it has been a very catchy phrase that has made its way through the circles of various health and fitness communities, as well as mainstream media.

Unfortunately there is a problem with this statement. Have you ever eaten something and when you go poo the next day, you can see some of that food in the toilet undigested? Like some corn kernals or a leaf from your lettuce? The point I’m trying to make is that you are NOT what you eat. You are only what you DIGEST. If it passed right through you and into the toilet then it hasn’t been absorbed and won’t become part of you.

The focus on this Sunday tip is to highlight the fact that digestion is KEY when we think about nutrition. Food needs to get broken down and absorbed into the body in order to become you. As you start to make better food choices in an effort to build a stronger body and lean muscles, remember that if you aren’t digesting it well, then you are not getting the benefits from it.

Directive – start to pay attention to your poop! Additionally start to pay attention to how you are digesting foods. Things to be mindful of are gas, bloating, burping, heartburn, general discomfort, hungry very shortly after eating, diarrhea, and constipation. All of these are symptoms of poor digestion and can help point to foods that your body isn’t handling well. It can also point to how foods were prepared or how you are consuming the foods. More on that in the coming weeks. For now just start to notice what is happening.