I know this is supposed to be about our adventures in Africa, but I just read a very thought provoking book and wanted to share.
My interest in nutrition has been basically focused on canine nutrition. I became an advocate of the "BARF" (Bone And Raw Food) diet for my dogs back in 1997 when we were living in Finland and high quality commercial dog food was out of this world expensive. I switched both my dogs, then a 10 week old and a 5 year old Australian Shepherds. The benefits of this shift in their diet was almost instantaneous and while it required a bit more work and thought, it was absolutely worth it. Over the years research about natural diets for dogs has grown exponentially and my practice has extended with two more Aussies, who have both benefited from the natural diet.
With all this canine nutritional information at my finger tips, my understanding of canine evolutionary biology, canine digestive systems etc, why did I not make the leap to humans? I don't have an answer for that but I do have pretty good instincts when it comes to what's good and what's bad. For my children, only the best would do, high quality (and if warranted organic) foodstuffs crossed their precious lips. Exclusively breast fed, home made baby food, colorful, well balanced meals, so much fish my son started calling all "meat" fish. They are the picture of health, slim and energetic. For me, not so much. You would think that all the good nutrition I was imparting on my children would spill over because while I am thoughtful, I am also somewhat lazy and would never create separate meals for kids. We all eat the same thing. But is that a good thing?
Now for my current dilemma. I am fat. Not morbidly obese, but fat enough to know that it isn't healthy (especially the ring of fat around my middle), to know I don't look good, feel good, or have any energy. I have always had this problem throughout my life with fat. Sometimes I have been able to control it (though I have no good understanding of why) and sometimes not. I have occasionally bought into fad diets or outrageous exercise regimes which have either done nothing or proven to be a temporary fix. My little problem with fat has returned with a vengeance here in Africa and now I am facing 40 odd pounds of the stuff, again, mainly around my middle. Something has to be done and that something has to be lifestyle changes rather than diets. I have started yoga 3+ times a week, walk the dog for 30+ minutes a day and while I feel stronger and perhaps a bit fitter, I am still fat. Obviously something has to change in what I am eating, but what? I already don't drink any soft drinks, alcoholic beverages or juices, eat any bread and or any milk products (except cheese). What else is there to get rid of?
Well, according to the book I just read, Why We Are Fat: And What To Do About It, by Gary Taubes, there is quite a bit to the whole human nutrition paradigm that I wasn't thinking about or perhaps even aware of, even though I should have been with all my canine nutrition info. We are complex organisms with a long evolutionary history that has also seen a huge shift in dietary norms over the past couple thousand years (according to Taube a mere blip in our evolutionary history). And what is this huge shift, well, it is carbohydrates and the shift in importance of carbohydrates in our diet. I won't try to paraphrase what he has written or preach about how I am seen the light, but I would encourage those of you who have struggled with fat to take a peak at what he has to say. It makes sense.
Love,
Shannon
