Skip to main content

Eat Your Age!

You read the title correctly. For years we've been told to act our age. But we also need to eat our age. And here's why...

First, a word about metabolism. As we age the metabolic SCHEME doesn't change. But the EFFICIENCY of our metabolism does change. As we age, some key enzymes and substances that allow the metabolism to function efficiently decrease. Try to think of it like a car. Newer, more recent models will function more efficiently than older, less efficient models. Two cars of vastly different age will still get you where you are going, because their engines still burn gasoline, and that internal combustion causes the pistons to move, turning the crankshaft which then turns the wheels. But an older car will not get you to your destination as efficiently. It may waste gasoline or it may break down.

In much the same way my 74 year old body will still take carbohydrates and turn them into energy, but it won't do so as efficiently. What does this mean? Simply this. If I eat like a 25 year old, my less efficient metabolism will not be able to process all the things I take in as efficiently as the metabolism of that 25 year old I used to be. So what happens? I may end up depositing more of that intake as fat, especially given my lower level of activity than a 25 year old.

But don't panic! It doesn't mean that you can't still enjoy the same foods. However, it does mean that you may not be able to pile your plate as high at a buffet, eat that extra serving or snack demand.

Tailoring your intake to a less efficient metabolism is just good, common-sense!
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The "Nondiet Diet?"

At the ripe old age of 74, I've certainly seen and most likely participated in any number of diets. Including fad diets. Many fad diets. Lately, there's a lot of talk about something called intuitive eating. I still don't know very much about it, but it seems to be guided by logic, rather than mere number crunching. While most fad diets rely upon some measurement or distorted measurement of some nutrient or calories, intuitive eating depends more on good, healthful choices, eaten in moderate portions, guided to a great extent by mindfulness or slow eating, as well as a measure of hunger versus fullness. This last attribute is, perhaps, the most important. Many of us of my generation were taught to clean the plate. Much of that, of course, was generated by parents who did not have reliable refrigeration open to them. Food was prepared freshly, served quickly, and anything else needed to be thrown away. Nowadays, of course, we have reliable refrigeration, as well ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Organ Meats

Before  You make a face, consider that organ meats are never eaten in large quantities. Not only that, but they're also mixed in with potatoes and vegetables and other things.. Lastly, the way organ meats are prepared before cooking can make all the difference in the world. I'm not urging you to eat organ meats, but I am suggesting that you give them a try, if possible.Although I have always liked kidneys, I hadn't had them until recently at a local sichuan restaurant. That same restaurant also prepares things like tongue and tripe, pork intestines and beef tendon.They're all highly seasoned and absolutely elicious, in small quantities and only occasionally.
Post a Comment
Read more

Men's Portions

You know, we all see life from our own perspectives. Like most people who watch TV and observe the media, I noticed that there is a lot of attention paid to issues that women have with dieting and healthful eating. And I think that's a really good thing! But men have issues, as well. One thing is men's portions. Our culture and the society in which it exists, associates men with larger portions. Words like king-size, for example. There are any number of cuts of prime rib. The largest size and the one that's most often ordered by men is the standard cut or sometimes double thick cut. Smaller cuts are named after female icons, such as the queen cut or princess cut. Men are associated with larger portions, even with frozen dinners. I don't know if it's still available, but one of the manufacturers of frozen dinners produced a line called Hungry Man. Not hungry woman, but Hungry Man. The serving sizes of each of the items was larger. Now I don't know if ...
Post a Comment
Read more