Here's a little glimpse of how calories from "good, natural, whole" foods differ from those of processed, "convenience" foods as referenced by Dr. Robert Lustig, M.D. in his article ,"Still believe a calorie is a calorie."
- Fiber. You eat 160 calories in almonds, but you absorb only 130. The fiber in the almonds delays absorption of calories into the bloodstream, delivering those calories to the bacteria in your intestine, which chew them up.
- Protein. When it comes to food, you have to put energy in to get energy out. You have to put twice as much energy in to metabolize protein as you do carbohydrate; this is called the thermic effect of food, think of putting wood on a fire; the more wood you put on there, the hotter it burns and the higher the flames go. So protein wastes more energy in its processing. Plus protein reduces hunger better than carbohydrate.
- Fat. All fats release nine calories per gram when burned. But omega-3 fats are heart-healthy and will save your life, while trans fats clog your arteries, leading to a heart attack.
- Sugar. This is the "big kahuna" of the "big lie." Sugar is not one chemical. It's two. Glucose is the energy of life. Every cell in every organism on the planet can burn glucose for energy. Glucose is mildly sweet, but not very interesting (think molasses). Fructose is an entirely different animal. Fructose is very sweet, the molecule we seek. Both burn at four calories per gram. If fructose were just like glucose, then sugar or high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) would be just like starch. But fructose is not glucose. Because a calorie is not a calorie.
The type of fuel we decide to use in our own bodies can make or break our fitness goals, weight loss goals, or our energy producing goals. I love how Mark Bittman says it in his article "Is a Calorie a Calorie?". He says, "eating better makes it easier to eat less." We must remember, our weight loss goals will only be achieved if we can find the magic combination of burning more calories than we consume. If the foods we eat, while providing energy, can help burn more calories by taking more energy to process, then it seems natural to eat foods with "better" calories.
...So I decided that this camping trip would be different. Stuff the s'mores down your own pie hole, but not mine this time. I made Nutty 'nana Cookies for my indulgence. (See previous post "Must BE Nuts" for the recipe). I wanted to make some paleo donuts to take, but my kids protested and said,"if they don't come in the little bag and aren't smothered in chocolate or powdered sugar, we won't eat them." Ok then, one less thing for me to do and pack.
The cooler is packed with meats, fruit, veggies, and cheese. Bags are full of nuts, dried fruit, seeds, crackers, and jerky...oh, and a bag of Taki's that I did NOT put in the cart... you can fight the battle, but some times it takes a while to win the war.
I'm looking forward to setting my chair by the water and watching the kids and dogs splash in the lake while read and sip on a sparkling, cold beverage next to the love of my life. Ahhhh, summertime!
P.S. My running shoes are packed as well 'cuz I know I can't sit for 3 days without some good workouts thrown in the mix!
Wishing you and yours a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!
with my lady friends, one of which is a few months 
. She kept up like a champ! That's good work ladies!
