A few simple guidelines to base a healthy nutrition program on...
Sugar is poison, wheat is death, milk is the most disgusting thing you can put in your body. Don’t eat carbs, don’t eat fat, and don’t eat in the morning, or maybe the afternoon or perhaps not during nighttime. Organic, free-range, no GMO’s, soil mineral depletion and the like, all conspiring to drive you crazy before you take your first bite. Do any of these concepts have merit? Perhaps they all do in one way or the other, but they all have the potential for imbalance if taken to the extreme. For basic nutrition, the rules are relatively simple, and for more performance-oriented nutrition, they are only slightly more complicated. Once you learn a few basics about nutritional balance, it’s easy to create a dietary plan that works perfectly for you. One of the first things to realize is that complete and utter convenience is the bane of a healthy eating plan. Our modern world is awash in products that have taken convenience to the extreme, offering food devoid of nutritional value that will last forever. One of the best decisions you could possibly make is to forgo any food that comes pre-packaged, especially if you can buy it in a machine. This eliminates a good portion of the wasted calories that displace otherwise healthy foods from the modern diet. A few notable exceptions would be packaged nuts or beef jerky, or perhaps some of the whole grains, though it helps to know exactly what you’re looking for. Even in these instances, the added salt and preservatives aren’t the greatest thing you could consume, so an unpackaged source of the same product would be a better choice. A second quick and easy rule for nutrition is to stick to the least processed foods you can find. A whole apple is better than apple sauce, which is better than apple-juice, which is better than an apple-flavored candy. The closer you can get to picking something directly off the tree or directly out of the ground the better. Fresh, unprocessed produce is brimming with essential vitamins and minerals, along with fiber and quality macronutrients that are absent in the more processed versions of the same foods. The same rule applies to meat products too. Lean protein that is as close to it’s natural state as possible is the best option. If you choose anything more processed, you are gaining copious amounts of added salts, preservatives and unhealthy fats. It’s better to stick with a whole cut of meat and take that little extra time for preparation. A third simple rule is to try and combine your foods in each meal to contain high-quality, lean proteins (chicken, lean beef or fish), minimally processed and low glycemic index carbohydrates (whole fruits and vegetables), and healthy fats (avocados, olive oil, sunflower seeds). By keeping each meal balanced you more easily ensure a balanced diet throughout the day, while also keeping your insulin levels constant, which keeps your energy levels up and aids in the absorption of vital nutrients. A steady insulin level has also been shown to reduce the risk of many cardiovascular diseases, as well as helping to establish optimum body composition. Last, but definitely not least, is making sure to drink plenty of water. Normal Guidelines are to consume 64oz. of water per day, but for an active individual, this is just the tip of the iceberg. A gallon of water on a normal day is a good place to start (this is outside any other beverage you may consume). An adequate water intake is essential for every bodily function, from lubricating your joints, to ensuring the proper consistency of your blood. It is basically impossible to drink too much (unless you are an ultra-endurance athlete and haven’t been replenishing your electrolytes as well), so try to drink water every chance you get. As long as you keep these few simple rules in mind, you will be on the right track to healthful eating. Just remember that if you base your diet on lots of fresh vegetables, lean protein sources, fresh fruits, nuts and seeds and limit the amount of grains, dairy and processed foods that you consume, you will be effectively replacing foods with low nutritional value with vitamin and mineral powerhouses, which will go a long way towards lifelong health and optimal recovery from any physical activity you may encounter. Once you give your body the high-quality, unrefined nutrients that it requires, you will be closer to that essential nutritional balance that ensures a long, productive and health life, both in Parkour and any other activity you wish to pursue. Please read our disclaimer .
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