Dietary Philosophy

   It is a fact that we are biochemical machines. The "bio" is important as that distinguishes us from mechanical machines. The difference is that our bodies adapt to stress and, if the stress is correctly applied and enough support is provided nutrition and rest, then the adaptation will be one that will be a positive one.  This is seen in the training that you are doing. Exercises apply stress to the body that allows it to grow stronger, move faster and support better health and well being. Mechanical machines do not do this. We, adapt to the stressors. We also adapt to the lack of stress. If our environment is sedentary, then the body adapts to that and becomes strong enough to maintain a sedentary lifestyle. It has been found that the genes that degrade the body are more active in the sedentary state and those that favor repair are active when we are active. (More)

   BUT!!!

The response to a stressor is only one that provides repair and growth if enough material is there. Let us imagine for a moment that a tree falls and tears down a part of your home. You are the repair mechanism for your home, but you cannot act unless you have the materials that include wood, nails, sheetrock, etc AND the time. In the biochemical machine, your materials are provided from what you eat and the time needed to repair is in the form of rest and sleep.

So it is possible to think of food intake as only a source of energy, but this is a GRAND and all-too common mistake. Food is fuel and it MUST be a source of the nutrients, macro (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber) and micro (vitamins, minerals, essential oils, etc.). One must be cognizant of the inalterable fact that food is nutrition. You, as athletes, must be especially aware as you need to optimize your nutrient intake to maximize performance and minimize illness and injury, common traits of poor eating.

So, what to eat?

    We have in our wonderful, modern world an odd enigma, known as the discordance principle by those that study this. Were we a hunter-gatherer society, we would not have to think about what is best to eat. It would be provided in the correct amounts already in the world around us. You see, we have developed over millions of years based on foods found on this earth that include a wide variety of foods from animal and vegetable sources. The problem is that our genetics haven't caught up with the explosion in society and the subsequent change in our food supply.  There is an interesting history in our changing food supply resulting in the current free market providership system. We now hunt and gather by buying from food suppliers. In order to compete for sales, food manufacturers use techniques that enhance the taste, smell, appearance and image desire of foods to get you to buy. The old ad that said "You can't eat just one" applies as the industry knows what flavors and chemicals induce cravings. The bottom line is that foods are designed without any attention to nutrition.  Ironically, the foods that ARE the best and most nutritious are not marketable because there is nothing unique about fresh spinach to exploit in sales. To grow profits, it was found that the population was not growing fast enough (numbers-wise). Therefore, the only way to increase sales is to sell more to each person. The result is an increase in the population size-wise!

     Thus, we have to ignore what the ads that entice us have to say and get back to the nutrition FOR WHICH OUR BODIES ARE DESIGNED! Some wonderful work has been done by researchers at Emory University , Colorado University and others that have found societies that still eat and live in the style in which we were designed. Some of these societies are extremely isolated. They are very strong, very active people and have no indications of heart disease, diabetes and many of the modern disease processes. In short, they are eating in a manner that we ALL are genetically designed to eat.

     As it so happens, as each day passes, the successful and healthy diets are falling towards this pattern. There is more mention of whole foods, the need to limit simple sugars and included more fruits and vegetables.  Why not look at what we were designed to eat, what made us grow strong and healthy as a species and what has a million-year track record of success? The evidence is there.

Do we ignore modern foods?

Emphatically, NO! We have at our disposal, information that can help the athlete and still fits within the body design. In fact, recently, a highly respected paleo scientist, Dr. Loren Cordain and a very successful Olympic coach, Joe Freil, have teamed up to make recommendations to the athlete for optimum performance and health. Interestingly, their recommendations are well in keeping with highly successful coaches and trainers including Chris Carmichael, coach to Lance Armstrong. (See the reading list for both of these excellent books) The judicial use of supplementation and whole foods will provide a menu of options that will be nutrient rich and provide enough energy to support your active life.  You will find yourself getting strong, lean and energetic.

If you continue on this site, I will attempt to provide you with a powerfully rich diet that will allow the training and rest to be put to it's best use. If the browser wishes to go further or to ask why I make such recommendations, I will attempt to include optional links to the evidence. As always inquiries, recommendations and discussion is encouraged! Contact me at your desire!

Dr. Mike Jezercak, Ph.D