Healthy Nutrition

Modern diets are ill suited for our genetic composition. Evolution has not kept pace with advances in agriculture and food processing resulting in a plague of health problems for modern man. Coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, obesity and psychological dysfunction have all been scientifically linked to a diet too high in refined or processed carbohydrate. Search Google for Paleolithic nutrition or diet. The return is extensive, compelling and fascinating. The Caveman model is perfectly consistent with the CrossFit prescription.

Excessive consumption of high-glycemic carbohydrates is the primary culprit in nutritionally caused health problems. High glycemic carbohydrates are those that raise blood sugar too rapidly. They include rice, bread, candy, potato, sweets, sodas and most processed carbohydrates. Processing includes bleaching, baking, grinding and refining. Processing carbohydrates greatly increases their glycemic index, a measure of their propensity to elevate blood sugar.

The problem with high-glycemic carbohydrates is that they give an inordinate insulin response. Insulin is an essential hormone for life, yet acute, chronic elevation of insulin leads to hyperinsulinism, which has been positively linked to obesity, elevated cholesterol levels, blood pressure, mood dysfunction and a Pandora’s box of disease and disability. Research hyperinsulinism on the Internet for a gold mine of information pertinent to your health.

Current research strongly supports the link between caloric restriction and an increased life expectancy. The incidence of cancers and heart disease sharply decline with a diet carefully limited to control caloric intake. Caloric Restriction is another fruitful area for Internet search.

The CrossFit prescription allows a reduced caloric intake yet still provides ample nutrition for rigorous activity.