Why Nutrition Is the Most Important Part of Fitness

The food we eat plays a vital role in how we look and feel. Regular exercise is important but according to research, nutrition has the largest impact on our fitness Using food as our medicine has become a popular theme for health improvement.

The trend is now to focus on healthy food intake as a primary fitness goal. When healthy eating habits become a lifestyle, we are healthier and happier. ​Eating right allows us to reduce body fat, lose a few pounds, feel more confident and reduce our risk of illness. 

Frequent studies are indicating healthy food intake as the most important part of our fitness programs. Some physicians are teaching healthy eating habits and lifestyles as a way to improve overall health by reducing obesity and related disease. 

Food Is Our Medicine

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Nutrient-dense foods, or "superfoods," include lean proteins, healthy carbohydrates, and fats essential to our health. Superfoods are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Antioxidants are shown to reduce inflammation in our body helping us fight disease and illness.2 Inflammation is said to be the leading cause of many diseases. Powerful antioxidants in leafy greens and vegetables, for example, help detoxify the body by removing harmful chemicals. 

Some superfoods contain compounds that increase our metabolism for more efficient fat burning. Red peppers contain a molecule called capsaicin shown to enhance the rate we burn body fat. 

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Fat Flush Plan

The Plan

The Fat Flush Plan is aimed at weight loss and detox. It was started by Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD. She is a former nutritionist at the Pritikin Longevity Center. She says it will melt away fat in just two weeks while also detoxifying your body.

How Might This Plan Work?

Dr. Gittleman thinks we need to detoxify our bodies, mainly our livers, to lose extra weight. Dr. Gittleman says that getting rid of some foods and adding others can help the liver work better, flush fat, and speed weight loss.

What’s Do You Need to Do?

Dr. Gittleman thinks that there are five hidden causes of weight gain: liver toxicity, waterlogged tissues which cause bloating and cellulite, fear of eating fat, too much insulin and swelling, and stress.

There are three phases:

Phase One: Two Week Fat Flush

Dr. Gittleman says this program speeds weight loss from the hips, thighs, and buttocks, while detoxifying the liver.

Calories	1,100 to 1,200 per day
Focus	Daily flaxseed oil, fiber, and water Working out
Foods You Can Eat in This Program	Green leafy veggies like kale, collards, watercress, and broccoli; other non-starchy veggies Some fruits Flaxseed oil Eggs that have omega-3 Fish, lean meat, skinless chicken, and turkey Unsweetened cranberry juice diluted with water
Foods You Cannot Eat in This Program	Trans fats Caffeine Colas, diet sodas, alcohol Aspartame, sugar, and many spices, such as curries, chili peppers, and black pepper Any vinegars other than apple-cider, soy sauce, mustard, and barbecue sauce Grains, breads, cereals Starchy veggies such as potatoes, corn, peas, carrots, parsnips, pumpkin, winter squash, and beans Dairy products All oils and fats other than flaxseed oil

Phase Two: Ongoing Fat Flush

This is designed to keep you losing weight. You stay in this phase until you are at the weight you want to be at. This may take two weeks or many months.

Calories	1,200 to 1,500 per day
Focus	Like to phase 1, but with journal writing
Foods You Can Eat in This Program	Same as phase 1, but with 1 to 2 friendly carbohydrates (carbs) back on the menu each week, such as flax bread and sweet potatoes
Foods You Cannot Eat in This Program	Same as phase 1

Phase Three: Lifestyle Eating Plan

This is the part of the program that keeps you at the weight you want to be at.

Calories	over 1,800 per day
Focus	Like phases 1 and 2 Also has food combining: not eating fruits and veggies together, eating one protein per meal, or having flaxseed oil with dairy.
Foods You Can Eat in This Program	Same as phase 2 with more fruit and oils and not many dairy items Can now work up to four friendly carbs per day
Foods You Cannot Eat in This Program	You still cannot have the foods that were taken away in phase 1, such as coffee, regular tea, diet sodas, alcohol, sweeteners, sugar, and white flour. Note that herbal teas are okay to drink.