Last time we looked at the main reason humans consume food – for energy. Our bodies run on energy extracted from the food we eat. Now, there is a second reason why we regularly put food into our mouths:
Building blocks.
When our body disassembles the foods and drinks we just had, it does not just crumble things up. It actually uses chemicals to break everything into tiny building blocks! These are called Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals and Water, and everything edible contains at least some of them.
These blocks are taken into our body. Most are burned as fuel for our body’s energy needs, but others are used to either grow us or replace bits that may need replacing! Something always needs fixing. Fingernails and hair grow, small cuts or scratches in our skin may need shiny new skin. But also on the inside, our bodies are constantly carrying out maintenance. Our blood for example is replaced regularly and things like sweat are being made to order.
Why does this matter?
Because what we eat decides what building blocks our body has to work with.
Let’s assume that I broke my arm and the doctor puts it in a cast to allow it to heal. Both my doctor and I are counting on my body to assess the damage and start fixing it by building new bone stuff right where the break is. To build bone my body will need a mineral called calcium. There would be a little Calcium ready to go right away – my body would have a little stash for emergencies. But we need more! And it can only come from food.
Over the next little while my body will take any Calcium from the food I eat and use it to fix my bone. But can you imagine what would happen if I did not eat anything with Calcium in it? That is right, my bone would not be able to heal.
This is an extreme example – all food contains at least some building blocks. But my point is: what we eat decides how well our body can do its job and how well it can look after itself.
Someone who eats only dry pasta and nothing else will be short on building blocks pasta does not have, even though they may get all the energy they need.
Someone who eats lots of different foods and especially a good amount of fresh fruit, veggies, meat & fish for example has truck- (or: bite-) loads of different blocks coming into their body, and their bodies can keep everything new and running well.
In short:
How much we eat decides whether or not we get enough energy.
What we eat decides which building blocks we have to work with.