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Eating plays an important role in our lives, both physically and mentally. However, many people don’t pay close attention to what nutrition means or the basic components of food. All food provides energy in the form of calories from protein, carbs, fat, or a mix of these. Water doesn’t have calories but our bodies need it to function. Food also gives us necessary vitamins and minerals in different amounts.
To better understand how what you eat affects your health, it’s good to learn the basics of nutrition:
Calories – A calorie is a unit of energy found in food like fat, protein and carbs. Fats have 9 calories per gram while carbs and protein have 4.
Protein – Proteins are the building blocks for our bodies – every cell contains protein! They help prevent malnutrition. Protein intake after surgery is key to prevent issues. Good sources are low-fat dairy, eggs, chicken, fish and beans.
Fat – Fat gives our bodies energy when eaten in moderation. Some types are better than others. Olive oil and peanut oil are “healthy” as they help cholesterol levels. Fish, nuts and oils contain “good” polyunsaturated fat needed in small amounts. Butter and meat fat are “unhealthy” saturated fat bad for cholesterol. Processed foods often contain “unhealthy” trans fat. All fat needs to be eaten sparingly due to its high calorie count.
Carbs – Carbohydrates come from sugars linked together in chains to provide energy. Too many turn to fat storage. Simple carbs like juice and sweets cause a spike then crash in blood sugar levels, making you feel hungry again fast. Complex carbs from whole grains, veggies and fruit take longer to break down, keeping you feeling full longer due to their fiber.
Conventional Western medicine typically focuses on general nutrition recommendations like a balanced diet, portion control and following established dietary guidelines. This approach considers nutrients important for overall health.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a more holistic view. It sees health as a balance between aspects like yin and yang energies, the five elements, and meridian pathways. Nutrition in TCM is based on principles like life energy (Qi), flavors, food temperatures and their ability to balance the body. It focuses on each individual’s unique needs and suggests specific foods to restore energetic balance when imbalances occur.
Orthomolecular medicine is based on the idea that many illnesses and disorders stem from deficiencies in certain nutrients. It centers on using therapeutic doses of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to correct deficiencies and promote health. Orthomolecular nutrition focuses on supplementing specific nutrients to re-establish balance and improve cell function.
Both conventional and orthomolecular approaches recognize the importance of proper nutrition for health maintenance and disease prevention. They rely on scientific evidence and more individualized methods. Meanwhile, TCM differs by considering energetic and whole-body aspects in diet and nutrition.
It’s worth noting these approaches don’t have to be mutually exclusive – they can complement each other. Looking at nutrition from various angles gives us a more complete, personalized understanding of optimizing our wellness. Each helps fill gaps in the others’ views.
A few other details that could help expand our knowledge:
TCM cautions that over-focusing on single nutrients may disrupt the body’s natural balance in unexpected ways. Its broader view considers lifestyle and environment too.
Orthomolecular medicine digs deeper into unique individual biochemistry and uses testing to precisely identify nutrient deficiencies on a case-by-case basis.
Conventional nutrition science continues to evolve as new research emerges on various diets, components and their interactions within the body.
Taking an open-minded, multifaceted approach that combines validated pieces from different traditions may ultimately serve us best. But it’s good to thoughtfully consider each approach on its own merits as well.
OMD, AP, PhD
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