We all want extra energy—usually at all times, but especially when
we think about losing weight. It’s common to experience a depletion
of energy when we change our food intake patterns or cut back on
our overall caloric intake. At these times, it’s more important than
ever for our food to give us that extra energy boost.
This is one reason why nutrient-rich World’s Healthiest Foods are so
beneficial—they help you feel energized while shedding pounds.
And it’s quite simple how it happens: the World’s Healthiest Foods
can help energize you by providing your body with ample amounts
of nutrients required by the body’s energy production systems.
It’s not just that they provide you with enough macronutrients
(carbohydrates, protein, fat) that serve as the starting place for the
production of energy. They also contain micronutrients (vitamins
and minerals) that help to release the energy and then recapture it
so it can be stored for later use when and where it’s most needed.
Capturing energy from the food you eat takes place in your cells.
Some of the most important energy production spots are very
small microstructures inside our cells called mitochondria. The
energy production process that takes place in our mitochondria is
a complicated process. To function properly it involves a variety of
enzymes that require many vital health-promoting nutrients—such
as vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6, lipoic acid, coenzyme Q, as
well as iron, magnesium, and sulfur. So, imagine the difference in
how much energy you’ll feel from eating nutrient-poor refined
foods as opposed to nutrient-rich whole foods such as fresh fruits,
CHAPTER 5