| Food Energy Food energy is the amount
of energy obtained from food that is available through cellular
respiration.
Like other forms of energy, food energy is expressed in calories or
joules. Some countries use the food calorie, which is equal to 1
kilocalorie (kcal), or 1,000 calories. In the context of nutrition, and
especially food labeling, the calories are large calories approximately
equal to 4.1868 kilojoules (kJ). The kilojoule is the unit officially
recommended by the World Health Organization and other international
organizations. In some countries only the kilojoule is normally used on
food packaging, but the calorie is still the most common unit in many
countries.
Food is the second most important way in which energy is taken into
the body. It?s the energy in food that sustains us, and the effect of
food energy on our body is the basis for the dietary practice known as
macrobiotics.
Energy exists on a continuum, from yin, among whose attributes are cold,
darkness, and contraction, to yang, characterized by heat, light, and
expansion. Foods exist on this continuum and can be characterized as
predominantly yin or yang, according to the effect they have on the
body.
A diet based on this principle?the principle of balance?is
grain-centered rather than meat-centered and includes vegetables, beans
and bean products, soups and condiments, and in some cases fish and
desserts.
The Body Needs Fuel
The human body is incredibly complex. Every second, millions of
physiological and chemical reactions take place in order to maintain
good health. The body both creates things (eg. heat, muscle, proteins,
RNA, hair, nails, enzymes, fat tissue, bones) and breaks things down
(food, stored fat, etc.). These anabolic and catabolic processes, along
with all organs and systems, need fuel to enable them to function. The
fuel or energy that the body uses, comes from the food and drink that we
consume in our diet. In a nutshell, food is human gasoline.
Rather than replacing your farmer's market or local grocery, we have
focused on making available to you foods to "Put-By" (to store) and
water purification assistance to assure continued health and survival.?
We recommend these items for your pantry primarily to guarantee your
individual empowerment. |