How Many Calories Per Day? Read on....

This week I have been enjoying Dr. Daniel Amen's book, "Change Your Brain, Change Your Body." He has done over 70,000 brain scans on his patients including NFL players to discover how to treat  them.  Dr. Amen is a psychiatrist, a clinical neuroscientist, and brain imaging expert.

Because we cannot see our brains, we don't think much about them.  After seeing some photos of toxic brains, I would love to see a scan of my own brain. It also makes me keenly aware that I want to continue to eat the best food possible and take good care of myself.

The truth is, we are what we eat and we become what we eat. When I speak on health I always say that our food goes to the cellular level. I sound like a broken record, but it is the truth. Just like when a chicken is pasture-raised and eats what she is supposed to eat, her eggs are delicious, so the same goes for us.  When we eat well, we look healthy and beautiful.  I can bet that our pasture-raised lady also looks healthy and beautiful.

Here are some things to consider (adapted from Change Your Brain, Change Your Body, by Daniel Amen, M.D.) when you choose your next meal:

1. Your body continually makes and renews cells, even in the brain. Your skin makes new cells every 30 days! Food fuels cell growth and regeneration. What you consume daily, directly affects the health of your brain and body.
2. Food is a drug. Foods affect your mood and energy level. Have you ever noticed that when a child eats candy, within a few minutes they start bouncing off the walls? Do you get impatient when you drink too much coffee or caffeine?
3. Food can make you sleepy. After eating a huge lunch (pasta and chicken for example) do you need a nap?
4. Food can make you feel great. Eating the right foods gives you good energy that lasts all day long and helps you focus better. When you go to bed a little hungry don't you bounce out of bed to take on the day?
5. Diet influences everything in your life: your overall health, your ability to think quickly and clearly, your energy level, your physical and athletic performance, your weight, your appearance, your confidence, your self-esteem.

One great thing to know is how many calories your body needs per day. To find out your basic calorie needs, your resting basal metabolic rate (BMR), go here:

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

I was surprised to learn how few calories I need each day (1,224 !!!). I am not a calorie counter but this is a great number to know.

The answer is the total number of calories a day you need to maintain your current weight. This number helps give you control over your health.

To Your Best Health,

Denise Lovat
Certified Health Coach, AADP

source: Change Your Brain, Change Your Body, Daniel Amen, M.D.