The quality of the food that we consume also has a direct impact on the energy we can use from those foods. This process is explained below.
Different categories or levels exist in determining the body’s ability to convert consumed foods into energy. These levels or theory, as seen below, are referred to as ‘The Tropic Food Chain’.
Level 1 Food: Plants and algae.
Plants and algae make their own food and are called primary producers.
Level 2 Food: Herbivores
Herbivores eat plants and are called primary consumers.
Level 3 Food: Carnivores
Carnivores that eat herbivores are called secondary consumers.
Level 4 Food: Carnivores
Carnivores that eat other carnivores are called tertiary consumers
Level 5 Food: Apex predators
Apex predators that have no predators are at the top of the food chain.
The Living Lean program harnesses the energy (and protein) of level 1 foods.
The energy transferred between levels can also be thought of as approximating to a transfer in biomass.
The efficiency in which energy or biomass is transferred from one tropic level to the next is called the ‘ecological efficiency’.
The Living Lean program has been designed to maximise ecological efficiency.
It is known that humans at each level convert, on average, only about 10% of the chemical energy in their food to their own organic tissue.
This level of energy conversion continues to decline the further up the tropic food chain foods are found. Each individual step can see a decline of between 80 – 95% of this energy conversion.
The Living Lean program utilizes Level 1 tropic foods for maximum energy production, maximum protein absorption and improved metabolic functions.
Furthermore, the Living Lean customized meal plan focuses on Level 1 tropic foods. These Level 1 foods, or primary producers, unlock the body’s ability to function at an optimal level which will result in more energy, less body fat, improved physiological functions and maximal health.