Stress is like fire: When controlled and used for a purpose, it serves us well. Left unbridled, it can consume us.

It's not volume, nor is it calories that we biologically hunger for. It's micronutrients. And until we receive enough, the hunger signal will continually urge us to eat. Thankfully, there's a simple fix: nutrient-dense food.

Our hunger signal will remain active until we take in an adequate supply of nourishment.

Since a calorie is a measure of food energy, you may understandably assume that the more calories you consume, the more energy you'll have. I certainly believed that. Conventional sports nutrition books had me convinced of it. Yet, in practice, we see that clearly isn't the case.

In fact, the number one reason for obesity in North America is simple: over consumption. And we over consume because we're hungry.

The Complete Idiots Guide to Eating Raw is ideal for anyone looking to seamlessly adopt eating habits that will benefit overall health and boost athletic performance.

What do we actually seek from food? It's not calories, nor is it volume or mass. It is, in fact, nutrition: micronutrients, which include vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. These are components by which food can be assessed a value, and therefore, a decision can be objectively made as to whether it's worth eating.