Any food that we take into our bodies is composed of macronutrients, micronutrients and water. The macronutrients (macro = large) are protein, fat and carbohydrates; the micronutrients (micro = small) are vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Macronutrients provide the calories that provide energy for life; micronutrients have no calories but are an essential part of our diet. Without macronutrients we would starve to death, without micronutrients we would die from health deterioration.
So, what exactly is protein?
Technically speaking proteins are any of a large group of nitrogenous (containing nitrogen) compounds of high molecular weight that are essential constituents of all living organisms. They consist of 22 biological compounds called amino acids. They provide the building materials for the basic cell structure of the heart, brain, blood, nails, hair, internal organs and skin ? in fact for every living cell in our body. You would recognise proteins better if they were defined as red meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs and soy.
To understand the importance of protein as an aid for weight loss we also have to briefly define what carbohydrates and fats are: carbohydrates are basically sugars, usually referred to as either simple or complex. Simple or refined carbohydrates are the ones like sugar, honey, cakes, biscuits and white bread. Complex carbohydrates are whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, some vegetables, beans and legumes, and certain fruits. Fats are technically triglycerides and are usually divided into two groups; saturated and non-saturated. Saturated fats are usually solid at room temperature and include fats found in meat, dairy products, ice cream, milk and tropical oils. Unsaturated fats are usually liquid at room temperature and come in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated forms. Monounsaturated include oils from some nuts, olives and avocadoes. Polyunsaturated include oils from soybean, flax, sunflower, safflower as well as those fats that have been chemically transformed to make them solid like margarine. But the most important thing to consider is what effect do proteins, carbohydrates and fats have on your body? Or more specifically what effect do they have on the production of insulin in your body. Insulin is essential to life, some of its many functions are to control the storage of fat, control appetite, regulate the retention of water in the kidneys and the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver and it also acts as a growth hormone.
Eating fat has little effect on your insulin levels, and it actually decreases your appetite. Also eating the right kind of fats can rebalance hormones and improve the way you look and feel.
When you eat carbohydrates your body produces digestive enzymes that break down the chemical bonds between the sugar molecules. These molecules stimulate the production of metabolic hormones including insulin and this is where the problems can start. If we have a diet too high in carbohydrates, particularly refined carbohydrates, the high levels of glucose cause high levels of insulin to be produced. This can cause insulin resistance, where the body's cells become non-responsive to the insulin so the pancreas keeps producing more and more. It also means the body fails to burn the glucose as energy and instead it is stored as fat! If this happens constantly the build up of glucose in the blood can cause Type II diabetes. The high level of insulin also tells a gland in the brain, the hypothalamus, to send out hunger signals. So you could have just eaten a meal and you would still feel hungry, there will be nothing that satisfies that hunger.
Eating protein produces a moderate amount of insulin but also produces the hormone glucagon. This hormone stimulates the body to get rid of fat by burning it for energy; it also decreases the body's production of cholesterol and stimulates the kidney to release excess salt and fluid. It also maintains your blood sugar level counteracting the effect of insulin, which lowers the blood sugar levels.
So, what should we be eating? Recent studies recommend 100g of protein for women and 150g of protein for men. An excellent way of getting the majority of your protein intake is by using a meal replacement product with extra protein powder if necessary. This takes all the guess work out of two thirds of your protein intake and when combined with a third meal of low fat protein (e.g. chicken or turkey) and low glycaemic vegetables gives the ideal diet to lose weight, gain energy, lower cholesterol and blood pressure and possibly reverse Type II diabetes.
About The Author
Kay Blackiston has had an interest in health and nutrition for several years. She is now a personal weight loss coach supporting anybody who wishes to take charge of their lives and lose their excess weight.
http://www.from-flab-to-fab.com
http://www.from-flab-to-fab.com
cheap limo service Lombard .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareMillions of people spend billions of dollars, hoping to achieve... Read More
In the early nineties I had the opportunity to work... Read More
These days more and more people are getting intellectual instead... Read More
Do you want to lose weight? Of course you do,... Read More
With the number of people suffering from obesity rising so... Read More
Carnitine is simply the safest and healthiest supplement you can... Read More
Diet pills have met with many different fates, and come... Read More
It's the American Dream: "If I could just lose a... Read More
Cardio Exercise...A huge variety of fitness activities provide cardiovascular benefits.... Read More
Information About Weight Training Routines For BeginnersSo you need to... Read More
The heated debate, within diet circles, that began a few... Read More
Used a diet pill recently and got depressed because you... Read More
April 14, 2005 federal judge Tena Campbell of the federal... Read More
Recently, a Japanese study showed dramatic results of organ fat... Read More
Weight training combines building muscle tone and working the cardiovascular... Read More
Why We Start Diets on MondayThe biggest problem with any... Read More
Yes and no. Moderate calorie restriction helps in controlling and... Read More
Abdominal liposuction refers to liposuction, or lipoplasty, that is performed... Read More
After weight loss surgery it is important to include as... Read More
For a healthy body, it is very important to have... Read More
Wow! You must be on fire by now burning and... Read More
Frankly, I'm puzzled whenever I hear this from somebody who's... Read More
Yesterday evening my computer hard drive crashed. Resulting in the... Read More
We've entered the Twilight Zone when it comes to the... Read More
Q: "I'm wondering if you can help me. I'm not... Read More
limo O'Hare Glen Ellyn ..If you're like most people who tried losing weight on... Read More
Losing weight quickly is not advisable as most of the... Read More
WHAT DOES BEING FIT REALLY MEAN?The "INSIDE-OUT" approach to fitness... Read More
As much as many of us who are over-weight do... Read More
Choosing the right diet type is the most important decision... Read More
Which is easier to do ? turn a car's steering... Read More
If you are fighting the battle of the bulge (overweight... Read More
Activity means both mental and physical activity.Mental activity is similar... Read More
The South Beach Diet works, for most people. Its low... Read More
One of the worst things you can hear in life... Read More
For a healthy body, it is very important to have... Read More
Looking for Diet Programs on net is like looking for... Read More
The right diet pill should be carefully considered when deciding... Read More
Carnitine is simply the safest and healthiest supplement you can... Read More
America is a nation of self-disclosers, amiably acceptant of our... Read More
Humanity is always in search of a wonder drug that... Read More
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS!The health clubs are always racking... Read More
It seems everyone is looking for that magic bullet -... Read More
RISING POPULARITYGastric bypass surgery has become a popular surgical procedure... Read More
What is the link between Hispanics and obesity? Are people... Read More
Dieting will continue to fail most dieters, unless personalized weight... Read More
Diet information is everywhere. In advertisements, on TV, in magazines;... Read More
(But What You Need to Know if You Want to... Read More
Low self-esteem produces a game of control. It causes a... Read More
Now that the temptations of the Holiday season have passed... Read More
Weight Loss |