Like the first two members of the nutrition big 3, fats and carbohydrates, proteins have their own language. Here are some nutritional terms you should know: Protein comes from the Greek word protos, meaning “first.” These nutrients are the basic elements of living cells, of first importance. Like carbohydrates and fats, proteins contain carbon, hydrogen, […]
How much Protein do I need daily?
The amount of protein you need depends primarily on the size of your body and how fast it is growing, and to a lesser extent on your gender and how much you exercise. Babies need more protein per pound than moms, moms more than grandmothers, and dads more than moms. As a general guide, this […]
I’m worried that my three-year-old daughter is not eating enough protein. How can I be sure?
You’ll be surprised how easy it is for your child to get enough protein. If she is at an average weight for 3-year-olds, around 30 pounds, she needs an average of sixteen grams of protein. She can get this amount from any one of the following: 8-ounces of yogurt in a cup of cereal a […]
What are the best protein foods?
Perhaps the fairest and most practical way of rating protein foods is to look at the amount of protein in relation to the total calories in a food. The following chart will show you how to get enough protein without overdosing on fat. (Key: Grams of Protein per serving = Blue; Percentage of calories as […]
What happens if I eat too much protein?
Too much protein is not a problem, unless you really overdose, which would mean eating twice the amount your body needs for a long time. When your body has more protein than necessary, it simply disassembles the excess protein, uses the amino acids it needs, and discards the leftover nitrogen through the kidneys. The body […]
Are high protein weight-loss diets safe?
Be careful with these. It is generally unwise to use a high protein diet to lose weight. The protein overdose sends the kidneys into overtime. As the kidneys work to eliminate the excess protein, they also dump a lot of water out of your system. On the bathroom scale, this looks like a dramatic weight […]
Muscle Mass and Protein
I’m exercising vigorously to stay lean and doing weight training to build muscle mass. Do I need to eat extra protein? Just eating more muscle will not make you gain muscle. But, if you’re trying to build your muscles through exercise, you may need more protein. How much depends upon how hard you’re working out. […]
What Are Phytos?
Have you had your phytos today? That’s nutri-talk for the nineties. Once upon a time it was thought that fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals were all the nutrients necessary for growth and health. Now we know there’s another group of nutrients necessary for optimal health – phytonutrients. Despite its high tech ring, “phytonutrient” (from […]
4 Ways Phytos are Health Food
While there are many phytos that have been identified, there are probably thousands more that remain to be discovered. The best known phytos are carotenoids, flavonoids, and isoflavones. Carotenoids include yellow, orange, and red pigment in fruits and vegetables. Dark, green, leafy vegetables are rich in the carotenoid, beta carotene, but the usual yellow color […]
Famous Phytos
Currently, these are the most popular phytos that are known for their powerful antioxidant, anticancer, and heart disease protective properties. We call them “phytomins.” PHYTOMINS FOOD SOURCE Carotenoids (alpha carotene, beta carotene, and lutin) yellow-orange fruits and vegetables: carrots, cantaloupe, papaya, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, dried apricots, asparagus, kale, green leafy vegetables, peppers Lycopene […]
Phyto Facts
Libraries of information exist about vitamins, but phytonutrients are newcomers to the health-food table. There is currently a sort of phyto information war going on. On the one side, pill- makers are trying to package and promote phytonutrient supplements as the new magic cure-all. On the other side, researchers are trying to determine scientifically just […]
Top Tips in Choosing and Using Oils
1. COOKING WITH OILS Cooking at high temperatures can damage oils. The more omega 3 fatty acids in the oil, the less suitable it is for cooking. The heat not only damages the fatty acids, it can also change them into harmful substances. Hydrogenated oils are often used for cooking. Because these oil have already […]