Fat Force Fat has also gotten a bad reputation, and for good reason. Too much of the "bad" fats is associated with heart disease, some types of cancer, and some chronic illnesses. The right types of fat and the amount, however, can make food taste good, and is a concentrated source of energy. Saturated fat (found in foods like meat, butter, lard, and cream) and trans fat (found in baked goods, snack foods, fried foods, and margarines) have been shown to increase the risk for heart disease. Replacing saturated and trans fat in your diet with unsaturated fat (found in foods like olive oil, avocados, nuts, and canola oil) has been shown to decrease the risk of developing heart disease.
In order to strike the right balance, choose polyunsaturated fats such as vegetable oils and seafood, and monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, nuts, and seeds. The unsaturated variety can help lower "bad" LDL cholesterol.
Protein Power
Fats and carbohydrates may supply the body with energy, but protein helps regulate the release of that power. Protein maintains cells, assists in growth , transports hormones and vitamins, and preserves lean muscle mass. Muscles and many hormones are, in fact, made up of protein. We need proteins for our immune system. So replenishing the body's source of the nutrient is very important.
Good sources of protein include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, and low-fat dairy products.When we eat these types of foods, our body breaks down the protein that they contain into amino acids (the building blocks of proteins). Some amino acids are essential, which means that we need to get them from our diet, and others are nonessential, which means that our body can make them. Protein that comes from animal sources contains all of the essential amino acids that we need. Plant sources of protein, on the other hand, do not contain all of the essential amino acids.
In diets where the body does not get its usual fuel of carbohydrates and fat, protein provides the body energy.
No comments:
Post a Comment