Beauty and the Obese by Troy LaCour - HTML preview

Chapter 3

Understanding Nutrition

There are numerous nutrients that make up our diet. Each nutrient plays an important role in our diet and our diet is not well rounded without all of them. The basic building blocks to a healthy diet include:

 Carbohydrates

 Protein

 Fats

 Vitamins

 Minerals

Fats

Fats and carbohydrates make up a healthy diet. The key is to not to overeat either one of these to the point that they are not healthy for you. Many people do not understand the role that fats and carbs play in our diet. While these should be limited, they are still important for a healthy lifestyle. The key is to make smart decisions when it comes to choosing which fats and oils you are going to eat. This means that you will want to substitute saturated fats with unsaturated fats. You want to cook with lighter oils when cooking.

Fats are essential for supplying the body with energy. Fats are essential so that fatty acids and aid in the transportation of fat-soluble vitamins around the body. These fat-soluble vitamins include:

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 Vitamin A

 Vitamin D

 Vitamin E

 Vitamin K

 Carotenoids

Fats are also the building blocks for many tissues and membranes. They play many roles in regulating the various bodily functions.

Dietary fat is available in both plant and animal sources of food. Many nutrition experts recommend that the intake of fat should be kept to less than 20% of calories. Extreme low fat diets, however, are not safe and cause damage to the body.

The type of fat that you take in also makes a huge difference. A diet that is high in saturated fats, cholesterol and Trans fats have been associated with numerous conditions including:

 Heart disease

 Heart attacks

 Stroke

 Chronic health problems

 Diabetes

 Obesity

Excessive fat intake of saturated fats and Trans fats are associated with the greatest complications. Trans fats are those fats that are solid at room temperature. One of the best ways to limit the intake of saturated fat is to limit the intake of animal fat in the diet. Animal fats include meats such as:

 Bacon

 Sausage

 Butter

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 Ice cream

Cholesterol can be regulated by watching the intake of eggs and organ meats, as well as other foods that are known to be high in cholesterol.

Food labels can make it difficult to determine which fats are good fats. For example, trans fats are listed on the ingredient lists and not in the chart of dietary information. Processed foods contain more Trans fats.

Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are better choices. These can be found in canola and olive oil. These are lighter oils and it is a big step towards healthier eating if you incorporate these into your diet instead of using fats such as lard to cook with. These fats are liquid at room temperature. They also have heart-protecting qualities, unlike Trans fats.

Fish also contain good fats. They are a source of omega-3 fatty acids. These have been found to help lower cholesterol and to promote good health.

Carbohydrates

These are important of a healthy diet, although the marketing of some diets may have you think otherwise. They are necessary for providing you with energy as well as essential nutrients.

Carbohydrates are found in a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, grains and dairy products. They are not all equally healthy, so it is important that you choose wisely.

When you are choosing your breads and cereals, look to have them made with whole grains, while avoiding the more highly refined varieties. It is also important to limit the intake of sugars, such as baked goods and candy. Consuming large amounts of these low nutrient and high calorie foods can make it difficult to stay healthy without gaining weight.

Many people consume way too much sugar and salt. Salt is important in nutrition, but many people consume too much of it. Excess salt causes water retention, high blood pressure and other conditions. Choose low sodium foods and limit the use of the saltshaker. By implementing these two strategies, you will be able to go a long way http://buddhabellybuster.com

Carbohydrates are found in a lot of foods. For instance, cookies and whole wheat bread are both sources of carbohydrates. Whole wheat bread is much healthier than cookies. This is where the importance of good decisions comes into play.

In addition to cereals and breads, carbohydrates are also present in fruits and vegetables. They are also available in dairy products. Carbohydrates and fats also help to provide variety in the diet.

When it comes to choosing carbohydrates it is best to choose those that are not refined. When carbs enter the small intestine they are broken down into sugars. Those carbs that are from refined products are broken down into sugar much more quickly.

Antioxidants

There has been a lot of talk lately about how antioxidants are important in the diet. They have a possible role in fighting a variety of illnesses and this includes some types of cancer. They are also supposed to aid in age related degeneration and heart disease.

Many companies are marketing various pills, powders and capsules. The marketing of these supplements stresses that you need you supplement your diet in this pill form; however it is best to receive these nutrients through everyday foods and not from supplements.

It is important to understand how antioxidants work to protect the body. Antioxidants work to neutralize harmful elements that are known as free radicals. These are produced in the body naturally and as a consequence of natural bodily processes. Most of the time the body will be able to neutralize and eliminate free radicals on its own.

Stresses such as environmental pollution, a weak immune system, UV radiation and alcohol cause the body to not be able to effectively fight these free radicals. Excessive free radicals in the human body can cause damage to the structure and function of the various organs and other systems in the body. Recent studies have also shown free radicals cause a number of diseases. They may also play a role in aging.

It is estimated that foods have about 4,000 different compounds that have antioxidant qualities.

Since only a small number of these compounds have been identified it is difficult to see why http://buddhabellybuster.com

adding a supplement would help achieve a healthy diet. You are better off eating a variety of foods and receiving antioxidants the natural way.

There are many sources of antioxidant vitamins including: Vitamin C: This is probably the most studied of all the antioxidant vitamins. It is also known as ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is believed to be the body’s first line of defense against infection and disease. Vitamin C is water-soluble and must be consumed daily. It is available in:

 Grapefruit

 Green peppers

 Broccoli

 Leafy greens

 Strawberries

 Cabbage

 Potatoes

Vitamin E: This is a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored in the liver and other tissues. It has been studied for its effect on aging and healing sunburns. It is important that your diet contains adequate amounts of vitamin E. Vitamin E can be found in:

 Whole wheat germ

 Nuts

 Seeds

 Whole grains

 Vegetable oil

 Fish liver oil

 Leafy greens

Beta-carotene: This is the nutrient that causes flamingos to be pink, as they receive it from the shrimp that they eat. There are over 600 carotenoids that have been discovered so far. The role of beta-carotene in nature is to protect the skins of fruits that are dark green, yellow and orange. Beta-carotene can be found in:

 Carrots

 Squash

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 Sweet potatoes

 Broccoli

 Tomatoes

 Collard greens

 Kale

 Cantaloupe

 Peaches

 Apricots

Selenium: This is one of the most important minerals in a healthy diet. It has properties that prevent cell damage, which is seen as an important part of preventing cancer. It is important to get selenium naturally from your diet, as supplements can be toxic. It is easily found in foods such as:

 Fish

 Shellfish

 Red meat

 Whole grains

 Poultry

 Eggs

 Garlic

 Vegetables that have been grown in selenium rich soils Choosing Low Fat and High Fiber Foods

Raising the level of dietary fiber is important. At the same time it is important to lower the amount of fat in your diet. Adding dietary fiber to your diet is one of the most effective changes that you can make. However, many people consume way too much fat without enough fiber.

A good place to start is by knowing which foods you eat are high in fiber or which foods that are high in fiber that you could eat. Eating a diet that is rich in fiber will lower fat and other negative diet elements.

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When you are boosting the amount of fiber in your diet you also want to do so at a gradual rate.

Abrupt changes in fiber can cause abdominal pain, cramps, bloating and gas.

There are several high fiber foods including:

 Dried peas & beans

 Dried fruits

 Nuts

 Sesame seeds

 Sunflower seeds

 Berries

All of these foods have more than 6 grams of fiber per serving.

Foods which contain 4 to 6 grams of fiber per serving include:

 Baked potatoes with skin

 Apples

 Pears

 Barley

 Brown rice

 Bran muffins

 Lima beans

 Snow peas

 Green peas

 Sweet potatoes

Foods that contain 2 to 4 grams per serving include:

 Vegetables

 Citrus fruits

 Whole wheat bread

 Rye bread

 Melons

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You will need to eat more of these foods to get the full effect, but that is okay because they are nutritious foods.

In order to have healthier eating habits for life, it is important to change the way you shop, cook and eat. A diet change should be something that you intend to continue with through life, so it is important that you develop good habits now that will allow you to do so.

When you go grocery shopping; get into the habit of hitting the produce section first. This is generally easy because most grocery stores have it conveniently located near the front door.

You will want to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season. These foods contain rich sources of vitamins and minerals. They also have a lot of fiber. Canned fruits and vegetables are okay if they are not in season.

When you are looking at baked goods, try to find those that are made with:

 Whole wheat flour

 Wheat bran

 Oat bran

 Poppy seeds

 Sesame seeds

 Oatmeal

 Raisins

It is also important that you learn to read labels. There are federally mandated labels on all foods that are sold. These labels are also standardized and contain certain information. Look at:

 Calorie content

 Fiber content

 Vitamin content

You can also find this information on meats, seafood and poultry as well.

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Fiber Myths

There are several myths about fiber. The first is that the crispness of a food is related to fiber.

The truth is that there is no relation here. The amount of crispness of a food product does not indicate the amount of fiber that the product contains. The crunch of lettuce, for example, is from the amount of water that it contains.

Secondly, many people think that cooking breaks down fiber. This is not true either. Cooking has no effect on the amount of fiber that the food contains. Peeling vegetables and fruits, however, will remove some fiber since the skins contain fiber. Edible skins, such as apple peel, are a good source of fiber.

No matter why you need to increase your fiber intake, you will find that it is a positive change to make in your diet. Increasing the amount of fiber you receive can have a large impact on your health.

Understanding Portion Sizes

We have all heard the USDA report that we need to eat 5 to 10 servings of fruit and vegetables each day. This is really confusing because that sounds like a whole lot of food. Exactly what is a serving?

A serving a fruit or vegetable may be:

 A medium sized piece of fruit

 One large slice of fruit

 Two pieces of small fruit

 1 cup strawberries, raspberries or grapes

 ½ cup of fresh fruit salad

 ½ cup of stewed or canned fruit

 ¼ cup of dried fruit

 ½ cup of 100% pure fruit juice

 ½ cup of cooked, canned or frozen vegetables

 1 side salad

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Unlike other foods; the more the better when it comes to eating fruits and vegetables. Be sure to include as many servings of fruits and vegetables as you can when planning your meals.

Tips for Healthier Living

 Stock your fridge with celery or carrots

 Keep a bowl of fruits ready to be eaten out on the table or kitchen counter

 Eat warm vegetable soup on a cold day

 Eat at least one salad per day

 Snack on apples and oranges or dried fruits

 Add sprouts, cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes to sandwiches for variety.

 Garnish meals with grated or chopped carrots

 Eat two servings of veggies with each dinner

 Try vegetable stir fry

 Make vegetable kabobs on the grill

 Use baked apples or pears for dessert

 Add veggies such as carrots, cabbage, onions, lentils and peas to soups, stews and casseroles.

Tips for Choosing Fruits and Vegetables

 When possible, choose fresh fruits. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients than frozen or dried varieties.

 Frozen and canned vegetables are good for those fruits and vegetables that are out of season.

 Choose fruits and vegetables from a variety of different colors.

 Be careful when cooking vegetables.

 Keep your vegetables healthy by adding minimal butter, margarine and oil.

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 Be careful when cooking vegetables. It is best to quick steam in the microwave with minimal water.

Get Fishy in Your Diet

Fish allows you to maximize protein while keeping the fat and calories low. This is why fish is great for those people who are trying to lose weight and enjoy a healthier diet. There are very few foods that are capable of combing low fat and low calories, and then have high protein.

High protein usually comes with high fat and high calories.

Many people are leery of fish because they have had fish that is not very fresh. Other people are leery because they don’t know how to cook it. Fish dishes can seem chal enging but they are actually quite easy. The amount of protein in fresh and frozen fish and seafood is very high.

It is much higher than sources such as beef, pork and lamb.

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