This article is about making long-term changes in the foods you choose and eat, WITHOUT sacrificing good taste.
Let's take a look at protein. Did you know the large majority of your body is protein? That's right. If all the water were removed from your body, 80% of what remained would be comprised of protein. Your hair and nails have protein in them, as do your brain, bones, heart, kidneys, even your skin. You must derive the adequate amount of protein from your diet or you will suffer from lowered energy, weakened immune response, high cholesterol, hormonal imbalances, liver toxicity, premature aging...The list goes on and on.
Your body needs some fat. Eating fat-free foods is not the answer. Most fat-free food is laden with sugar or harmful chemicals.
Furthermore, unsaturated fats are essential for human survival. Fat helps the nervous system function. Fat holds the organs of the body in correct places. Fat insulates the body. Fat is performs a wide array of vital body functions.
There are many different sources of fat in the diet, making it nearly impossible to avoid fat, as at least a small amount is in nearly all foods. Foods such as oil, nuts, full fat cheeses, avocados, olives, certain cuts of meats, are considered high in fat. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, most grains, potatoes, and
others are very low in fat.
Your body needs some fat. Eating fat-free foods is not the answer. Most fat-free food is laden with sugar or harmful chemicals.
Furthermore, unsaturated fats are essential for human survival. Fat helps the nervous system function. Fat holds the organs of the body in correct places. Fat insulates the body. Fat is performs a wide array of vital body functions.
There are many different sources of fat in the diet, making it nearly impossible to avoid fat, as at least a small amount is in nearly all foods. Foods such as oil, nuts, full fat cheeses, avocados, olives, certain cuts of meats, are considered high in fat. Foods such as fruits, vegetables, most grains, potatoes, and
others are very low in fat.
There are different types of fats, too. There are good fats and bad fats. Good fats, or unsaturated fats, are beneficial to the body in a number of ways, and should be implemented into your daily diet (but don't go crazy here - I'm talking about only 2 - 3 tablespoons per day). These good fats are found in such foods as olives, avocados, extra-virgin olive oil, safflower oil, flax oil, nuts, etc. Bad fats, or saturated fats, are the kinds of fats that clog the arteries, make cholesterol levels rise, and raise blood pressure. Bad fats are found in meats, cheeses, butter, lard, and cream. Stay away from ALL saturated fats!
Now, for carbohydrates. Carbohydrate balance is critical to achieving weight loss. Carbohydrates should never be called carbohydrates. They are, in fact, SUGAR! No matter how complex, carbohydrates are broken down to their lowest common denominator, which is glucose. Glucose is sugar.
Regardless, carbohydrates are your body's primary fuel source. Your brain requires carbohydrates every second of its life.
Carbohydrates, in the form of blood sugar, are pumping through your veins every minute of the day. And while they are essential to your survival, they can be your worst enemy.
Carbohydrates in the diet can be found in many places, including fruit, flour, bread, yams, potatoes, rice, pasta, oatmeal, beans, etc.
There are different types of carbohydrates, including simple, medium and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are very easy for the body to break down and absorb, because their chemical structure is simple. But that does not make them good for you - in fact the simple carbohydrates are the worst kind to eat.
Medium-chain carbohydrates are slightly more detailed in their structure, and will take longer for the body to digest and absorb, leading to a longer-lasting release of energy. Complex carbohydrates take the longest to break down and to be utilized by the body, resulting in a longer-lasting release of energy.