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Friday, March 24, 2017
Monday, March 20, 2017
Nutrition 101
To
get started the right way, take baby steps, for instance, you can
try changing one item per week-drinking 10-12 glasses of water per
day or cutting back on fried foods or doing morning exercise or
cutting bread. Here is a proposed schedule for drinking water:
Wake
up: 1 glass of water
Breakfast:
1-2 glasses of water
Snack:
1-2 glasses of water
Lunch:
1-2 glasses of water
Snack:
1-2 glasses of water
Dinner:
1-2 glasses of water
Snack:
1 glass of water
You can drink not enough or too much water. Your body is 75% water. Drink just enough water that doesn't mean coffee, tea, or pop ie soft drinks.
Vitamin
C is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a role in maintaining the
health of the body’s connective tissue as well as acting as an
antioxidant. Antioxidants are important dietary supplement.
A
severe vitamin C deficiency will result in scurvy, a disease
resulting from the breakdown of collagen.
Scurvy
is rarely seen today, as only a very small amount of vitamin C is
needed to prevent it.
But
even mild vitamin C deficiency symptoms include: easy bruising,
bleeding gums, slow wound healing, dry splitting hair, nosebleeds,
and dry red spots on the skin, where blood has leaked out of the
capillaries.
Benefits
of consuming vitamin C rich foods include:
- Promotes healthy glowing skin and collagen formation
- Improves mineral absorption
- Fights free radical damage
- Boosts immunity fighting colds and flu
- Improves health of gums and teeth
- Vital for circulation and heart health
The
RDA for vitamin C is 90 mg/day for men and 75 mg/day for women. The
Daily Value is 60 mg.
Top
10 Vitamin C Foods List
1)
Oranges-1 large: 82 mg (over 100% DV)
2)
Red peppers-½ cup chopped, raw: 95 mg (over 100% DV)
3)
Kale-1 cup: 80 mg (134% DV)
4)
Brussels sprouts-½ cup cooked: 48 mg (80% DV)
5)
Broccoli-½ cup cooked: 51 mg (107% DV)
6)
Strawberries-½ cup: 42 mg (70% DV)
7)
Grapefruit-½ cup: 43 mg (71% DV)
8)
Guava-1 fruit: 125 mg (over 100% DV)
9)
Kiwi-1 piece: 64 mg (33% DV)
10)
Green peppers-½ c chopped, raw: 60 mg (100% DV)
Following
this vitamin C foods list can help you maintain optimal levels of
vitamin C. Try and consume 2-3 of these vitamin C foods sources
daily.
Top
Health Benefits of Vitamin C
Healthy
Immune Function
Vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells and helps these immune cells to function properly. Vitamin C, since it is an antioxidant, helps protect white blood cells from oxidative damage and therefore keeps them functioning properly.
Vitamin C stimulates the production of white blood cells and helps these immune cells to function properly. Vitamin C, since it is an antioxidant, helps protect white blood cells from oxidative damage and therefore keeps them functioning properly.
Although
it is commonly believed that vitamin C will boost the immune system
to help fight off colds, the studies regarding its ability to prevent
or reduce illness have been inconclusive.
Skin
health
Higher vitamin C intakes have been connected to a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles and skin dryness. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which can help reduce the effect oxidative damage caused by pollution, stress, or poor diet.
Higher vitamin C intakes have been connected to a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles and skin dryness. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which can help reduce the effect oxidative damage caused by pollution, stress, or poor diet.
Free
radicals formed by oxidative damage speed up the aging process, but
adequate intakes of vitamin C may help slow it down, especially on
the appearance of the skin.
Reduced
Risk of Stroke
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition featured a study that found those with high levels of vitamin C in their blood had almost a 50% decreased risk of stroke.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition featured a study that found those with high levels of vitamin C in their blood had almost a 50% decreased risk of stroke.
The
exact reason is still unclear and researchers are unsure if it is
just the high consumption of fruit and vegetables from the diet that
lowers the risk of stroke.
Top
10 High Antioxidant Foods
Antioxidants
are substances that help prevent certain types of cell damage,
especially those caused by oxidation.
When
certain types of oxygen molecules are allowed to travel freely in the
body they cause what is known as oxidative damage which is the
formation of free radicals.
Free
radicals are very dangerous to the body’s tissues and have been
connected to cancer and premature aging. The body uses antioxidants
to prevent itself from the damage caused by oxygen.
Oxidative
damage plays a major role in disease today and has been linked to
health conditions like heart disease, cancer and dementia.
Some
of the benefits of consuming antioxidant rich foods include:
- Slower aging
- Healthy glowing skin
- Reduced cancer risk
- Detoxification support
- Longer life span
Most
fruits, vegetables, and herbs contain antioxidants such as vitamin C,
beta-carotene, flavonoids and lycopene. There is no RDA or Daily
Value set for antioxidants.
The
levels of antioxidants is evaluated by ORAC Score (oxygen radical
absorption capacity) and tests the power of a plant to absorb and
eliminate free radicals.
These
measurements were developed by the National Institute of Aging and
are based on 100 grams of each food or herb.
Top
10 High Antioxidant Foods List
1)
Goji berries-25,000 ORAC Score
2)
Wild blueberries-14,000 ORAC Score
3)
Dark Chocolate-21,000 ORAC Score
4)
Pecans-17,000 ORAC Score
5)
Artichoke-9,400 ORAC Score
6)
Elderberries-14,000 ORAC Score
7)
Kidney Beans-8,400 ORAC Score
8)
Cranberries-9,500 ORAC Score
9)
Blackberries-5,300 ORAC Score
10)
Cilantro-5,100 ORAC Score
Other
antioxidant rich foods include: pomegranates, strawberries, kale, red
wine and wild caught salmon. Try and consume 2-3 servings daily
of these high antioxidant foods for optimal health.
Also,
along with food, herbs and essential oils of plants are extremely
high in antioxidants. Here is another list of the herbs and
essential oils highest in antioxidants.
Top
10 Antioxidant Herbs List
1)
Clove--314,446
ORAC Score
2)
Cinnamon--267,537
ORAC Score
3)
Oregano--159,277
ORAC Score
4)
Turmeric--102,700
ORAC Score
5)
Cocoa--80,933
ORAC Score
6)
Cumin--76,800
ORAC Score
7)
Parsley (dried)--74,349
ORAC Score
8)
Basil--67,553
ORAC Score
9)
Ginger--28,811
ORAC Score
10)
Thyme--27,426
ORAC Score
Other
antioxidant rich herbs include garlic, cayenne pepper and green tea.
Try and consume 2-3 servings of these herbs daily.
Top
Health Benefits of Antioxidant Foods
Antioxidants
For Eyes
The antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene have been shown to have an effect on preventing macular degeneration, or age-related blindness. Lutein and zeaxanthin found in spinach have also been proven to decrease eye related degeneration.
The antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta carotene have been shown to have an effect on preventing macular degeneration, or age-related blindness. Lutein and zeaxanthin found in spinach have also been proven to decrease eye related degeneration.
Flavonoid
antioxidants found in bilberries and rescueeratrol found in grape
skins have been shown to be especially beneficial at supporting
vision.
Antioxidant
Benefits For Skin Health
Free radicals formed by oxidative damage speed up the aging process, but antioxidants may help combat this damage. High intakes of vitamin C, beta carotene, and other antioxidants have been connected to a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles and skin dryness.
Free radicals formed by oxidative damage speed up the aging process, but antioxidants may help combat this damage. High intakes of vitamin C, beta carotene, and other antioxidants have been connected to a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles and skin dryness.
Vitamin
C, specifically, is a powerful antioxidant which can help reduce the
effect of oxidative damage caused by pollution, stress, or poor diet.
Stroke
and Heart Disease
Since antioxidants help prevent against free radical damage, they may also protect against heart disease and stroke. At this point, the data does not show that all antioxidants are effective to protect against heart disease, but some, such as vitamin C may be.
Since antioxidants help prevent against free radical damage, they may also protect against heart disease and stroke. At this point, the data does not show that all antioxidants are effective to protect against heart disease, but some, such as vitamin C may be.
The
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition featured a study that found
those with high levels of vitamin C in their blood had almost a 50%
decreased risk of stroke.
Electrolytes
include sodium,
potassium,
calcium,
chloride
and magnesium.
Most often, electrolytes can be found in foods but they can also be
found in beverages such as coconut water and juices made from
electrolyte-rich fruits and vegetables.
Calories in Common Foods
Food
|
Size
|
Calories
|
Apple
|
1
small (4 oz.)
|
80
|
Banana
|
1
medium (6 oz.)
|
101
|
Grape
|
each
|
2
|
Mango
|
1
(8 oz.)
|
135
|
Orange
|
1
(4 oz.)
|
71
|
Pear
|
1
(5 oz.)
|
100
|
Peach
|
1
(6 oz.)
|
38
|
Pineapple
|
1
cup
|
80
|
Strawberry
|
1
cup
|
53
|
Watermelon
|
1
cup
|
45
|
|
|
|
Asparagus
|
1
cup, boiled
|
36
|
Bean
curd
|
4
oz.
|
81
|
Broccoli
|
1
cup
|
40
|
Carrots
|
1
cup
|
45
|
Cucumber
|
each
|
30
|
Eggplant
|
1
cup, boiled
|
38
|
Lettuce
|
1
cup
|
7
|
Tomato
|
1
cup
|
29
|
|
|
|
Beef,
regular, cooked
|
1
slice (2 oz.)
|
120
|
Chicken,
cooked
|
1
slice (2 oz.)
|
95
|
Egg
|
large
|
79
|
Fish,
Catfish, cooked
|
2
oz.
|
80
|
Pork,
cooked
|
1
slice (2 oz.)
|
130
|
Shrimp,
cooked
|
2
oz.
|
70
|
|
|
|
Bread,
regular
|
1
slice (1 oz.)
|
75
|
Butter
|
1
table spoon
|
102
|
Caesar
salad
|
1
serving (3 cups)
|
360
|
Cheeseburger
|
1
(McDonald Medium)
|
360
|
Chocolate
|
1
oz.
|
150
|
Corn
|
1
cup, cooked
|
140
|
Hamburger
|
1
(McDonald Medium)
|
280
|
Pizza
|
1
slice
|
180
|
Potato
(uncooked)
|
1
(6 oz.)
|
120
|
Rice,
cooked
|
1
cup
|
225
|
Sandwich
|
1
(6" Subway)
|
310
|
|
|
|
Beer,
regular
|
1
can or bottle
|
150
|
Coca-Cola
Classic
|
1
cup
|
97
|
Diet
Coke
|
1
cup
|
3
|
Milk,
low-fat (1%)
|
1
cup
|
104
|
Milk,
low-fat (2%)
|
1
cup
|
121
|
Milk,
whole
|
1
cup
|
150
|
Orange
Juice / Apple Cider
|
1
cup
|
115
|
Yogurt,
low-fat
|
1
cup
|
200
|
Yogurt,
non-fat
|
1
cup
|
150
|
*
1 cup = ~250 milliliters, 1 table spoon = 14.2 gram
Calories Burning Rate of Common Exercises
The
following are the hourly calorie burning rates of common exercises in
normal intensity. Intensity has very significant impact on the
calorie burning rate.
Activity
(1 hour)
|
125
lbs person
|
155
lbs person
|
185
lbs person
|
Golf
(Using Cart)
|
210
|
260
|
310
|
Walk
|
240
|
300
|
360
|
Kayaking
|
300
|
370
|
440
|
Softball/Baseball
|
300
|
370
|
440
|
Swimming
|
360
|
440
|
530
|
Tennis
|
420
|
520
|
620
|
Running
|
480
|
600
|
710
|
Bicycling
|
480
|
600
|
710
|
Football
|
480
|
600
|
710
|
Basketball
|
480
|
600
|
710
|
Soccer
|
480
|
600
|
710
|
Energy of Common Food Components
Food
Components
|
kJ
per gram
|
Calorie
(kcal) per gram
|
kJ
per ounce
|
Calorie
(kcal) per ounce
|
Fat
|
37
|
8.8
|
1,049
|
249
|
Proteins
|
17
|
4.1
|
482
|
116
|
Carbohydrates
|
17
|
4.1
|
482
|
116
|
Fiber
|
8
|
1.9
|
227
|
54
|
Ethanol
(drinking alcohol)
|
29
|
6.9
|
822
|
196
|
Organic
acids
|
13
|
3.1
|
369
|
88
|
Polyols
(sugar alcohols, sweeteners)
|
10
|
2.4
|
283
|
68
|
How Many Calories Do You Need?
Nearly
all of us seek to lose weight, and often the best way to do this is
to consume a lower amount of calories each day than we usually do.
But how many calories do we need to be healthy? Much depends, of
course, on the amount of physical activity you engage in each day.
And it's different for us all; there are a lot of different factors
involved.
Factors
include age, size, height, sex, lifestyle, and overall general
health. A physically active, 25 –year-old six foot male requires
considerably more calories than a 5 foot 70-year-old woman who is not
especially active. The average male adult requires about 2,700
calories to maintain his weight, while the average female needs only
2,200 calories, according to the U.S Department of Health.
Just
to stay alive, we obviously need far less calories, but our bodies
will function poorly if we consume too few. The basal metabolic rate,
used in our calculator, is the amount of energy you require when you
are just resting. Depending on the amount of physical exercise you
do, you can multiply the basal metabolic rate by a specific number to
determine calorie needs. For example, if you are not very active,
your needed calorie intake is the basal metabolic rate times 1.2.
Somewhat active people should multiply by 1.375. if you do some
exercise during the week, the number is 1.55. And, if you do a lot of
sports, you multiply by 1.95.
Different Kinds of Calories
Did
you know that how you eat can make a difference in terms of how many
calories you consume? The longer you chew your food, the greater the
amount of calories you absorb, a recent study has shown.
Foods
that take more effort to chew—like fruit, vegetables, lean meats,
and whole grains—make your body burn more calories. More calories
are required to digest them, and, to top it off, they'll keep you
feeling satisfied longer. Some other foods also increase calorie
burn: Coffee and tea, for example, not only for the caffeine in them,
but also for other ingredients they have. Certain spices like
chilies, cinnamon, and ginger do also help to burn calories.
Scientists
have recently discovered that there is a difference in terms of
gaining or losing weight in the quality of the calories you consume,
not just the quantity. There is an actual difference in consuming 500
calories of carrots from 500 calories of popcorn – although
technically you should be consuming the same amount of energy, the
popcorn makes you fatter just the same.
It
turns out that a healthy diet, irrespective of quantities, will keep
you thinner. The best thing is to eat at least five different fruits
and vegetables with each meal. The process of converting these
hard-to-chew foods into energy will have a healthy effect.
Drinking in Calories
We
get a lot of our calories from drinks. On average, we take in about
21 percent of our calories from them. A drink sweetened with sugar
can undo the effects of a long workout at the gym. What's more, we
often drink right from the bottle, and that means we take in a lot
more than we actually need.
The
best things to drink, from the point of view of limiting calorie
intake, are water, and coffee or tea without sugar. However, few of
us are willing to drink nothing else all the time. Fruit juice is a
low-calorie drink as well, but be careful not to take too much. A
six-ounce glass is a healthy serving, while a bigger glass means
you'll take in more calories than you probably should.
Americans
also consume about 580 calories per day in unhealthy snacks. Nothing
is worse from the point of view of calorie control, which is best
maintained by regular healthy meals and little in between. Choose
snacks carefully, and count the calories you are putting into your
snacks. This can make a great difference in maintaining the right
weight for your size.
Don't
be misled by "health food." "Natural" foods still
may contain a lot of sugar, and low-calorie foods may have unhealthy
ingredients replacing the calories. For example, many reduced-fat
foods have sugar added instead. There is nothing wrong with eating
"health" foods, but always find out what is in the packages
before you buy.
Lose Weight Sensibly and Carefully
A
proper weight for your size is definitely a healthy condition. But it
won't be healthy if you cut down too sharply on calories, do too much
exercise without eating properly, or take other extreme measures.
Weight should always be lost gradually. Maintaining a healthy diet
while you lose weight will just help the whole process along.
As
a general rule, between
10 percent and 15 percent of
your total calories should come from protein. So, if you consume
2,000 calories per day, at least 200 should come from protein, or
about 50 grams. You should try to eat around one gram of protein per
one kilogram of body weight, or around 0.4 grams per pound.
The
DRI (Dietary Reference Intake) is 0.8 grams of protein
per kilogram
of body weight, or 0.36 grams per pound.
This amounts to: 56 grams per
day for
the average sedentary man. 46 grams per
day for
the average sedentary woman.
Recommended Ranges (Percent of Calories) |
Lower
Carb Higher Protein (Percent of Calories)
|
|
---|---|---|
Carbohydrates
|
45-65%
|
45%
|
Protein
|
10-35%
|
25%
|
Fat
|
20-35%
|
30%
|
Whether
you need to use more than a single scoop of whey or
less will depend onhow
much protein you
need in a day.
According to Rice University, an average, moderately active adult
needs about 0.4 to 0.6 grams of protein
per pound
of body weight, which equates to a range of 60 to 90 grams daily for
a 150-pound person.
Maximum Safe Amounts.
According to the "International Journal of Sport Nutrition and
Exercise Metabolism," a maximum safe
protein intake
is 2.5 grams of protein
per
kilogram of body weight, or about 1.1 gram of protein per
pound of body weight each day.
Excess
Protein May
Fuel Weight Gain, Yeast Overgrowth, and Cancer. There are a number of
reasons why I believe it's prudent to limit your protein intake.
The first is that if you eat more protein than
your body requires, it will simply convert most of those calories to
sugar and then fat.
Fat
You need a
moderate amount of fat in your diet -- between 20 and 35 percent of
your total calories, according to the Dietary Guidelines for
Americans 2010. Fat plays a role in hormone secretion, provides
cushioning for vital organs and helps the body absorb vitamins A, D,
E and K. Even though you need fat, it has more than double the
amount of calories in carbohydrates and protein. Fat has 9 calories
per gram, so if you adhere to a 2,000-calorie diet, you'll need 44
to 77 grams of fat each day. Opt for heart-healthy monounsaturated
and polyunsaturated fats instead of saturated and trans fats, which
are detrimental to your cholesterol levels.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates
are your body's main energy source and eventually break down into
glucose. As glucose enters your bloodstream, the hormone insulin
helps cells pick up glucose molecules for fuel. The majority of your
calories, 45 to 65 percent, should come from carbs, which have 4
calories per gram. Following a 2,000-calorie diet means that you
need 225 to 325 grams of carbohydrates each day. Select whole foods
that are rich in carbs, as well as fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Fruits, starchy vegetables, beans and other plant foods are healthy
carbohydrate sources. You'll also get carbohydrates from milk, but
opt for low-fat milk to avoid consuming a high amount of calories.
Protein
Protein,
like carbs, has 4 calories per gram. Your diet should consist of 10
to 35 percent protein, so for a 2,000-calorie diet, you'll need 50
to 175 grams of protein. Requirements of protein vary drastically
depending on your activity level. If you work out regularly or are
training for an athletic event, you may need the higher end of the
recommendation, but if you are relatively sedentary, your protein
requirements are lower. Animal-based foods and seafood provide
complete proteins, meaning they have all of the essential amino
acids your body needs. Plant-based proteins, like tofu, beans,
whole-grains and other foods, are rich in protein. However, these
foods are incomplete protein sources. While you can meet your body's
needs for essential amino acids by consuming solely plant-based
proteins, you need to have a variety of different types throughout
the day. For example, if you have a side of black beans for lunch,
opt for grilled tofu at dinner.
Sodium
Sodium is an
electrolyte that works alongside potassium, calcium and magnesium to
maintain steady fluid levels throughout your system. Electrolytes
are also responsible for conducting electricity, which is imperative
for regular heart rhythm, muscle contraction and skeletal movements.
For optimal heart health and to avoid developing high blood
pressure, keep your intake of sodium to less than 1,500 milligrams
per day, advises the University of Maryland Medical Center. Too much
sodium leads to an influx in fluid levels, forcing your heart to
work harder to get blood to your limbs. Over time, you'll have an
increased risk of heart disease.
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