Water is vitally important to our health. Our bodies are composed of between 55-75% water depending on age and body composition. Yet, there seems to be more debate and confusion over water intake than nutrition. The main reason for this confusion is the lack of a clear definition of what optimum hydration means. What is[…]
I am not a real fan of rules and formulas but I know many of you are so to summarize all of the information into the guidelines for a perfect meal it would be: Less than 15g added sugar (3 teaspoons) 30g lean protein Less than 7g saturated fat At least 16g whole grains Most[…]
I was going to review the diet plans one at a time but in my research I found this article where the work was already done in a thorough manner. If anyone has a question about a specific diet you can ask me and I will be glad to research it. This is a fairly[…]
More often than not the reason we care about what we eat is not our overall health but our overall weight. As we get fatter as a nation we look for any way we can slim down. Almost any diet works for a while but what works long term? The number one reason so many[…]
Fats are by far the most controversial macronutrient of nutrition. Research is showing new information on a regular basis. Some of the studies are well conducted and some are not. The bad thing is it is hard to tell form the media reports which is which. Things that seem obvious from observations of large groups[…]
After about a week of research I have come to the firm conclusion that the definitive answer to this question is: “Nobody really knows!” I have learned a large amount of data that can be contradictory. I have even learned that an entire scientific journal exists on the subject of fat metabolism. What I am[…]
When you eat fats they are broken down in the small intestine like other foods; however, they can’t be digested like other nutrients. Simply put the blood is mostly water and the fats are mostly oil and everyone knows that oil and water do not mix. Your body has devised a very clever way of[…]
There are several different families of fats in our diets but the ones that deserve the most attention are called fatty acids. They are a long chain of carbons with an acid group at one end. They are only carbons and hydrogens with two oxygens at the end so they “burn” clean in the cells[…]
I have had two very good questions this week that made me think I should expand on the answer I gave them and share with everyone. Question 1: Are sweet potatoes bad or just white potatoes? Answer: Sweet potatoes have a lower glycemic index than white potatoes; however not all white potatoes have the same[…]