Protein - its place in your weight loss program.Written by Kay Blackiston
Any food that we take into our bodies is composed of macronutrients, micronutrients and water. The macronutrients (macro = large) are protein, fat and carbohydrates; micronutrients (micro = small) are vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Macronutrients provide calories that provide energy for life; micronutrients have no calories but are an essential part of our diet. Without macronutrients we would starve to death, without micronutrients we would die from health deterioration. So, what exactly is protein?Technically speaking proteins are any of a large group of nitrogenous (containing nitrogen) compounds of high molecular weight that are essential constituents of all living organisms. They consist of 22 biological compounds called amino acids. They provide building materials for basic cell structure of heart, brain, blood, nails, hair, internal organs and skin – in fact for every living cell in our body. You would recognise proteins better if they were defined as red meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs and soy. To understand importance of protein as an aid for weight loss we also have to briefly define what carbohydrates and fats are: carbohydrates are basically sugars, usually referred to as either simple or complex. Simple or refined carbohydrates are ones like sugar, honey, cakes, biscuits and white bread. Complex carbohydrates are whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, some vegetables, beans and legumes, and certain fruits. Fats are technically triglycerides and are usually divided into two groups; saturated and non-saturated. Saturated fats are usually solid at room temperature and include fats found in meat, dairy products, ice cream, milk and tropical oils. Unsaturated fats are usually liquid at room temperature and come in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated forms. Monounsaturated include oils from some nuts, olives and avocadoes. Polyunsaturated include oils from soybean, flax, sunflower, safflower as well as those fats that have been chemically transformed to make them solid like margarine. But most important thing to consider is what effect do proteins, carbohydrates and fats have on your body? Or more specifically what effect do they have on production of insulin in your body. Insulin is essential to life, some of its many functions are to control storage of fat, control appetite, regulate retention of water in kidneys and synthesis of cholesterol in liver and it also acts as a growth hormone.
| | Could this be arthritis in my hands?Written by Rusty Ford
Ask Rusty Arthritis Questions answered by Rusty Ford Editor of Arthritis-Symptom.comCould this be arthritis in my hands? Hi Rusty. A few days ago, I slightly injured a finger on my hand. Now my hand is swelling with severe joint pain in fingers. At first I thought this was a possible sprain in that region, but now my other hand is showing same swelling of fingers and pain of joints. Should I go check this out right away? It doesn't seem to be getting worse today, but pain and swelling are persistent. Could this be a sudden arthritis attack? I'm 38 years old and in good health (I just had a check-up at doctor last week and blood work came back okay). Your advice is greatly appreciated. Answer Ouch, a little sprain is not supposed to do that. Unfortunately some times it does. I am sorry to hear about this. It is not unusual for arthritis to begin in an effected joint. It is not norm for it to set in so quickly. There are different kinds of arthritis that can effect hands and feet that can cause swelling. It is possible that arthritis was already beginning but not showing symptoms yet but this triggered a symptomatic response.
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