WHAT IS CHLORIDE? Chloride (formed when the element chlorine picks up an electron from a negatively charged ion) is a macromineral that your body uses to maintain a proper fluid balance and is also essential for metabolism. It represents approximately 0.15% of your total bodyweight and can be found in the fluid that surrounds your cells. In this article I will be discussing chloride in greater detail. WHEN WAS CHLORIDE DISCOVERED? Carl Whilhelm Scheele initially discovered chlorine in 1774 and named it dephlogisticated marine acid. However, in the years following the discovery some … [Read more...]
Calcium Explained
Over the last few months I have been discussing the various nutrients that are essential for good health. So far I have covered the macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats and protein) and the thirteen vitamins in detail. In my next series of posts I am going to be focussing on the micronutrients. Today I am beginning this series and looking at calcium. WHAT IS CALCIUM? Calcium is one of the seven macrominerals needed by your body. It was discovered in its isolated form in 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy. The main function of calcium is to support strong bones and teeth. WHEN WAS CALCIUM … [Read more...]
How Much Of Each Macronutrient Should You Consume?
In my recent post on the macronutrients one of my readers asked the question “how much is too much?” when it comes to these nutrients. Today I am going to answer that very question and discuss how much of each macronutrient you should consume. HOW MUCH CARBOHYDRATES, FAT AND PROTEIN SHOULD YOU CONSUME? After doing some research I quickly found that there is no concrete answer when it comes to macronutrient consumption. Some sources suggest going for a high carbohydrate approach. Others suggest getting the majority of your calories from protein. Contrastingly, some people believe a high … [Read more...]
The 3 Macronutrients Explained: Carbohydrates, Fats & Protein
Over the last few months I have been covering the macronutrients in great detail. I have discussed what each of them do, the health benefits they provide, the possible drawbacks of consuming too much and some of the top food sources for each. Today I am going to bring all this information together and tell you everything you need to know about macronturients. WHAT ARE THE MACRONUTRIENTS? The macronutrients are the three main nutrients your body needs need to survive. Your body needs each macronutrient in relatively large quantities to function properly. So what are the three … [Read more...]
6 Excellent Sources Of Dietary Fat
In my last few blog posts I have discussed the different types of dietary fats in detail. I have covered the many health benefits dietary fats can offer and the potential negative side effects of consuming too much. Today I want to wrap up this article series by listing six excellent sources of dietary fat. 1) ALMONDS:- Almonds are a fantastic source of monounsaturated fat with a 100g serving coming in at 612 calories and offering 33.7g of monounsaturated fat. They are also rich in protein (which helps produce, maintain and repair your body's cells), vitamin B2 (which helps your body … [Read more...]
The Disadvantages Of Consuming Too Much Dietary Fat
My previous articles on dietary fat have discussed the various types and came to the conclusion that numerous health benefits can be enjoyed if you make saturated fat, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat part of your diet. However, like so many other foods with potential health benefits, consuming too much can be bad for you. In this article I am going to be discussing the disadvantages of overindulging on dietary fats. 1) WEIGHT GAIN:- One of the main differences between dietary fat and the other two macronutrients (carbohydrates and protein) is the number of calories. Dietary … [Read more...]
20 Health Benefits Of Dietary Fat
In my last few articles I have been focussing on dietary fats. Until recently dietary fats were seen as the macronutrient to avoid. They have been associated with heart disease, obesity and many other negative health conditions. However, this common perception of dietary fats could not be further from the truth. With the exception of trans fats, dietary fats support your body in performing many vital functions, offer protection for your cells and promote optimal health. In this article I want to expand on this topic further and provide you with a comprehensive list of the many benefits of … [Read more...]
What Are Trans Fats?
In my recent articles I have been discussing dietary fats. So far I have covered the three naturally occurring types of fat which are saturated fat, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat. Today I am going to cover the fourth and final type of fat – the man made trans fat. WHAT ARE TRANS FATS? All fats are made from a combination of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The two main types are saturated fats and unsaturated fats (which can be broken down further into monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats). With saturated fats all the carbon atoms are bonded to (or 'saturated' with) … [Read more...]
What Is Polyunsaturated Fat?
Recently I have been taking an in-depth look at dietary fats. So far I have covered saturated fats and monounsaturated fats. Today I am going to be looking at polyunsaturated fats in greater detail. WHAT IS POLYUNSATURATED FAT? Fats are all made from a chain of carbon and hydrogen atoms. With saturated fats all the carbon atoms are bonded to hydrogen atoms. With unsaturated fats there are one or more double bonds between the carbon atoms which prevent them from being fully bonded to hydrogen atoms. So in other words saturated fats are 'saturated' with hydrogen atoms whilst unsaturated … [Read more...]
What Is Monounsaturated Fat?
In my recent articles I have been focussing on dietary fat. Today I want to discuss monounsaturated fat in a little bit more detail. WHAT IS MONOUNSATURATED FAT? All fats are constructed from a chain of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The way these atoms are chemically bonded together decides which type of fat it will be. With monounsaturated fats (also known as monounsaturated fatty acids or MUFAs) the carbon atoms are bonded to hydrogen atoms at all but one point. At this one point there is a double bond between two of the carbon atoms. So in other words the carbon atoms are not fully … [Read more...]