My last couple of articles have looked at protein and the health benefits it can provide. Although it is a fantastic macronutrient that acts as the building blocks for your body, protein is is not without its faults. Consuming too much protein can cause a number of health problems. In this article I will be discussing some of the potential problems associated with overdosing on protein in greater detail. 1) DEHYDRATION:- According to this study increasing your protein intake can also increase levels of dehydration. The study looked at five endurance athletes who consumed low, moderate and … [Read more...]
The Benefits of Protein
In my last article I looked at protein and touched upon some of the ways it benefits your body. Today I want to expand on this topic and discuss some of the health benefits protein can provide in greater detail. 1) IT BUILDS, MAINTAINS AND REPAIRS CELLS:- Protein is referred to as your body's building blocks for good reason. As you grow your body needs protein to construct every single cell including your bones, your muscles, your skin, your vital organs and your blood vessels. When you are fully grown your body still needs protein to maintain all these cells and also to replace any cells … [Read more...]
What is Protein?
Quite a few of my previous articles have covered protein. However, after looking back at these articles I have decided that I have not given this topic a good enough write up. That is why today I am going to be writing about protein in greater detail. WHAT IS PROTEIN? Protein is one of the three macronutrients that your body depends upon for survival (carbohydrates and fats are the other two). It is constructed from carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen which are arranged as long chains of amino acids. There are 23 amino acids in total and your body requires each one for different … [Read more...]
7 Healthy Carbohydrates That You Should Be Eating Regularly
In my last few articles I have been discussing carbohydrates in detail. I have covered the benefits of consuming the right amount, the disadvantages of consuming too many and the methods to follow when choosing carbohydrates. Today I want to make this advice a little more practical and supply you with seven healthy carbohydrates that you should be eating on a regular basis. 1) APPLES:- Apples are tasty and come in a variety of flavours. They are also small and portable meaning that they can be eaten any time and anywhere. On top of this apples are rich in a number of healthy nutrients … [Read more...]
The Disadvantages Of Consuming Too Many Carbohydrates
My recent series of articles have focussed on carbohydrates. Over the course of these articles I have come to the conclusion that carbohydrates have a number of benefits as long as you choose wisely. However, even if you do choose the right carbohydrates you can still overindulge. Today I am going to be discussing some of the potential drawbacks associated with consuming too many carbohydrates. 1) WEIGHT GAIN:- Carbohydrates are your body's preferred energy source. When you eat any type of carbohydrates your body breaks them down into glucose in the digestive tract. This glucose is then … [Read more...]
The Benefits Of Carbohydrates
In my last few articles I have been focussing on carbohydrates. I started by explaining exactly what they are and then covered a number of related topics including the glycemic index and the steps you should take when choosing your carbohydrates. In this article I am going to cover the benefits that carbohydrates can provide. 1) THEY ARE AN EXCELLENT ENERGY SOURCE:- The primary function of carbohydrates is to provide your body with energy. When you ingest any form of carbohydrate (whether it be pure sugar, whole grain bread or a piece of fruit) it is broken down into glucose in the … [Read more...]
5 Top Tips To Consider When Choosing Carbohydrates
In my last couple of articles I discussed carbohydrates and the glycemic index (GI). In my article on carbohydrates I discussed the different types and came to the conclusion that you should choose slow digesting, nutritionally dense carbohydrates where possible. In the following article I looked at the glycemic index as a potential tool for selecting carbohydrates and came to the conclusion that whilst it is a useful starting point, it is flawed and is not something you should fully base your diet around. In this article I will be bringing this information together and providing you with … [Read more...]
The Glycemic Index Explained
In my last article I discussed the different types of carbohydrates and the way that your body uses them. At the end of that article I mentioned that you should choose slow digesting, nutritionally dense carbohydrates where possible. However, sometimes it can be quite difficult to determine which carbohydrates these are. That is why today I am going to be writing about one of the methods you can use to choose the best carbohydrates – the glycemic index (GI). WHAT IS THE GLYCEMIC INDEX? The glycemic index is a system which ranks foods based on how they affect blood glucose levels. It … [Read more...]
What are Carbohydrates?
In a number of my previous articles I have stated that you should go for complex carbohydrates where possible and minimise your consumption of simple carbohydrates. After thinking about this for some time I realised that I had never fully understood or explained the difference between the two. That's why today I am going to be discussing carbohydrates in greater detail. WHAT ARE CARBOHYDRATES? Carbohydrates are one of three macronutrients with fats and protein being the other two. They are made from a combination of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen hence the name 'carbo' (meaning carbon) … [Read more...]
From Vitamin A to Vitamin E: 40+ Vitamin Rich Foods
In my last few posts I have been discussing vitamins in greater detail. I outlined how they were vital to your health and that without them you would suffer from a number of adverse effects. I also discussed the dangers of overdosing on vitamins and said that it was very difficult to overdose on them from food alone. Although I am not completely against the use of vitamin supplements I believe that you should try and get your vitamins from food sources where possible. Today I am going to try and help you do just that by listing over 40 vitamin rich foods. 1) VITAMIN A:- Vitamin A can be … [Read more...]