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Articles
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Balance Your Diet
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Life Network Editorial Team
http://new-dating.com
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The importance of balance is everywhere. Without balance, the world is chaos and so is your diet. It needs three components: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. And you can bet a tightrope walker's life that a balanced diet, combined with regular physical activity, is the best way to improve or maintain your health.
When you sit down to eat, look at your plate, is it colourful? The colour combination test is an easy way to see if you're eating a balanced meal. There should be browns (whole grain pastas, rice or bread) from the carbohydrate group; red, green, or orange: something bright from the vegetable group for vitamins and minerals; and a healthy serving of pale red or white (lean beef, tofu, cheese, or chicken) to cover your protein needs.
Carbs
Your body relies on carbohydrates for energy. Carbs are changed to glucose for your brain and other tissues to use. Whole grain carbs (including fruits and vegetables) provide fibre and vitamins and minerals that refined carbs (white flour, rice or bread) may not. The fibre in whole grains helps to slow down the speed that glucose enters your system, which is important for your energy levels. If you eat too many carbs, you'll feel slow and tired as your blood sugar gets too high and then crashes. If you eat too few carbs, your body has to turn fat and protein to energy, which can wreak havoc on your kidneys and your metabolism.
Protein
Protein is needed for repair and maintenance of your body. Lean meats, beans, tofu, and milk products provide important vitamins (A, D, and E) and minerals (iron, zinc, and calcium), as well as protein. If you don't eat enough protein, your body cannot repair normal, everyday damage. If you eat too much protein, your body will use fat to create an energy source for your brain. This new energy source, called ketones, can actually slow brain function over time and harm your kidneys. If you eat too much protein and not enough carbs, your body will stores the protein it doesn't need as fat!
Before you put down that chicken breast, let's clarify. Your body converts energy that isn't used, whether it's from protein or carbs, into fat. Eating extra protein, moreso than carbs or fat, to avoid gaining weight will still result in weight gain if you consume too many calories for your energy needs.
Fat
Believe it or not, fat is needed for many things. It's a vital component of all your cells. It's a requirement for your brain function, for healthy skin and hair, and for storing some vitamins. If you consume too little fat, your body may not absorb enough vitamin A, E, D or K from your diet, and your cells may not function properly. But, as we all well know, too much of this energy-dense substance can lead to excess calorie intake and obesity. Saturated fats (found in animal, palm, or coconut oil products) and trans fats (found in processed foods) are directly linked to heart disease, and related to some cancers.
A diet "high" in anything is an unhealthy one. As you can see, concentrating on one component changes your balance, and the teeter-totter repeatedly crashes as your body works overtime to create a new balance amid the chaos. So remember: at every meal, your body needs a moderate serving of carbs, fat, and protein, and colour. You'll be balancing yourself, and hopefully the scale, in no time.
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Life Network Editorial Team
http://new-dating.com
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