Monday, March 21, 2011

Healthy Heart With Almonds

Almonds are one of the most preferred and nutritious nuts. They are added to a list of delicacies to make them rich. The almond fruit seed is the nut that is consumed. Consumption of almonds provides satiety and thereby controls appetite. They are energy dense and rich in nutrients.

Six almonds provide a gram of dietary fiber and is considered good. It is also an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus, thereby aiding growth and development of bones. Potassium seen in almonds helps in muscle contraction and nerve transmission.

Almonds are shown to have a cholesterol-lowering effect, similar to soya and oats. They are added to diets for people on weight reduction, but it should be added on a substitution basis. The anti oxidant activity is beneficial in reducing the risk of cancer, as it removes the free radicals and thus, are attributed with cancer opposing capacity.

Almonds are good protein sources. Amandin is the protein seen in almonds and do not exhibit allergic reactions on individuals who consume them. It is healthy and heart friendly, preventing swelling and damage of the arteries. Almonds can be combined with a nutritious meal to gain maximum benefits. They contain a variety of phytochemicals.

Almonds provide good quality protein providing all the limiting essential amino acids. They are highly digestible protein. An ounce of almonds comprise of six grams of protein. It is a rich source of arginine and poor source of lysine. Combining them with pulses in your daily meal is recommended. Mutual replacement of limiting amino acids happens and thus is advantageous. Half the RDA of vitamin E is met. An ounce contributes to 7.4 grams of alpha tocopherol.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Protein diet

A protein diet is also known as a high protein diet and it is generally used by athletes and sportspersons. Proteins are a very important nutrient and are essential for the formation and maintenance of muscle tissue. As human beings, we require amino acids for the smooth functioning of our system. Proteins are made up of amino acids and once they are consumed, the gastric acids in our stomach help to break down these proteins and the amino acids that are formed are then utilized by the body. People who have a higher level of physical activity on a regular basis require more protein as compared to those who follow a more sedentary lifestyle.

This type of a diet helps the person to increase and tone their muscle mass without having to worry about excessive weight gain. A protein diet must be adjusted to suit an individual’s requirements as sex, age, activity levels, and other factors will affect a person’s protein requirements.

A high protein diet plan is also commonly used for weight loss. In such cases, the person will need to augment their diet with a regular exercise plan.

If a person follows a high protein diet but does not receive adequate exercise, he/she will start to gain weight. This is because the protein rich foods are converted into amino acids which are then converted into glucose and stored in the body. A rule of thumb for determining protein intake is that a person should follow a protein diet that has approximately 1 gram for every pound of body weight.

 
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