Here we are discussing smart food choices, a small lifestyle change that is easy to adjust to and anyone can live with. A lifestyle change of healthy eating will not only ensure a maintained physique, but also healthy bodies.
The Muscle Nutrient: Protein
Next to water, protein is the most abundant material in the human body. It is present in muscle, bone, connective tissue skin and blood.
While consuming enough protein is essential for growth and development of the body, eating huge amounts will not build muscle unless you are strength training at a high intensity in order to cause muscle hypertrophy (muscle growth).
The following is a protein recommendation list based on the current Recommendation for Dietary Allowance (RDA):
Sedentary or those who exercise infrequently = 0.4 grams / 1 pound of body weight
Active exerciser = 0.5-0.6grams/1 pound of body weight
Very active/weightlifter/endurance athlete = 0.7-0.8 grams / 1 pound of body weight
In general, about 15-20% of your total daily calories should come from protein.
Protein
- Here Is A List Of Some Good Sources Of Protein To Get You Started:
- Chicken breast
- Turkey
- Orange roughly
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Top round/sirloin steak
- Lean ground beef
- Egg whites
- Low fat cottage cheese
Shelves are filled with tons of “low carb” items and every new fad diet screams to ‘cut the carbs, pass those potatoes and resist the rice’! Low carbohydrate diets will ultimately affect your stamina and endurance, so they are in fact necessary since they are the body’s main source of fuel.
Carbs fuel the body by providing our muscles with glycogen, while working out, and helps us to optimise our athletic performance. Carbohydrates should be from minimally processed sources like eating true whole wheat bread versus white bread or even enriched bread.
Carbohydrates should make up about 55-60% of your total caloric intake, depending on your activity level.
- Here Is A List Of Food Sources Of Carbohydrates To Help You:
- Baked potato
- Sweet potato
- Brown rice
- Wild rice
- Squash
- Pumpkin
- Oatmeal (whole oats)
- Whole wheat bread/tortilla
Fats are an important and necessary nutrient for everyone. That is, some fats – you see, there are those that are saturated and are not good for your cholesterol levels, potentially causing clogged arteries.
The fats that are considered good for your body are unsaturated fats. These can actually help protect against heart disease by reducing cholesterol and providing the body with extra energy. If it is a solid at room temperature, it is usually saturated (bad) ; if it is a liquid at room temperature it is unsaturated (good).