FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog » Nutrition

BPA Bottles: Much ado about nothing?

FitBuff Blogger — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:03:16 +0000

Introduction

In listening to one of Lewis Black's delightful rants on 'bottled water' at one of his HBO specials, I'm reminded of a quote which said, "People seem to get nostalgic about a lot of things they weren't so crazy about the first time around."

Although his monologue was merely for comic effect, it really gets you to think about how pointless it is to reminisce about the past (that you weren't too thrilled to begin with in the first place) and how annoying people who carry a bottle of water around are, as if they're in the middle of the freekin' Mojave desert.

And if that's not enough, the controversy with using polycarbonate bottles to bottle this precious resource called 'water' doesn't make this topic particularly a popular one at the dinner table, the watercooler or anywhere else.

Bottled Water (er… BPA Water!!!) if you will

Polycarbonate bottles are everywhere, and in regular use by folks who would like to avoid disposable plastic bottles (in their race to save the planet, perhaps) used to store water.

Watercoolers, baby bottles, sippy cups, sport bottles, tumblers and rocks glasses are just a few on a long list of products that have been made with polycarbonate plastic. Even though, their biggest advantages lie in being reusable for a long time, unbreakable and very portable due to its lightness of weight, the real issue is with Bisphenol A (BPA) which is the organic compound used to make these plastic products that has been known to be hazardous to human health from times as early as the 1930s.

BPA and its effects on human health

Linked to causing diseases such as cardiovascular illnesses, diabetes, breast and prostate cancer and neuroblastoma while also causing obesity and neurological imbalances as well, the compound BPA is known to be an endocrine disruptor as well.

An eye raising discovery made in a study by the Department of Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill in December 2009, was the link between prenatal BPA and the cases of externalizing behavior in two year old female children that is associated with symptoms such as hyperactivity, aggression and delinquency.

If that wasn't enough, another study conducted by the Department of Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health in September 2009 which tried to substantiate the association between the use of polycarbonate beverage containers and and urinary BPA concentrations in humans, found that the concentration levels of BPA in urine samples had increased by almost two-thirds regardless of exposure to other BPA sources.

Alternatives to BPA Bottles

With more and more people (especially parents) concerned about this issue, several alternatives are available both online as well as in retail stores that have been manufactured by companies listed below such as:

1. EvenFlo

2. Green to Grow

3. Mambaby

4. Klean Kanteen

5. Medela

6. Thermos

In Closing

Even though several scientists and environmental organizations have requested (and in some cases, demanded) the ban on this compound to be made, some countries continue to ignore the research that has gone into validating the unsafe use of BPA in consumer products.

All this controversy has caused some manufacturers to stop using BPA to produce these bottles, and no matter what you think about who's crazy, the truth is that only time will tell whether folks are being paranoid or not.

So much for the craziness around bottled water… huh, Lewis?

Find a Nutritionist Online: Or will the 'shaman' do?

FitBuff Blogger — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:50:24 +0000

Introduction

The Chinese have always fascinated me when it comes to nutrition. Yes, what they don't call Chinese food but just food. I don't mean to 'noodle' around but seriously, any normal person would run out of fingers if they tried counting the number of food products that the Chinese given to the world beginning with 'lice'…

OK, before this begins to sound offensive, all I'm trying to point out that the Chinese live a healthy lifestyle, largely due to their food habits which should tells you (along with your poor doctor, who sometimes is only seen but not heard) that if you want to stay healthy, you have to eat healthy. Oh, and you can have your version of 'rice wine', if only sparingly…

However, if your Dad's last name doesn't even come close to sounding like the players you would find in the Mortal Kombat video games, there's no need to fear as Western medicine is here!

As corny as that sounded, for those of you who would like to take your health a bit more seriously, contacting a nutritionist could help you in make a fresh (although, an elementary) start when it comes to matters taking your first baby steps towards taking nutritional supplements.

Nutritionists & Dieticians: An Introduction

Before one consults a nutritionist, it is imperative to understand where they stand and what they're capable of in terms of medicinal practice first. To put it rather coarsely, the comparison between a dietician and nutritionist can be likened to the distinction between the fabled shaman and good old doctor who graduated from a college of medicine in the good old days based on which he/ she sets up his practice.

Undeniably though, they both have their uses and methods of healing and so despite the crude comparison, the 'medicine man' (much like the nutritionist) should be allowed to go about his business without any judgment just like doctors are, regardless of whether one thinks it works or not.

The point I'm trying to make is that the difference between the dietician and the nutritionist is that while the latter is effective in his own way does not necessarily possess the level of expertise and training that the system of medicine has offered the former.

So, in short, almost anyone who is working in a health-related field can be called a nutritionist, as he provides nutrition recommendations to improve one's health when consulted. However, some states do recognize the term 'nutritionist' as there are certifications for those who are interested in this profession.

Another twist to this is that some folks in the medicine community refer to themselves as 'nutritionists' even though they have the relevant education that certifies them as a 'Registered Dietician', so rather than being hesitant one should take note of whether the nutritionist is an RD.

So where can you find a nutritionist then?

One can find nutritionists online, but the preference should be given to making an appointment in person and here are some options that will point you in the right direction if not help get in touch with a qualified nutritionist immediately whether online or in person.

1. Dr. Whitaker's Directory of Nutrition-Oriented Physicians

2. Life Extension Foundation (LEF)

3. Well-Mind Association of Greater Washington (WMAGW)

4. American College of Advancement in Medicine (ACAM)

In Closing

A good nutritionist provides you with solid advice based on his/ her learning to achieve improvements in disease or to obtain optimal health, and nothing more. Yes, much like the Chinese have been doing for years now and are years ahead of us all…

Healthy Recipes for Kids: Who wants to be Peter Pan?

FitBuff Blogger — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:28:55 +0000

Introduction

To most of us, George Carlin was a genius. To others, he was condescendingly abrasive with his views on social issues that according to him, had a crossed a line of fetishism (non-erotic, of course) that was deemed unhealthy.

Strangely enough, his seemingly flawless logic and rebellious wit covered every issue in America (especially, the ones that people wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole) during his time.

And in this case, his rant about how children get far too much attention comes to mind, leaving you to think about whether kids today are really all that spoilt.

Evidently though, he did make good points in this regard which leaves us with two options: We can agree rather grudgingly (because it really points to parenting) or just agree anyways.

However, if one is a parent (and I'm not!) or is close to his/ her parents, it's not too hard to see why. Every responsible parent would hurt twice as much to see his or her son or daughter suffer. There seems to be this invisible 'umbilical cord' that began during conception and will last for a lifetime between parent and child, and perhaps this is the reason why parents wish to give their kids everything that they possibly can, even if it means spoiling them.

Perhaps the reason why George said what he said was because he wanted kids to acquire a 'toughness' that would only prepare them for the real world when Mom and Dad weren't around. Who knows?

Parenting and the Basics

But you know what? I would take parents like these any day compared to those who take undue credit for giving their kids JUST the basics (such as food, clothing and shelter) to get by.

Almost everyone knows how important it is for kids to eat healthy (as opposed to kids on the streets of Brazil who have to sniff glue in order to quell their hunger). There's no doubt about this as these habits taught will last way past their time into adulthood and possibly give them an edge over their not-so-cognizant peers.

And we all know how as kids we just didn't want to eat those veggies even though Mom insisted that we did. Nor can we forget the tricks that she had to come up with for us to swallow that 'bitter pill', if you know what I mean. Some things never change… do they? Kids will be kids!

But perhaps if we did make healthy food fun and tasty enough for kids, then this habit could be inculcated into them. So here are some recipes that made my mouth water even though are so many of them available on the internet:

Healthy Recipes for Kids

Breakfast

Option 1: Bisquick Pumpkin Pancakes

Option 2: Oatmeal with Bananas, Walnuts, Cranberries and Brown Sugar

Lunch

Option 1: Baked Chicken Fingers with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Option 2: Corn Dogs

Dinner

Option 1: Southwestern Beef & Bean Burger Wraps

Option 2: Easy Shepherd Pie

Snacks

Options: Fresh fruit, dairy product based delights like smoothies, pudding, yoghurt etc., dried fruits, raw veggies with low-fat dip or dressing and the 'mother' of them all, popsicles with 100 % fruit juice

In Closing

Perhaps it is in the very nature of kids to be self-indulgent, and since there is a child in all of us, it's obvious as adults that we haven't mastered the art of self-restraint so even though this piece of writing might inspire you to inculcate healthier ways, it's better to go easy on them kids as most of us will never get to be Peter Pan!

Peanut Nutrition

FitBuff Blogger — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:13:39 +0000

Introduction

An amusing ex-colleague while moaning about her paycheck once said: "You pay peanuts, you get monkeys". While the idiomatic expression seemed a bit amusing, literally speaking, you do get the picture that monkeys do like peanuts. And I suppose another name for the peanut is appropriately titled the 'monkey nut'.

Apart from being a nice little snack to go along with your beer or hard liquor (thus the name, beer nuts), the peanut is a nutritious nut that is enjoyed in so many forms.

It's amazing that such a tiny fruit or nut (or call it what you will) can pack a punch when it comes to calories in its various modern day offerings. And there's more…

Peanuts – Nutritional Value and Uses

Even though you would associate peanuts to a bar, men farting while consuming large amounts of beer and loud incoherent grumbling and cheering simultaneously at a football game watched on television (read: fun that could cost you healthwise but being fun all the same – what the hell, fun costs you, doesn't it?), its size barely gives away its nutritional value defying that age-old belief that 'more is more'.

To put it succinctly, peanuts have over 30 essential nutrients and phytonutrients, leaving me to state the obvious fact that they are indeed healthy for you.

As they are excellent sources of niacin, phosphorus, manganese, folate, magnesium, fiber, vitamin E and contain almost 25% protein (which is the highest than in any true nut) among several other nutrients listed here, there are several claims of health benefits that works well for just about anyone except those with an allergy to peanuts, of course.

Apart from the salted peanuts, peanut butter sandwiches, candy bars, peanut brittle, and shelled nuts that we're so used to, there are several other uses of peanuts in areas other than nutrition.

In some parts of the world, peanut oil and flour are used while for famine relief peanut-based paste is used to counter malnutrition. Low-grade peanuts and peanut oil also have industrial uses ranging from paints to soaps and other cosmetics to even being a potential fuel.

Benefits and Complications (The Pros and Cons)

Even though that there's misconception that peanuts are responsible for unwanted weight gain, nothing can be futher from the truth. The reason being that most of the fats in peanuts are 'good fats' with a negligible amount being bad. Protection from cardiovascular disease and cancer, lowering of cholesterol, increased brain health (really!!!) and improved blood flow are some of the benefits of peanuts. In short, the benefits far outweigh the downside, in terms of its nutritious value!

However (and there always is a however), for those with an allergy to peanuts the reactions can be mild to fatal, so one should be careful before touching peanuts, or even foods that have been processed through machines that have produced peanut products earlier.

The adverse reactions can manifest in any or with a combination of body systems such as the cardiovascular system, nervous system, gastrointestinal system, respiratory system and skin.

In some cases, even breathing the dust from peanuts can prove to be disastrous… and really there is no other option but to complete avoid peanuts for life!

In Closing

What occurs to me abundantly since, generally speaking, men love peanuts… perhaps just perhaps the theory of monkey-to-man can be justified. Seems like old habits die hard (yes, even good ones, like an affinity to peanuts)… without even burning a hole in your wallet, of course.

Natural Peanut Butter: Better than the 'real' thing?

FitBuff Blogger — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:26:45 +0000

Introduction

There's no doubt that America's fascination for peanut butter as a sandwich spread is well-documented, apart from being a popular choice in the Netherlands as well. And if this isn't enough, you'll agree with me when I say that January 24 every year is celebrated as the National Peanut Butter Day. Obviously, the United States (along with China – surprise surprise!!!) are the largest exporters of peanut butter.

And for those of you who are positively hooked, you have the 'cereal man', John H. Kellogg to thank, for his patent 'Process of preparing Nutmeal' which details the method he invented for preparing 'nut-butter'.

However, one might wonder if there is more to what makes peanut butter so appealing other than the taste itself?

Peanut Butter – Nutritional Value & Benefits

Peanut butter comes in two forms such as the regular and natural of which the former is prepared with hydrogenated vegetable oil, salt and sweeteners to enhance the flavor which is either of the smooth or crunchy variety, while the latter is made of peanuts and oil.

But apart from its convenience of helping most people to grab a quick bite, it is nutritious and thus beneficial to our health as well.

Peanut Butter contains protein, monounsaturated fats, resveratrol, dietary fiber, arginine, vitamins B3 and E, the antioxidant p-coumaric acid, folate, potassium, copper, iron, phosphorous, calcium and magnesium. Interestingly, there is no alcohol, sodium or caffeine which makes it healthier as compared to most other processed foods.

Even though peanut butter is high in calories, the common misconception is that one will gain weight, however, this is false as the fats present in peanut butter are monounsaturated in nature.

Protection from cardiovascular disease and cancers (colo-rectal cancer, to be precise), regulating blood sugar and cholesterol levels, reduces the risk of hypertension, muscle spasms while intriguingly enabling the proper secretion of sexual hormones.

And despite commercial peanut butter being healthy enough, the natural version has also caught on as well, and there are very few differences between the two.

Natural Vs. Regular Peanut Butter

Right off the bat, the difference between the two is minimal except for the fact that in the natural version, the contents are only made of salt and peanuts, and in some cases of natural peanut butter, even the salt is taken away. One thing to remember here is that natural peanut butter has to be refrigerated as there are no preservatives added.

Truth be told, the health benefits are almost the same with the exception of the healthy fat (which is in liquid form during room temperature in natural peanut butter) is converted to its unhealthy form when produced commercially.

One very big reason why people prefer homemade to natural peanut butter is due to the salmonella outbreak that occurred in 2007 and off late in 2009 when peanut butter-based products such as crackers, cookies and dog treats when these products were recalled.

In Closing

There's no doubt that peanut butter is a nutritious food that has several benefits right from athletes to dieters as well as the common man. And the best part of it all is that all you need is two tablespoons of it… and you're satisfied!

Foods to avoid Cholesterol

FitBuff Blogger — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:38:10 +0000

Introduction

There was this article which outlined the relationship between obesity (more accurately, an enlarged waistline) with an increasing risk of cardiovascular disease. And with heart disease being the number one killer around the world, the medical community is exhorting their patients to switch to a healthier lifestyle, most importantly in regards to what they eat.

But after all this research, the fact that your diet is one of the biggest contributors to increased levels of bad cholesterol is common knowledge these days, leaving people to really watch (and eliminate) foods that lift those cholesterol levels substantially.

To be honest, some of the food out there is heart-rending…

So, how does the food we eat affect our 'bad' cholesterol levels?

Our Diet and bad cholesterol levels

Now for those who think that cholesterol is bad, think again. Cholesterol is a vital nutrient that is required for our body tissues, and is carried to and fro between the liver and body tissue by lipoproteins, known as LDLs (low density lipoproteins) and HDLs (high density lipoproteins).

As soon as our LDL levels increase, thanks to the food we eat which contains high cholesterol, this makes us more susceptible to heart disease. Not only that, if the HDL levels drop, that leaves us just as vulnerable to heart disease as the former.

Finally, one should also watch the triglyceride levels in the bloodstream that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

So, apart from maintaining a healthy diet… exercise, weight loss, smoking cessation and avoiding alcohol abuse are all important pieces to the puzzle when it comes to heart care.

So your next question could be, what kind of nutrients will help maintain the right LDL, HDL, triglyceride levels?

Maintaining HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels through a healthy diet

Since all these factors are related to each other in one way or another, here are some broad guidelines that one can follow to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Experts says that a lacto-vegetarian diet is ideal consisting of whole grains, seeds, fruits and vegetable with a serious reduction of the amount of sugar and salt in your food. Another focus is that on foods that contain soluble fiber, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids (good fats) while one should drop foods from the list that are high in carbohydrates and cholesterol (obviously!!).

Now, half the battle is won when you know which foods are the worst for your heart, and since prevention is better than cure, let's look at a list of foods that you must avoid in order to have a healthy heart.

Foods that are high in cholesterol

In looking at a list of high cholesterol foods, one realizes that there are so many, and sadly they're the tastiest of the lot. However, there are two nutrients (if I might call it that!) that lead to high cholesterol such as saturated fats (which increase both triglyceride and LDL levels) and cholesterol from animals. But it's the ones that are loaded with bad fats are the ones that should be watched for, as opposed to those with moderate cholesterol content (which is required for the body!).

And from this, one can infer that most foods which have high levels of saturated fat are animal-based foods such as eggs, meat, fish, poultry, milk with higher fat content while processed foods which contain trans fats like pastries, muffins and so on and so forth are also on that list.

So, the key to a heart-healthy diet is to watch out for foods that are high in saturated fats and trans fats!

In closing

One cannot discount the importance of physical activity apart from watching what you eat. Exercise, by itself, can bring positive changes to your cholesterol levels… so one should keep this also in mind, which not only makes you feel better but helps you reduce obesity levels (that have a distinct connection with heart disease).

Lowering Cholesterol Foods: A lot of choices to pick from

FitBuff Blogger — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:06:08 +0000

Introduction

With cardiovascular disease being the largest cause of death and disability (killing one person every 34 seconds, actually!) in the United States and Europe, reducing cholesterol levels by maintaining a healthy diet, has been cited as one of the ways by one can reduce the risk of heart disease and therefore increase the lifespan of an individual.

However, if uninformed, one will naturally assume that cholesterol is bad for your heart. And that is definitely not true, so let us understand what cholesterol is before we get into looking at the options available for a low cholesterol diet.

'Good' and 'Bad' Cholesterol

Contrary to popular opinion, cholesterol is important for our body, that is produced in the liver and is used as an ingredient to generate bile, hormones and nerve tissue as well as Vitamin D.

So why all the fuss, anxiety and panic with cholesterol?

Cholesterol travel through the bloodstream from the liver to other tissues while being carried by lipoproteins, and these lipoproteins are further divided into two types, low density lipoproteins (LDLs) which carry cholesterol from the liver to the cells of the body and high density lipoproteins (HDLs) that carry cholesterol from the cells of the body back to the liver, while LDL-receptors regulate the amount of cholesterol in the body.

Of the two, LDLs are known as 'bad cholesterol' meaning that one should keep these levels as low as possible, while HDLs are known as 'good cholesterol' which means that these levels have to be increased.

If an increase in LDL levels or the reduction of HDL levels occurs, the risk of heart disease increases as in the case of the former, too much cholesterol accumulates in the arteries that cannot be removed by the HDLs despite being at healthy levels, while in the case of the latter, there are too few HDLs to remove the cholesterol from the arteries even though the right levels of LDLs are present in the blood.

And how do we maintain this balance?

A careful attention to diet will go a long way in maintaing a balance of HDL & LDL levels in the body.

Lowering Cholesterol Foods

Since it has been proven medically that a healthy diet will assist in dropping 'bad cholesterol' levels, here are a list of ten foods that can get you started:

Soups, meats such as beef, veal and lamb, fish, poultry, egg whites, non-fat or skim milk, cottage cheese, vegetables, fruits, salads and salad dressing, cereal, white and whole wheat bread and beverages such as tea, coffee and its substitutes, egg white eggnogs and non-fat milk cocoa.

Among these food groups, there are some foods that cut your bad cholesterol levels substantially, and some of them are apples, beans, brown rice, cinnamon, garlic, grapes, oats, salmon, soy and walnuts.

In Closing

One must understand that in order to avoid the risk of heart disease, not only should you watch what you eat but maintain an overall healthy lifestyle that includes exercise as well, and not only do they ensure that a happier life but a healthier one too. And from this list, there's no doubt that your choices aren't limited at all.

Whey Protein Isolate: From wasted by-product to superfood

FitBuff Blogger — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:06:55 +0000

Introduction
It’s interesting to note that what we considered to be useless only a quarter of a century ago, a prominent example being whey, a by-product of cheese, has been toted by almost every fitness expert and organization in the business to be the best source of protein (and essential amino acids) available to man, even better than the white of an egg. This only goes to show how much we knew a few decades ago, and despite all our advances in research and development, we will still have to change preconceived notions about ideas, thoughts and principles that seem infallible.

An Overview of Whey Protein

Time and time again, athletes have found high-quality whey to be an excellent source of protein, and so it seems that ‘whey’ has indeed reinvented itself into the superfood that it is regarded today. Ironically, this is true of nature for a long time as everything is recycled, a lesson that we’re beginning to take very seriously off late.

Very simply, whey protein is merely the collection of globular proteins from whey such as beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, and serum albumin, and comes in three forms, namely the isolate, concentrate and hydrolysate.

Whey Protein Isolate: Uses and Benefits

Since its primary use is for health purposes, whey protein isolate is produced in two ways known as the Cross-flow Microfiltration and the Ion Exchange method, with the former focusing on the producing the highest quality of protein available for whey protein isolate, whereas the latter focuses on the latter.

Currently, the weight loss drinks that they use whey protein in are either a blend of the whey concentrate and isolate, or consists entirely of either of these products thus varying in the quality and quantity available in whey protein isolate used accordingly.

And of the two, its isolate form is the purest of the lot regardless of the method used while not necessarily giving you more bang for your buck as most people think that it's ok to spend less on whey protein drinks that are a combination of both instead of just being made of pure whey protein isolate.

However, what makes this form of whey protein great is that it removes the fat, lactose and bioactive compounds, resulting in almost 90 plus % in weight making it the best protein food available for those who are in bodybuilding in order to gain muscle mass safely, along with maintaining a milky taste that can be used with one of your favorite recipes as well.

Apart from just building muscle, whey protein isolate has several other health benefits as has been researched by the medical community over the past few years such as:

- Has the highest concentration of branched chain amino-acids

- Boosts immune support by producing the antioxidant Glutathione

- Contains quadrapeptides that decreases muscle soreness during training

- Has a very high Biological Value, the measure of absorbed protein in a food that will become a part of the protein tissue in the body.

- Helps in reducing LDL cholesterol production

In Closing

While whey protein isolate is discovered to be the best protein source around, this is one source of protein that should not missed out especially if the aforementioned benefits need to be taken advantage of. It is indeed in exploring Nature that we find most of our solutions, even though it can be as simple and presumably insignificant just like whey has been for health and fitness.

Soy Protein: The 'complete' protein

FitBuff Blogger — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:45:18 +0000

Introduction
As most fitness enthusiasts and most folks who got through school know, proteins are responsible for growth as they comprise 75% of body solids, therefore building more muscle while reducing the amount of fat in your body. And we all know how important that is, especially for those who consider working out much more than a routine and much closer to a passion.

However, if one digs a little deeper, one will find that the reason why protein is so important for the body is because of the essential amino acids (which the body cannot produce) that are produced when it comes into contact with enzymes during digestion. Now, it is imperative that the body obtains these nine essential amino acids from nutrition as it cannot be produced by the body itself.

And this brings us to dietary sources of protein that should be a combination of animal and plant protein to really make a difference, such as eggs, nuts, legumes, grains, meats and dairy products as well. As studies have shown that sufficient protein intake occurs in maintaining a diet that comprises these foods.

Interestingly, a method known as the Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) helps us determine protein quality based both on the amino acid requirements as well as their ability to digest it. On a scale of 1 being the highest and 0 being the lowest, milk, eggs, beef and soybeans rank the highest on this list, and since we’ve already discussed the first three protein sources, let’s look at soy protein.

Soy Protein – Source and Preparation
Just as the name indicates, soy protein comes from the oilseed, popularly known as soybean in the United States. Due to its high nutrition value in protein, soybeans (which are unhealthy, if eaten raw) are processed into its most common products such as soy meal, soy milk, soy flour, Tofu, tempeh, soy meat and soy oil while also used in foods such as salad dressing, cheese, breakfast cereal, pasta, bread and so on and so forth.

However, soy protein (in its purest form) is produced in three ways: soy isolate (with almost 90% protein content), soy concentrate (70% protein content) and soy flour (50 % protein content) and is used in the aforementioned products above.

How is it different from regular protein?

Apart from the fact that protein is protein regardless of its source, the most significant scientific discovery made recently is that soy protein is a source of ‘complete protein’ because it provides all the essential amino acids that the body requires. This works very well for those who follow a strict vegetarian diet, as they are forbidden for whatever reason to avoid meat which is a source of animal protein.

So, when you come to think of it, there is no difference except for the fact that it is one of the highest sources of protein known to man.

In Closing
For all its benefits, soy protein can also effect our body in negative ways if too much is consumed on a daily basis, so one should be cognizant of these side effects before making extreme changes.

Vegetarian Food Pyramid: Oh Cleopatra, she 'knows'

FitBuff Blogger — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:59:06 +0000

Introduction
The first thing that I remembered when the words ‘pyramid’ and ‘food’ came to mind was Asterix and Cleopatra, the sixth book in the Asterix comic book series which hinges on the wager (bet, if you will) between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra on building a great palace in Alexandria within three months, after Caesar demeans the contribution made by the Egyptian people to civilization.

However, there’s no doubt that in the history books, the Egyptians apart from being known for their pyramids, were known to be at the forefront of progress in almost every field known to mankind during their heyday.

Built as tombs for the Pharaohs, there are 188 identified pyramids as of November 2008. Since the pyramid tapers as it is built from the bottom to top, it is a structure of great stability as the weight distribution is the largest at the bottom and decreases as we move upwards.

And somehow this principle has been replicated across the food pyramid (for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians) with the foods that should be eaten most generously at the bottom, and foods that should be eaten with the zealously miserly spirit right at the top. It is ironic that the concept of ‘weight’ is common to both these objects of great wisdom and knowledge in their right, although used in different contexts.

Vegetarian Food Pyramid
The vegetarian food pyramid has only one difference from its far more liberal (and dare I say, appealing) cousin known as the food pyramid, as it omits the consumption of meat, fish and poultry. As absurd as that might sound ever since God gave man (through Adam) the sole right to kill and eat the beasts who roamed the earth so that he might be fruitful and multiply. Yes, we (the fruit of his loins) are forced to ‘eat grass’ in order to stay alive!

But I digress…

The vegetarian food pyramid is divided into six parts such as:

1) whole grains

2) vegetables

3) fruits

4) legumes, nuts and seeds

5) dairy

6) vegetable fats and oils, sweets and salt

Now, as you would have noticed that I’ve written it in the order of the amount of servings that are allowed daily, with whole grain type being the food that you should help yourself to most generously while sweets and oils should be consumed in moderation.

Whether you choose to be a vegan because of your religious beliefs, an animal lover or just for personal health (thanks to the calorie loaded preparations of meat that you find in restaurants these days), just remember to include calcium-rich and Vitamin B12 foods in your diet.

No matter what people say, based on their biased opinions, about the horrors of veganhood, the truth remains that one will surely see an overall improvement health-wise, while research continues to validate the fact that being on a vegan diet lowers the risk of chronic disease, which translates to a significant reduction in medical insurance. But of course, this is only a conclusion based on fact.

In Closing
However, if the idea of eating vegetarian food repulses you… well, that’s ok. We’re all made differently… and so, to each his own! Of course, the food pyramid with the meat, poultry and fish options is there too.

And on that note, I can't help but imagine what would've happened if Obelix drank the magic potion…

FitBuff.com's Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog » Nutrition

BPA Bottles: Much ado about nothing?

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Find a Nutritionist Online: Or will the 'shaman' do?

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Healthy Recipes for Kids: Who wants to be Peter Pan?

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Peanut Nutrition

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Natural Peanut Butter: Better than the 'real' thing?

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Foods to avoid Cholesterol

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Lowering Cholesterol Foods: A lot of choices to pick from

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Whey Protein Isolate: From wasted by-product to superfood

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Soy Protein: The 'complete' protein

Other Posts You'll Find Useful:

Vegetarian Food Pyramid: Oh Cleopatra, she 'knows'

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