So your looking to eat healthy? Well one fo the best ways to get started is to get the balance of carbs,(carbohydrates), proteins and fats right first. The reason is, these are the essential foundations of any diet plan and everything from there is just a question of balance and adjusting to suit your likes and dislikes.
With around 4 calories being produced by one gram of protein it is not suprising that we are encouraged to eat plenty of protein rich foods such as eggs and dairy products (which of course also contain fats), red meats fish and steaks.
When looking at carbs like protein we find that calorifically around 1g of carbohydrate will produce about 4 calories of energy. However when comparing carbs it is much harder as they are more complex and in addition to being food in nature than can also be found in food that is manufactured.
Carbohydrates which are found in nature include rice,some pulses (such as beans),potato’s in various different guises, and oatmeal but this is just the tip of the iceberg a wider range of man made carbs are found in cookies, candies, and cakes plus a whole slew of other processed foods.
I am guessing you have probably worked out by now that I was saving the best (or worst in this case until last) .That’s right a single gram of fat creates a massive 225% more energy at 9 calories (that’s more than twice the amount of protein and carbohydrate). Is it that simple?
But of course as I am sure you know there is more than one type of fat they are classed as good fats (mono unsaturated fats and poly unsaturated fats) and bad fats (saturated fats) and the less widely know very bad (trans fats or trans fatty acids to give then their full name)
To maintain a healthy body you need to get a balance of all 3 of these in equal proportion but avoiding large amounts or unsaturated fats and avoid when at all possible all tran fats.
If you choose to have a diet which has a high level of fat or indeed a high level of carbohydrate (especially man made carbs) you increase your chances dramatically to having problems with your weight.If you continue this way may end up extremely obese or as doctors use the term morbidly obese.
Since fat has substancially more calories per gram than both protein & carbohydrates, just ensure the bulk of your diet is a balance of the first two food groups with some healthy fats thrown in for good measure.
We will examine the different types of fat individually.
Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA’s).. Mono unsaturated fats are found at room temperature normally in the form of vegetable oils,nuts and seeds.
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (Polyunsaturated Fats):- These are are most commonly found in vegetable oils, fish and seafood. They are liquid or soft at room temperature.Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are types of Polyunsaturated fats and are considered essential fatty acids because our bodies need them but don’t make them, thus they must be obtained through the diet. Some times referred to as PUFA’s.
Saturated Fats (Saturated Fatty Acids) are usually solid at room temperature and are found mainly in foods from animal sources like meat, dairy products and butter. Some vegetable oils such as coconut, palm kernel and palm oil are also full of saturated fatty acids.
Trans Fats (TFA’s):- These are manufactured vegetable oils which have been specially processed to become solid at room temperature by the addition of hydrogen. You may have heard them called hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils or fats. They have been used in some margarines,junk foods and processed snacks which the manufacturers claim enhances their flavor and shelf life.
A guide is if it comes from a plant it is usually better for you than if it came from animal. Animal fats are found in butter, pastry and shortening as saturated fat. But fats from plants such as Olive Oil, sun flower oil and some margarines (read the label) are unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fat is better for you but will still make you fat.
Just remember when it comes to eating healthy keep the balance right
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