Macro Nutrients : FATS - Blog1

FATS are very important for storing calories for human body and for supporting immune function and skin health. In general, we assume that FATS are bad for our health. But FATS are major nutrients like Proteins and Carbohydrates.

• Fats are essential sources of energy that keeps body healthy. 
• Certain fats help with brain development, helps in absorbing Vitamins and keep skin and hair healthy.
• The trouble with Fats is that they contains lots of calories. 1 table spoon of Fat contains about 120 Calories.
• Some Fats are considered to be healthier than others based upon the composition. So its important to distinguish between Healthy and Non healthy Fats.

Why does body store fat?

• Fat is way body stores energy so that you can survive for long periods without eating. 
• If you had enough water to drink and enough vitamins and minerals, you could survive up to six months living off the stored fat in your body. 
• When we eat more calories than you need, they get converted into fat cells and get stored in our body.
• Since starvation is not our problem, we are most likely struggling to keep from increasing weight. That is why we need to limit the fat that we take in our food. 
• The fat we eat is the fat we wear.

Different types of Fats:

Saturated Fats:

• Most saturated fats are solid at room temperature.
• They are typically referred as “solid fats”.
• They include beef fat, pork fat, butter etc.
• Saturated fats are considered to be less healthy when compared to Monounsaturated Fats.

Trans Fats:

• Trans fats are made from polyunsaturated fats by a chemical method that makes them act like a saturated fat.

• Theses fats are considered to be less healthy when compared to Monounsaturated Fats.

Monounsaturated Fats:

When substituted for saturated fats, they lead to lower cholesterol levels and are often called “healthy fats”.

Polyunsaturated Fats:

• Omega 3 and Omega 6 are both polyunsaturated fatty acids, but they have different effect on body.
• We need to take more of Omega 3.
• Omega 3 plays a vital role in maintaining good health, offering a variety of benefits. It also balances negative effects of excess Omega-6.

In My next blog, I will update more about how we can balance our diet with healthy Fats.

Macronutrients: Proteins

In our earlier blog, we have discussed about Carbohydrates. In this blog I would like to discuss about our 2^nd Macronutrient, PROTEIN.

What is Protein?

• Protein is one of the major nutrients in our food. 
• It provides energy to our body and is used to build the muscles and organs.
• Proteins are made up of Amino acids.

What Protein does in your Body?

• Builds and repair tissues (Muscles and Organs are made up of Protein)
• Produces enzymes and hormones
• Supports immune function
• Produces energy and stamina

Humans cannot survive when Protein stores drop below 50 percent.

Two Sources Of Protein:

Animal-Based Protein:

Animal-Based proteins are called complete proteins because they contain balanced Amino acids.

Plant-Based Protein

Unless Vegetarians eat soy protein or combine different grains and beans together, they will not get all the amino acids they need.

Different People, Different Requirements.

Based up on life style, height, weight, age etc., Men need 100 – 200 gms of protein per day where as Women need 50-100 gms of protein per day.