Tag Archives: u

What You Need to Know About The Most Important Weight Loss Nutrient

Posted on by
Reply
by Curtis Ludlow

Did you know that most men and women can survive no more than 7 days without water (Williams 200S)? Because of its numerous and diverse functions in the body, water is often regarded as the most important nutrient.

Although there is rigorous proof of its benefits, scientists still have trouble objectively advising people how much they need to drink daily to maintain favorable health. Len Kravitz, PhD, program coordinator of exercise science and researcher at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, plunges in for a look at this mysterious nutrient called H20.

H20 is intricately involved in numerous functions of the body, including the transport of oxygen, nutrients and waste products into and out of the cells. Drinking water contains several electrolytes (substances in solution that conduct an electric current), including calcium, chloride, fluoride, magnesium, potassium and sodium. Water is necessary for all digestion and absorption functions.

H20 is the medium for most chemical reactions in the body, especially those metabolic reactions involved in energy production. The body uses water as a coolant, helping to regulate internal temperature during exercise, when fever is present and in hot environments. Water also serves as a cushioning component between joints, in the spinal cord and in the brain.

At different times in your life, you may need to pay special attention to water intake.

Seniors. With age, thirst becomes a less effective indicator of the body’s fluid needs, so older adults who rely solely on thirst signals increase their risk of be coming dehydrated. Seniors who relocate to places where the weather is warmer or dryer are also more susceptible to dehydration.

Pregnant women and those who are breast-feeding need additional fluids daily to stay hydrated. Women at risk of gaining weight are encouraged to consume more water (no calories) and limit their consumption of sweetened fluids (with calories).

In 1-hour of light exercise in a moderate environment, the amount of water you sweat out is easy to quickly replace. However, endurance exercise is different. The ACSM recently released its newest Position Stand on exercise and fluid replacement in an effort to guide exercisers toward safe and enjoyable participation in endurance exercise (Sawka et al. 2007).

Each person will have different and variable water losses, so one blanket recommendation is not possible. However, it discusses the importance of hydrating before, during and after your workout.

The Institute of Medicine explains that drinking fluids represents about 81% of total water intake, with 19% of water being provided by foods. So, the recommendation for actual fluid intake is 3.0 liters for men and 2.2 liters for women.

About the Author:
Curtis Ludlow is a personal trainer that has helped people all over the world get in shape. He is the founder of Boot Camp FX, Brea’s fitness boot camp based in Fullerton California. Visit Boot Camp in Brea for more information.

Totally Tofu

Posted on by
Reply
by Kristen Thorpe

Years ago, when I started eating healthier, my older sister remarked that next I would be serving Tofurkey for Thanksgiving. I laughed at the time, thinking how funny it was that my meat, potatoes and no vegetable sister thought eating fruit and salads more would mean I was taking the leap to eating Tofurkey for the holidays. Well here it is a few years later and I find shes not so far off the mark anymore.

It seems the healthier I eat the more I move toward less meat in my diet. I simply crave it less and less. Seems that happens for a lot of people. While some people make an overnight change to vegetarian diets, others grow towards it gradually.

I confess I may never be a complete vegetarian. Somehow the thought of never having another juicy burger or chicken marsala is not possible to me right now. Right now I could see myself being what is often referred to as a near vegetarian. Those are people that eat a mostly vegetarian diet while occasionally still eating meat.

One of my favorite meat replacements has to be tofu. I dont eat it constantly since I think you can overdue it with soy like anything else. Soy is a top allergen along with eggs, nuts, and dairy so I think its wise to be moderate with any food. Especially if you already enjoy soymilk and yogurts, youre getting a good amount of soy in your nutrition.

I have a vegetarian friend who doesnt enjoy tofu. Shes tried it but its jut not for her. Instead shell load up on bean dishes or protein-rich veggies to make up the protein portion of her diet. She used to eat fish on a rare occasion but I believe shes completely vegetarian now.

If you havent tried it, Tofurkey is a great tofu foodie. I found a great selection at my health food store in town and bought a package of sausages to try. I made a pepper and sausage dish that mimicked the meat sausage and pepper dish so well it might have even fooled my dad, who loved his sausage & pepper sub sandwiches.

So if you have never tried tofu but are thinking about healthy eating alternatives, then maybe its something to put on your list. Do what I did and start with something small. Maybe a local salad bar has some tofu you can add to your salad for a taste.

Visit a local grocer or health food supermarket and see if they have Tofurkey. You can pick up a package to make sandwiches ” like a Tofurkey sandwich with salad greens, mustard, and tomato grilled on your indoor electric grill or panini sandwich maker. The taste might surprise you ” and your body will thank you for the healthy choice.

About the Author:
Add some fresh bread to your meal by baking some loaves in these great clay mini-bread pans . There’s nothing like the taste of homemade bread baked in a quality bread pan to round out a delicious meal.