Body Q's &Tips, Before Dieting!

Gluconeogenesis: An Enemy Of weight Control

One of the secrets to controlling weight is developing muscle mass, because muscle mass provides the furnace where most fat is burned.  Those who attempt to lose weight by going on a low-calorie diet actually destroy their ability to burn fat through a process called gluconeogenesis. This term is derived from gluco (meaning sugar). neo (meaning formation). Thus gluconeogenesis is the formation of new sugar from another sources (protein)

Gluconeogenesis results when low caloric intake forces the body to burn lean muscle tissue. This not only reduces muscle mass, it can be dangerous. There have been cases where low calorie dieters suffered heart attacks because their body actually burned away part of the heart muscle tissue in an effort to avoid starvation.

By eating plenty of good, nutritious food on a regular basis, you will be supplying your body with all the energy that it requires. This will prevent it from burning lean muscle tissue through gluconeogenesis.

If your muscle mass is low through restrictive diets, you can begin the process of rebuilding it through eating nutritious food and by starting a moderate exercise program that will promote muscle building and facilitate the Fat Burning process.

How to Figure Fat and Refined Carbohydrate Units?

Two questions commonly asked by Weight Loss Guides programs users are:

What constitute a fat units? & what makes up a refined carbohydrate unit? Fat units (FU) are made up of either eight grams of vegetable fat or six grams of animal fat.

A refined carbohydrate unit (RCU) consists of either 12 grams of refined flour (example: white bread) or six grams of refined sugar (example: candy). When you are trying to determine the fat or refined carbohydrate in a product, use this information as a guide.

Balanced Diet Fulfills Proteins Needs

How much protein do you need?...This question is continually asked by those who are concerned about getting too much or too little protein, which is the basic material of life and makes up three-fourths (3/4) of your body tissue, not including water.

The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy Of Sciences has established a daily recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 0.8 grams of protein for each 2.2 pounds of body weight. This works out to 56 grams  for a 154-pound man and 44 grams for a 121-pound woman.

It is not considered dangerous to exceed the RDA, but doing so is not beneficial either. The body does not make more protein than usual because you increase your consumption of amino acids or protein-rich foods. Excess protein either breaks down in the body and is burned for energy or turns into fat.

Since red meat is a source of saturated fats as well as protein, some authorities regards excess meat eating is a major contributor to coronary heart disease, cancer and stroke. Moreover, a high diet of meat increases the loss of calcium in the body.

In summary, a balanced diet will not only provide enough protein, but lead to a Leaner YOU.

The Positive Aspects Of FAT

The word "fat" probably spurs as much negative reaction as any other word in the English language. However, a certain amount of fat is essential to maintain health. Some experts recommends your diet consist of 20% fat, while others consider as much as 30% fat all right Well in my opinion listen to your body, find your sweet spot, you know it best.

Here Are some of the positive aspects of fat:

• Fat helps maintain proper body temperature by providing insulation.

• Fat protects organs against damage.

• Fat provides energy,  One gram of fat furnishes 9 calories while 1 gram from protein or carbohydrates only produces 4 calories.

• Fat carries the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

• Fat gives body contour.

The problem then is not fat but too much fat. The average American consumes 40% of his diet in fat, which combined with a lack of exercise can result in obesity.