Nutrition with Nat: Folklore

Showing posts with label Folklore. Show all posts

A Girl and Her Baggage

I loathe stored, plastic shopping bags.

I ~~don't~~ know exactly why I hate collected plastic bags (especially in a kitchen). It stems back to my childhood and the 900 plastic Wal-Mart bags that my mom stored on the side of our refrigerator for safe keeping. I hate those things but man were they a necessary evil. We used them for everything but my two favorite uses were:

gift bags (and you better hope the old receipts were removed).
travel luggage. Yes, you read that right. I'm pretty sure one of my brothers still uses a plastic bag instead of actual luggage. #truthbomb

I also hate grocery shopping-- another story for another post. And what do you get 900 of when you finish grocery shopping? Plastic-freaking bags. So after 15 years of vowing to bring my own bags to the grocery store, I. FINALLY. REMEMBERED.

I was feeling all puffed up with pride and even snapped this picture to text Sweet Stuff when I realized the sad truth. Where my bags came from...

Yea, that's right, I brought all the bags I had been collecting on the side of my refrigerator.

I have officially turned into my mother.

Now they will be stored in my trunk. Cycle broken. I'm a fighter.

#acceptanceisthefirststep #thestruggleisreal #breakthecycle #baglady #greenliving #gogreen

Protein, Protein, We Need More Protein!

One of the most common concerns I hear from clients is "I'm not getting enough protein?!" And there is usually a genuine concern and worry about their protein intake but not a thought about the source of protein or any of the other macronutrients they might be lacking.

Most Americans are OVER-CONSUMING protein at an alarming rate. There are hundreds of protein powder supplements that can pack as much as 60 grams of protein per scoop, which might be more than an individual needs in an entire day. The first question you need to ask yourself is "How many grams of protein do I need daily?" and "What are the best sources?"

How to Figure Your Protein Needs

Adults generally require .8 grams per kilogram of body weight.
A safe protein range would be .8gms-1.0gms per kilogram of weight.

For example, I weigh 120 lbs.

First, I need to figure out my weight in kilograms.
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds.
120/2.2 = ~55 kilograms

Next, you multiply the weight in kilograms by .8

55 x .8 = 44 grams of protein daily

*Determining the protein needs for children is very different from the above mentioned formula. Do not use .8 gms/kg to determine the protein needs of infants though age fourteen.*

So, my daily protein needs are 44 gms. I exercise most days of the week and am very active and my protein needs do NOT get a raise for activity. A very common misconception is that when you exercise you need to really amp up your protein needs... WRONG. Unless you are training like an Olympian (extreme levels of training), you do not need to drastically increase your protein. I know most personal trainers will read this and say Oh yes you do need more protein and it's because of X Y and Z... Blah, blah, blah. What you need is a really great pre- and post-snack, lots of fluids and a good nights sleep (more on sports nutrition coming soon).

Remember, too much of a good thing doesn't make it best. Excess protein consumed that your body doesn't need is stored as fat and puts a lot of extra work on your kidneys when breaking it down to store.

Now, there are certain diseases that have very specialized protein requirements which may require a much lower or much higher need each day. For example: renal failure, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, liver failure and burns (stage I, II, & III) all require different protein needs. Individuals suffering from any of these conditions should be regularly monitored by their healthcare team.

#nutritionwithnat

Twain had it Right...

Looking for accurate and dependable nutrition information can be overwhelming. Don't place your trust or health with just any "Joe".

Here are a few Red Flags of Junk Science:

Claims a "Quick Fix"
There is NO such thing as a Quick Fix! Everything takes effort and TIME.

Dire warnings of danger from a single product or regimen.

If a product or diet program states that a possible side affect could be DEATH or liver damage, etc. ... Choose something else.

Sounds too good to be true... It is!

Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex study

If the research study is very detailed (and usually will include a long list of statistical findings) and the conclusion reads something like "Study finds most participants lost weight"... Not a good enough summary of the findings of the study to trust them... What if most participants lost weight and ended up with long-term side effects like diarrhea or gout. YIKES!

Recommendations based on a SINGLE study

According to Study "X" this pill with cure diabetes... JUNK

Dramatic statements refuted by reputable scientific organizations

Diet "X" claims that you should avoid all vegetables to lower your cholesterol but the American Heart Association recommends limiting animal products in your diet to reduce cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL levels and INCREASE your vegetable consumption.

Lists "good" and "bad" foods

Read my quote at the top of this page... Good/Bad food lists never work out.

Recommendations made to sell a product

If a product or diet program is "right" for you because the sales person thinks so, ask yourself: "Who is this person?, Do they know me and what I need?" If you think they do, then by all means buy away.

There is NO SINGLE magical diet and exercise program. We all need different things. The best place to start is with your diet.

Did You Know...

Image Source: National Geographic

The largest item found on any menu is roasted camel which is still served at some Bedouin weddings and was offered by royalty in Morocco several hundred years ago. The camel is cleaned and then stuffed with one whole lamb, 20 chickens, 60 eggs, and 110 gallons of water, among other ingredients.

A few more facts, courtesy Today I Found Out:

Camel meat has been eaten for centuries. A whole roasted camel was recorded by ancient Greek writers as a dish in ancient Persia at banquets. Camel milk is rich in vitamins, minerals, and proteins with less fat and cholesterol than cow milk. Also, camel’s blood is sometimes consumed as a source of iron, vitamin D, salts and minerals.
One of the most popular stuffed recipes in North America is Turducken – a boneless turkey stuffed with a boneless duck that’s stuffed with a boneless chicken; the gaps in between are filled with cornbread, oyster and sausage. The dish is an American invention by the southern chef Paul Prudhommes.
Among the most bizarre dishes in the world is a balut which is a 15-16 day fertilized duck or chicken egg with an embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell. This item is also known as ‘the treat with feet’ and commonly sold as a street food in the Philippines.

If you’ve ever thought “real” Chinese food was disturbing, perhaps it is because, classically, Chinese chefs had the mantra: ‘Anything that walks, swims, crawls, or flies with its back to heaven, is edible’