The Good Stuff — proteins

Typically, in the world of nutrition you will hear people talk a lot about macronutrients, which as we have discussed in previous posts are your proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Every once in a while, someone will mention micronutrients.  So, what are these micronutrients and why don’t we track them like we do macronutrients?  Micronutrients are the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to be healthy. They do not provide us with energy like macronutrients, but they help assist in all metabolic processes to help transfer energy, repair and build our bodies, immune systems, etc. Vitamins include but are not limited...

Protein is one of the 3 macronutrients that we have discussed in previous blogs.  Most people understand why we need carbohydrates and fats in our diet, but what about the protein?  Today we are going to delve into the reasons why getting the proper amount of protein is important in your nutrition plan. Satiety- Satiety is how full or satisfied you feel after eating. Protein is the best macronutrient at increasing this feeling. Additionally, it will help you feel full for longer so you aren’t tempted to sneak in some snacks later in the day! TEF- Thermic Effect of Feeding- The thermic...

Starting a new diet can be very overwhelming. What portion sizes are right for me? How many fats do I eat? Am I under eating? Are these foods okay?   Determining a new diet plan is different for every individual. Some key components to take into consideration are: 1. Your goals 2. Your activity level 3. Your current weight 4. Your body type   Every single person is different but if you want to start with the basics just start with maintaining a consistent routine eating well-balanced whole foods. Start cutting out bad habits and adding in good habits. Remember,...

Classifying macro nutrients can be tricky! Fats. Carbs. Proteins. What makes a food a source of fat versus a source of a protein? Next time you go to the grocery store start reading the labels. If the fat content is higher than the protein content, it is considered a source of fat. Ideally, the protein content should be significantly higher than the fat to be a good source of protein for your diet.    Let's check out these two labels from chicken sausage: Fat: 3 grams / Protein: 15 grams  The fat to protein ratio is very close on this,...