Watch out there is a fat virus going around!

We humans are not to blame for being overweight, it's not my fault or your fault it's the virus, yeah right.

Yep, you heard me there is a fat virus going around, just check this link from Fox News, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,482788,00.html you know Fox News is never wrong. OK I'm probably going to get blasted if anyone reads this post but I've got to write it anyway. Virus or no virus we are what we eat. If we eat a sandwich as big as our head, chips and a soda or greasy hamburgs, fried chicken, french fries while flying down the highway at 70mph we are going to be in trouble.

OK the sarcasm is over and I am going to take a stand on what we should eat to be healthy and explain why. My statements may go against some pretty big organizations such as the American Heart Association, the USDA food pyramid, and some others but if you read the book “The Schwarzbein Principle” by doctor Diana Schwarzbein I think you would agree that what she says make scientific sense. Today I am going to focus on Protein and why it should be a big part of your diet. Tomorrow I'll tackle the issue of eating fat.

If you want to be healthy and achieve your healthy weight, What do you eat?

• Protein (Meat, poultry, fish, dairy, soy, limited legumes, select grains)
• Fats (from fish, meats, dairy, nuts seeds, vegetables) (Do not eat processed fats)
• Non-starchy vegetables (lettuce, peppers, mushrooms, asparagus, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, etc.)
• Fruits and starchy vegetables (any fruit and carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, beets, corn, peas)
• Grains (only whole grains – Brown rice, Quinoa, wheat bread, rye bread, oatmeal)
• Desserts (in very small quantities)

What eat meat, dairy? Yes protein is important. Protein and fats are used in the body for rebuilding muscles and cells.  Insulin is the hormone that  directs the storage of excess sugar in the muscle and fat cells.  Protein and fats do not stimulate the secretion of insulin.   Insulin is produced when too much sugar enters the blood stream from carbohydrates (carbohydrates are fruit, grains, starchy vegetables, and sweets).  Below are some reasons you should eat a lot of protein,

1. Protein contains 20 amino acids, 10 of which your body can make the other 10 you must take in.
2. Protein and fat are the building blocks of our cells and we need a constant supply of protein for rebuilding and hormone production.
3. Proteins called immunoglobins are the substances of you immune system.
4. Your cells rely on proteins and fats in REAL food to replenish tissues within your body. Without real food you will damage the cells in your body. Real food is not man made and doesn't come in colorful packaging.
5. There is a difference between 100 calories of rice crisps and 100 calories of good protein. A calorie is measured as the amount of energy required to raise one gram of water one degree Celsius. To determine this scientists broke down the food chemical bonds completely, underwater and then measured the change in temperature of the water from the heat generated during these chemical reactions. The problem is that 100 calories of carbohydrates in you body have to be used immediately or stored but since proteins and fats can be used for building blocks not just energy their ends up being less energy that needs to be stored.
6. If you eat protein your body can build lean muscle mass and so you will have more insulin receptors in your muscles and less chance of being insulin resistance
7. When you don't eat enough protein and fat your body uses it's own protein for survival and bones, hair, and nails become dry and thin.
   
   So in case you missed the point here whether there is or is not a “fat virus” it is important to eat a balanced diet but a very different balance than the USDA food pyramid. Think of it as a square divided into 4 equal parts, protein, fat, vegetables, carbohydrates. You should eat 25% of your daily intake from each and you will be healthy, a healthy weight, and nourished as long as your digestive system is working properly.