Sunday, August 24, 2008 Cut the fat-guessing POST A COMMENT 'Headed back into the gym last week, so I'm also back to sorting threw the latest fitness-trends. Every expert just about agrees that not all of us have the same body type... In terms of diets, I been kinda hugging the border of the Mediterranean Sea, or what's called the Mediterranean Diet -- (those folks near the Mediterranean sea have a low incident of heart disease, chronic diseases, and cancer, and the highest adult life-expectancy rate, which works for me). Here's the basic things about fat, the Mediterranean diet does contains 40% of total daily calories from fat. But, there is such a good thing as 'good fats. Olive oil, a staple of a Mediterranean diet, is a monosaturated fatty acid and counteracts animal fats. This type of fat does not raise blood cholesterol levels and is an excellent source of antioxidants. Monounsaturated fats are, in fact, required for the body in order to function effectively. Another staples in that diet is fish, which is high in omega-3 fatty acids, something that most people do not get enough of. I also eat lean pork and chicken breast, and rarely do I eat red meat... 'Speaking of fat, I read today about potentially -- pill popping your fat-away (for those really lazy people): 'Scientists discovered a protein that can promote the burning of body fat. "Mice injected with a protein called BMP7 increased their production of "good" brown fat cells, while keeping their levels of the normal white fat cells constant. Fat is a crucial part of the body's regulation of metabolism and body temperature. There are two types of fat cell with different functions: the well-known white fat cells, which store energy and contribute to obesity, and lesser-known brown fat cells that burn calories to generate body heat." "As we learn more about the controls of brown fat development, medical interventions to increase energy expenditure by brown fat inducing agents, such as BMP7, may provide hope to these individuals in losing weight and preventing the metabolic disorders associated with obesity," offers the head researcher. I haven't reached that level of lazyness...yet...but... 'Sounds sorta like the perks of the Mediterranean diet; which instead of counting calories, focuses on food selections. In general, Mediterranean style means eating food slowly and savoring the taste of the food. MEDITERRANEAN DIET-101 *High consumption of olive oil. *High consumption of fruit, legumes, and vegetables. *High consumption of grains, pasta, rice, bulgar, couscous, beans, nuts and seeds. *High consumption of garlic. Garlic lowers your cholesterol level and protects you against cancer. *Moderate consumption of grilled and steamed fish. *Low consumption of lean red meat and lean pork. *Low consumption of eggs and dairy products. *Low consumption of red wine. *Regular exercise is an important part of the Mediterranean lifestyle. - GUIDELINES FOR EATING THE MEDITERRANEAN WAY Plan your meals a week ahead. Try to include a wide variety of foods in your menu plan. *Replace butter and other fat with extra virgin olive oil in cooking and baking. Season your olive oil with garlic and/or herbs and spices. *Instead of dessert, eat a plateful of fresh fruit. *Eat lots of whole grains and beans. *Replace white potatoes with sweet potatoes. *Eat meals full of color! Add a variety of vegetables by eating salads and soups. *Limit processed foods. *Add fish to your diet twice a week and cut down on red meat. *Drink lots of water, never sugar-sweetened sodas. Source: Guardian U.K. Labels: drugs, Exercise, Healthy Foods, HungryForChange.com, News Trends, Obesity, Well-Balanced Life, Whole Foods posted by Henry Cruz at 2:48 PM 0 Comments: Post a Comment << Home     ARCHIVES October 2005 . November 2005 . December 2005 . August 2007 . September 2007 . October 2007 . November 2007 . December 2007 . March 2008 . April 2008 . May 2008 . June 2008 . July 2008 . August 2008 . September 2008 .