Tag Archives: protein

Back to Atkins.

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Here is a brief insight into what I am doing in my own health journey.

The ultimate thing in weight loss, health, and longevity is to eat less calories.  To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.  That doesn’t mean starve yourself.  Since carbohydrates are the bulk of any normal diet, the best way to reduce calories is to reduce carbohydrate.  Sugar restriction is the only real way to lose weight.

In previous months, I’ve been eating less in terms of portions, but out of habit and convenience I was eating mostly brown rice and fruit with a bit of protein like chicken and milk.  That is doable, but not ideal.

The best diet is a regimen of protein and vegetables.  Water is important too.  You can’t reinvent the wheel, and people have been using the Atkins diet since the 70’s to get into shape.  Everybody who is lean and looks good does it.

Soup is by far the ideal way to eat.  It is good in so many different ways.  First of all, it contains all the best food-groups to begin with.  Soup is a combination of protein, vegetables, and water.  Secondly it is easy to prepare, even if you are cooking from scratch.  Also, it is slow simmered over low heat, so it’s already partially broken down by the time you eat it, making it easy to digest.  As well, it is cheap and uses cheap cuts of meat and fish, but since the meat is tender, you don’t really notice it.

The point is, I shouldn’t make a big deal about food but also I shouldn’t give in to eating sugar and starch out of convenience.  With a little thought, knowledge, and planning, one can live well on very little money and effort.

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A Friendly Reminder

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Protein is the most important nutrient.  Our bodies are made up of different proteins, and the word actually translates from Latin as ‘of primary importance’.  But did you know that animal foods are not the only source of protein?  There are dozens of ways of getting plant protein, and some of these foods are better than beef or milk!

Legumes, such as beans, peas, and lentils, are packed with not just vegetable protein but also fiber and numerous other good things.  I particularly like lentils, since they can be cooked from dry without soaking overnight.  That makes them convenient.

Quinoa is a pseudograin that is often used as a substitute for rice.  The only difference between quinoa and brown rice is that quinoa has twice the protein ounce for ounce and more fiber with less starch.  Quinoa would be great for vegetarians who don’t want to eat animal flesh but still need high protein diets.

And not quite fitting into animal or plant protein, the egg of a chicken boasts of the most perfect protein for human nutrition.  The amino acid profile of the protein found in egg is the best for human health, and the gold standard by which all other proteins are measured.

Of course, there are trace amounts of protein in vegetables, and this source shouldn’t be underestimated.  Even broccoli and leafy greens are a good source of protein!

The point is, you could get protein from meat, eggs, and fish, or even lentils, peas, and quinoa and be doing great.  Protein is the most important nutrient, and should be the focus of the meal.  There are protein sources everywhere, so no one should say they are not eating enough protein.