Readers Digest
Health & Nutrition
To maintain healthy bones, organs, nerves and muscles, the body requires proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. In addition, a proper diet is also necessary to produce hormones that are essential for the proper functioning of the organs. Heart attacks, cancer, strokes and obesity are major health problems, and therefore it is necessary that we follow dietary recommendations that can help prevent these and other diseases. Obesity is caused when we eat more calories than what the body burns. It also leads to various other diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease and much more. Several studies have linked obesity and a diet high in fat with an increased risk of cancers of the prostate, uterus, colon and skin. It is important that no more than 30 percent of total calories should come from fat. It is estimated by researchers that at least 35 percent of all cancers can be related to disease, specifically those diets that are high in processed foods and fat (Source: Readers Digest). Dietary changes can help prevent certain cancers. In 2005, the USDA or the United States Department of Agriculture published the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This publication lists the guidelines for healthy diets which are recommended after in-depth scientific studies. According to the guidelines, a healthy diet should: – Include whole grains, vegetables, fruits, low-fat milk and other milk products, proteins – fish, poultry, eggs, lean meats and nuts – Be low in added sugar, salt, cholesterol and tans fats. (Source: US Department of Health & Human Services) Prevent Diseases with Vitamins & Supplements Given the hectic lives we live today, it is not always possible to consume a healthy diet. Constantly being on the move and working long hours makes it difficult to eat healthy and stay fit. It is therefore necessary to take additional vitamin and supplements. These supplements help to prevent diseases and deficiencies. Carbohydrates – Carbs are a necessary part of any healthy diet because they are a great source of energy. Include complex carbohydrates in your diet such as vegetables and whole grains. Avoid simple carbs like sugar and refined flour. While simple carbohydrates are easy to digest, they cause sugar surges and they should be avoided whenever possible. Protein – If you want to feel fuller for a longer time without putting unnecessary pressure on the digestive system or the heart, it is time to load up on the protein. You don’t have to replace the foods that you love with bland tofu. Instead, you can include lean protein into your diet. Additionally, various protein supplements are available that you can include in your diet. From powdered protein supplements to liquid protein supplements, there are plenty of options to get your daily intake of protein. In fact, Profect and Proasis from Protica are good examples of protein supplements. Profect has just 100 calories in 2.9 fluid ounces and gives a full 25 grams of protein. It also provides 50% of the daily intake of vitamin and 10% of the B vitamins. In addition, Profect is carbohydrate-free, as well as fat-free thus making it a great snack in between meals. Profect is available in three sizes: – 25 grams of protein in a ready-to-drink 2.9 fluid ounce vial – 50 grams of protein in a ready-to-drink 3.4 fluid ounce vial – 200 grams of protein in a 10 fluid ounce bottle Fats – Contrary to what you may believe, fats are an important component of any healthy diet and should make up 15 to 20% of your daily calories. Avoid polyunsaturated and saturated fats, instead opt for monounsaturated or the good fat. Bouncing Back from Breast Cancer: A Case Study Laura, always very health conscious, found a small lump in her breast and called for an appointment immediately. After a mammogram and an ultrasound of the breast (considered to be a more definitive testing type than the mammogram), the results were inconclusive. The only thing that the doctor could tell was that it was not a cyst or a fibroid, meaning that she had to have a biopsy done of her breast. After having the procedure done, the results revealed that she did have breast cancer, her biggest fear. She then had to wait several days to find out what stage the cancer was in and to find out what her treatment options were. Laura is typical of most breast cancer patients in that she had none of the risk factors. She was at the prescribed weight, she ate very little red meat, she took her vitamins, never smoked and had zero family history of breast cancer. She was current on all of her health exams and had gone for a comprehensive physical about three months before her diagnosis. While she is waiting for her treatment to start, Laura is encouraged by her doctor to eat well and to increase her protein intake slightly. While she wants to do this, she finds that she does not have a lot of appetite at this time, as she is too worried about the future that she is facing. She has found that Proasis, from Protica, is a good way to get increased protein without having to really concentrate on eating a full meal. Proasis is the first all-natural liquid supplement. It contains more protein per ounce than any of the leading protein beverages. It is also available in several different flavors, so Laura never gets bored taking it. Laura feels that the best part of using Proasis is that she can take it anywhere with her, since it comes in a container that she can easily carry around and is virtually unbreakable. Other great benefits of Proasis are that it is cholesterol free, preservative free, lactose free, free from fat, low in sodium and aspartame free.
About Protica Research
Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm specializing in the development of protein-rich, capsulized foods (dense nutrition in compact liquid and food forms). Protica manufactures Profect protein beverage, IsoMetric, Fruitasia and more than 100 other brands in its GMP-certified, 250,000 square foot facility. You can learn more about Protica at http://www.protica.com Copyright – Protica Research – http://www.protica.com
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