Do You Know Your Protein and What It Does For Your Body?

7 Ways to Stay Healthy This Fall

Basics of Human Digestion

The Role of the Small Intestine in Digestion

Getting Gout on the Run

Do You Know Your Protein and What It Does For Your Body?

7 Ways to Stay Healthy This Fall

Basics of Human Digestion

The Role of the Small Intestine in Digestion

Getting Gout on the Run

Do You Know Your Protein and What It Does For Your Body?

7 Ways to Stay Healthy This Fall

Basics of Human Digestion

The Role of the Small Intestine in Digestion

Getting Gout on the Run

Do You Know Your Protein and What It Does For Your Body?

7 Ways to Stay Healthy This Fall

Basics of Human Digestion

The Role of the Small Intestine in Digestion

Getting Gout on the Run

7 Ways to Stay Healthy This Fall

Basics of Human Digestion

The Role of the Small Intestine in Digestion

Getting Gout on the Run

Do You Know Your Protein and What It Does For Your Body?

You may ask why is protein good for me? Well, protein helps burn fat, helps in immune system function, helps build and support muscle system function in our own body composition, helps speed up metabolism, floods the entire body with almost all of the essential natural amino acids. However, protein is not just for building muscle, it plays an essential role in our body and helps build the nervous system. Protein has plenty of natural occurring vitamins. Essentially B Vitamins. Especially when it comes to lean red meat protein. The B Vitamins play an important role in the body's repair. Hair, skin, nails, nervous system, it helps with one's mood and stress levels. Protein is used by the body to repair, build, and maintain muscle. Protein is made up of many amino acids. However, our body cannot use the protein you ingest unless all of the right amino acids are present. The body itself can only produce some of these amino acids and others called the essential amino acids have to be gained from certain foods we eat. Some foods contain what is called complete protein. These are all the amino acids necessary to produce stable protein synthesis in our body. Examples of these foods are milk, eggs, meats, fish, and some vegetables. Below is a chart of proteins and percentages of what our body uses from them:FOOD % PROTEIN BY WEIGHT % NET PROTEIN UTILIZATION-Soybean Flour--- 42%--------------------------61%-Cheese ---- 24-35%--------------------------70%-Meat/Chicken/Turkey 19-32%------------------------ -68%-Fish---- 18-25%--------------------------80%-Eggs---- 12%--------------------------95%-Brown Rice---- 8%--------------------------70%-Milk---- 4%--------------------------82%The chart lets us know for example, that an egg contains 12% protein by weight yet, hold on! Because of the specific amino acids present in that protein 94% of it can be used by our body. Therefore the egg is a great source of protein. Soybean Flour is 42% protein. however, the makeup of that protein is such that the body is only able to use 61% of it. So, there is a big difference between how much protein a food contains and how much of that protein the body can actually use to function properly. Eggs are a such great source of high quality protein that they are used as a basis of comparison in rating the protein the quality of other foods, with eggs given an arbitrary value of 100%. Below is another food chart with protein ratings:FOOD PROTEIN RATINGSEggs 100%Fish 70%Milk 60%Lean Beef 69%Soy Milk/Soy Bean 47%Dry Beans 34%Whole Grain/Wheat 43%Brown Rice 57%White Rice 56%White Potato 34%Sweet Potato 30%As you can see from this list of foods like rice, potatoes and beans give you much less useable protein than eggs or fish because these foods lack one or more of the must needed essential amino acids that cannot satisfy the body's protein needs. You can however combine two or more sources of this low quality protein or "incomplete" protein to obtain high quality "complete" protein. Combining protein in this way is very useful to not only bodybuilders, but for everyone who wants to stay healthy, eating foods that are very low in calorie fat. Also, these complete proteins contain fewer calories than most incomplete protein sources. This can be a great advantage when you are trying to build maximum health.

7 Ways to Stay Healthy This Fall

I'm overjoyed that fall is here. It's my favorite time of year.Fall means pumpkins, mushrooms, apple cider, and soup. Some of my favorite foods.Fall can also mean colds, flu, and low energy.Is there a way to ward off such inconveniences? Well nothing is foolproof, but here are 7 suggestions to stay healthy this fall so you can enjoy all the festivities of corn mazes, apple picking, leaf peeping, pumpkin carving and football.Eat those apples (and other seasonal fruit). Apples have been shown to strengthen your immune system. Other seasonal fruits such as pomegranates and citrus also help you ward off fall illness by giving you a big boost of vitamin C and phytonutrients. Aim for 2-3 servings of these nutrient dense foods a day.Slow down. It seems like I've been going full-throttle lately. I know that for those with kids, the start of school is partial relief, partial stress creator. So as the air is turning colder, take some time out to relax and let your body renew. Even if it's just 10 minutes a day, sit in your favorite spot and watch the world go by. Maybe have a cup of herbal tea. Slow down and take in the crispness of autumn air.Part of slowing down is also getting your 8 hours of sleep a night. I know it's hard to get 8 hours during the long days of summer. The shorter days make fall the perfect time to start a habit of getting to bed earlier and recommitting to 8 hours of sleep a night.Get those fall greens. We often think of green for spring, but greens are also a perfect fall food. Greens grow better in the cooler weather, and are actually sweeter than when grown in the summer. So now is a perfect time to try kale or mustard greens, arugula or bok choi. Of course don't forget the broccoli and cauliflower.Wash up. One of the easiest ways for germs to spread is through hand-to-hand contact. You don't have to get excessive about it, but be sure to wash your hands, especially after you sneeze or if you are traveling with lots of people. Plain old soap and warm water do the trick; so don't waste your money on expensive hand sanitizers or antibacterial soaps or sprays.Spice it up. Spices have been used for centuries to boost your immune system. Try any of these spices to boost the flavor of your dishes, as well as strengthen your immune system. Turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, black pepper and more. For a wonderful relaxing drink that will help you slow down and boost your immune system at the same time, try some homemade chai - not the processed stuff with loads of sugar, but homemade goodness.Check out my recipe:In 10 ounces of water, boil the following: 4 whole black peppercorns, 4 whole green cardamom pods, 3 whole cloves, ½ stick cinnamon, ½ inch fresh ginger root. Let boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Then add ½ cup almond milk. Heat again, strain and enjoy.Try some herbs. Many tout the benefits of Echinacea, but I have a big fan of Astragulus. It can even be taken by those with auto-immune conditions because it is an adaptogen. That means it is thought to help protect the body against various stresses, including physical, mental, or emotional stress. Like many herbs, you don't want to take it forever. Instead, take it for week when you start feeling run down. Or if you're traveling, take it a few days before, during, and then a few days after your trip.Hang out with the Fun-Gi. Mushrooms are great for increasing your white blood cells - the cells responsible for fighting off illness. Whether sautéed, marinated or raw, mushrooms are amazing foods. While maitake and shitake are the most coveted for the immune boosting powers, according to Dr. Joel Fuhrman, your standard white button mushrooms have recently been shown to be pretty powerful immune boosters.Not sure how to add mushrooms to your diet? Try this easy and delicious recipe.A Fall Celebration Salad2-3 shitake mushrooms, cleaned, de-stemmed and sliced
juice of ½ lemon
1 tbl Bragg's amino acids
½ Asian pear, sliced thin
hand full of walnuts
hand full of dried cranberries (without sugar if you can find them)
2 cups mixed greensDressingJuice of 1 lemon
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp sea saltPlace sliced mushrooms in a glass bowl. Pour lemon juice and Bragg's over the mushrooms. Stir. Let sit for 20 minutes or longerWhisk together the dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over greens. Place greens on a plate. Evenly distribute marinated mushrooms, pear, walnuts and cranberries on each plate.Any other tips you like for staying healthy this fall?

Basics of Human Digestion

We all have a very good idea about digestion. Let's revisit the basics. Digestion is the process of separating out the nutrients from the food and absorbing them into our body.The human body is designed to keep up its normal functioning. In other words, the body tries to fight off sickness. Lots of under the hood activities happen inside the body to fight off sickness. Nutrients are needed for such maintenance. The body gets nutrition through the process of digestion.Digestion happens along the digestive tract. The human digestive tract is very much a long passageway. Digestion is a two-step process.First step is to crush the food into smallest possible particles. The aim is to expose the largest possible surface area of the food. This way the most amount of nutrition is available.Second step is to mix crushed food with digestive enzymes. These enzymes break down the complex nutrient molecules into simpler molecules. That way nutrient molecules are easily absorbed within the digestive tract wall. Later on, nutrients are transported into the bloodstream.The digestive tract has four main components. Mouth and throat are the first part of the digestive system. Esophagus joins the throat with the stomach. Esophagus along with stomach is the next part of the digestive tract. Small intestine, liver, pancreas and gall bladder form the hub of the digestive system.Main digestive activities take place in the small intestine with the help of enzymes from liver, pancreas and gall bladder. Last part of the digestive tract is the large intestine. Bacteria ferment the remaining food in the large intestine.Food is crushed and ground in the mouth with the help of teeth. Teeth are the hardest substance in the body. Strong jaw bones help crushing and grinding the food. The stomach has strong muscles, which vigorously churn and mix the food. Rhythmic muscular action - referred to as peristalsis - ensures that food keeps traveling along the digestive passageway.As you can imagine, it is easy to crush soft and moist food compared to hard and dry food. There is either saliva or mucus present all along the digestive tract. This keeps food soft and moist.There are different types of glands secreting different types of enzymes all along the digestive tract. Enzymes help the breakdown of protein, carbohydrates and fats in the food.One unique feature of digestive tract is that within the stomach and small intestine the internal lining has a fold like structure which provides for extra surface for nutrient absorption.On top of this fold like internal linings, there is hair like structure called villi. They give an extra absorption area in addition to the folds. This way digestive tract ensures that there is plenty of surface area and opportunities for nutrient absorption along the passageway.Muscular action keeps the food moving along the tract at the proper rate. Food should not get stuck along the path. As blockage would prevent nutrient absorption. Similarly if food passes too fast, the body would miss the chance at separating most amount of nutrition.There are control mechanisms for regulating the food flow. For example stomach can stop the pyloric valve (a valve between the stomach and small intestine) and act as a storage unit if it finds out that the small intestine is very busy with the digestive process.You might wonder what controls various processes, such as muscle movement and enzyme release. Autonomic nervous system controls most of the muscular movements and some of the enzyme release mechanisms. This means they are pretty much involuntary. One can not wish and stop the food moving through esophagus or intestine!The nervous system will decide what is the correct action for muscular movement. Presence or appearance of undigested food at various points along the digestive tract controls much of the enzymatic release. For example, the undigested protein in the stomach would trigger release of protein digesting enzymes in the stomach and small intestine.Enzymes also play a key role in conveying messages to the nervous system about when stomach is full and one should stop eating more. We should eat slowly and give enough time for this messaging to take place. That way we could receive natural stomach 'full' signals and voluntarily stop eating!As food passes along the digestive tract, it has different names. Chewed food in the mouth is called bolus. Bolus also travels through esophagus and reaches stomach. It is called chyme as it leaves the stomach. At this stage it is thoroughly mixed, partially digested and mixed with stomach acids and enzymes. By the time it reaches the end of the large intestine, it becomes feces.Our digestive tract is a very busy system. It is essential for our survival.

The Role of the Small Intestine in Digestion

The small intestine is the grand central of the digestive system. Most of the real digestive process happens here.Most of the protein, fat and carbohydrate breakdown happens within the small intestine. Most of the nutrient absorption also happens here. It is roughly 22 feet long, muscular tube that sits between the stomach and the large intestine.The small intestine connects to stomach through a muscle called the pylorus. This connection is the pyloric valve. Whenever small intestine is not busy with digestion, stomach releases chyme through the pyloric valve.Small intestine works with liver, pancreas and gallbladder for digestion. There are digestive enzymes that secrete within its wall. But the digestive enzymes from liver, gallbladder and pancreas are also delivered here to help with digestion.The liver sends bile to the gallbladder through the hepatic ducts for storage and concentration. Pancreas delivers pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine through the pancreatic duct. The gallbladder is connected to the pancreatic duct through the cystic duct and delivers concentrated bile.The small intestine has three major parts, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Duodenum is a Latin word and it means 12 fingers. It is about 10 inches long. Jejunum is also a Latin word and it mean empty at death. It is about 6 to 8 feet long. And the ileum is the last part, which could be up to 11 and a half feet long.Chyme is partially digested stomach content. Stomach squirts chyme into the duodenum - the first part of the small intestine. The liver and gallbladder deliver bile through ducts to the duodenum. Pancreas delivers a very complex mix of enzymes through the pancreatic duct into the duodenum.Pancreatic enzymes include alkalis such as bicarbonates, which neutralize the stomach acid. Besides alkalis, pancreas secretes 15 different enzymes that work on three major food components carbohydrates, fats and proteins.The enzymes in the small intestine carry out two stage enzymatic breakdown of the nutrients. Complex nutrient molecules are first decomposed into less complex molecules and later less complex molecules are broken into most basic forms.Bile salts emulsify large fat droplets and create an emulsion of tiny fat droplets. Thus increasing the surface area for enzyme action.Pancreatic amylase converts long chain carbohydrates like starch into disaccharides (two molecule sugars) - mainly maltose sugar. Pancreatic lipase works on small fat droplets and converts triglycerides into monoglycerides and fatty acids. The pancreatic protease enzyme breaks down protein into short chain peptide and amino acids.Remaining of the small intestine - jejunum and ileum - is the site for the last breakdown of the food and its absorption into the blood and lymphatic fluids. The bile and the pancreatic juices continue to work within jejunum and ileum, although intestinal wall also releases few enzymes.The enzymes work within the lining cells and on their surface. These enzymes include lactase and maltase, which work on disaccharide carbohydrates and convert them into simple sugars like glucose and galactose. Intestinal peptidases convert short peptide chains into their sub-units amino acids.This way, finally carbohydrates turn into simple sugars, the proteins turn into amino acids and fats turn to monoglycerides and fatty acids. These are the simplest form of molecules, easily absorbed into the blood stream.Finger-like villi of the small intestine lining give a large area for absorption of nutrients resulting from digestion. Through the surface of the villi, nutrients enter into the blood stream.

Getting Gout on the Run

Amongst other diseases which have been exponentially on the rise in the past few years, gout has bloomed in the past twenty years and continues to afflict people of all ages and both sexes. So, it's not a surprise if you're suffering from this disease-but it's definitely painful and very difficult to live with, not to mention that if left untreated, it can lead to heart disease, diabetes and even death. It is caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals in joints, particularly those of the feet, which leads to acute pain and swelling. Although it may start from the big toe, it can progress to the rest of the foot and even the knee.Home remedies for gout, at least in the early stages, can not only provide symptomatic relief, but also cure for gout. It's important to remember that when this form of arthritis affects multiple joints, one shouldn't rely on home remedies alone and, in consultation with your doctor, use them in conjunction with allopathic treatments. Nonetheless, there are a lot of people who put these home remedies to use and testify to their usefulness, and it's possible that they work in the same manner for you.A very popular and effective home remedy, which has been endorsed by health professionals as well, is that of fresh cherries. Both sour and sweet cherries are beneficial in curing gout as they contain anthocyanins, which are antioxidants and relieve the inflammation in the joints. You should go for fresh cherries, because canned or stored cherries are likely to negate the positive effects of their natural anthocyanins. Apples are also great for gout as they contain malic acid which combats with the build-up of uric acid in the joints. A less enjoyable remedy, which you'd probably not want to go for, is to consume juice of raw vegetables. Vegetables like beetroot, carrots and cucumbers are a great way to 'detox' the uric acid, and if you're up for it the juice should be consumed once a day. Other than fruits and vegetables, vitamin C should also be consumed as research shows that it is very important for lowering blood uric acid levels.Of course, where medication and home remedies might successfully get rid of your gout, they're no substitute for a healthy, safe lifestyle. There are many trigger foods and behaviors which should be avoided if you want to stay away from it, because it's no laughing matter. Generally, for gout it's important to maintain an ideal weight. Overweight people are a much higher risk for gout. However, one should not attempt to lose weight through very low-calorie diets or fasting, because both of those are equally contributive in uric acid levels. It's also important to consume a low-fat diet, with minimal meat and seafood as they contain high levels of purines which contribute to gout. Alcohol should also be avoided and consumed in moderation as it triggers high levels of uric acid which can then get deposited in the joints. With these little changes, you'll see a big difference in your health.

Do You Know Your Protein and What It Does For Your Body?

You may ask why is protein good for me? Well, protein helps burn fat, helps in immune system function, helps build and support muscle system function in our own body composition, helps speed up metabolism, floods the entire body with almost all of the essential natural amino acids. However, protein is not just for building muscle, it plays an essential role in our body and helps build the nervous system. Protein has plenty of natural occurring vitamins. Essentially B Vitamins. Especially when it comes to lean red meat protein. The B Vitamins play an important role in the body's repair. Hair, skin, nails, nervous system, it helps with one's mood and stress levels. Protein is used by the body to repair, build, and maintain muscle. Protein is made up of many amino acids. However, our body cannot use the protein you ingest unless all of the right amino acids are present. The body itself can only produce some of these amino acids and others called the essential amino acids have to be gained from certain foods we eat. Some foods contain what is called complete protein. These are all the amino acids necessary to produce stable protein synthesis in our body. Examples of these foods are milk, eggs, meats, fish, and some vegetables. Below is a chart of proteins and percentages of what our body uses from them:FOOD % PROTEIN BY WEIGHT % NET PROTEIN UTILIZATION-Soybean Flour--- 42%--------------------------61%-Cheese ---- 24-35%--------------------------70%-Meat/Chicken/Turkey 19-32%------------------------ -68%-Fish---- 18-25%--------------------------80%-Eggs---- 12%--------------------------95%-Brown Rice---- 8%--------------------------70%-Milk---- 4%--------------------------82%The chart lets us know for example, that an egg contains 12% protein by weight yet, hold on! Because of the specific amino acids present in that protein 94% of it can be used by our body. Therefore the egg is a great source of protein. Soybean Flour is 42% protein. however, the makeup of that protein is such that the body is only able to use 61% of it. So, there is a big difference between how much protein a food contains and how much of that protein the body can actually use to function properly. Eggs are a such great source of high quality protein that they are used as a basis of comparison in rating the protein the quality of other foods, with eggs given an arbitrary value of 100%. Below is another food chart with protein ratings:FOOD PROTEIN RATINGSEggs 100%Fish 70%Milk 60%Lean Beef 69%Soy Milk/Soy Bean 47%Dry Beans 34%Whole Grain/Wheat 43%Brown Rice 57%White Rice 56%White Potato 34%Sweet Potato 30%As you can see from this list of foods like rice, potatoes and beans give you much less useable protein than eggs or fish because these foods lack one or more of the must needed essential amino acids that cannot satisfy the body's protein needs. You can however combine two or more sources of this low quality protein or "incomplete" protein to obtain high quality "complete" protein. Combining protein in this way is very useful to not only bodybuilders, but for everyone who wants to stay healthy, eating foods that are very low in calorie fat. Also, these complete proteins contain fewer calories than most incomplete protein sources. This can be a great advantage when you are trying to build maximum health.

7 Ways to Stay Healthy This Fall

I'm overjoyed that fall is here. It's my favorite time of year.Fall means pumpkins, mushrooms, apple cider, and soup. Some of my favorite foods.Fall can also mean colds, flu, and low energy.Is there a way to ward off such inconveniences? Well nothing is foolproof, but here are 7 suggestions to stay healthy this fall so you can enjoy all the festivities of corn mazes, apple picking, leaf peeping, pumpkin carving and football.Eat those apples (and other seasonal fruit). Apples have been shown to strengthen your immune system. Other seasonal fruits such as pomegranates and citrus also help you ward off fall illness by giving you a big boost of vitamin C and phytonutrients. Aim for 2-3 servings of these nutrient dense foods a day.Slow down. It seems like I've been going full-throttle lately. I know that for those with kids, the start of school is partial relief, partial stress creator. So as the air is turning colder, take some time out to relax and let your body renew. Even if it's just 10 minutes a day, sit in your favorite spot and watch the world go by. Maybe have a cup of herbal tea. Slow down and take in the crispness of autumn air.Part of slowing down is also getting your 8 hours of sleep a night. I know it's hard to get 8 hours during the long days of summer. The shorter days make fall the perfect time to start a habit of getting to bed earlier and recommitting to 8 hours of sleep a night.Get those fall greens. We often think of green for spring, but greens are also a perfect fall food. Greens grow better in the cooler weather, and are actually sweeter than when grown in the summer. So now is a perfect time to try kale or mustard greens, arugula or bok choi. Of course don't forget the broccoli and cauliflower.Wash up. One of the easiest ways for germs to spread is through hand-to-hand contact. You don't have to get excessive about it, but be sure to wash your hands, especially after you sneeze or if you are traveling with lots of people. Plain old soap and warm water do the trick; so don't waste your money on expensive hand sanitizers or antibacterial soaps or sprays.Spice it up. Spices have been used for centuries to boost your immune system. Try any of these spices to boost the flavor of your dishes, as well as strengthen your immune system. Turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, black pepper and more. For a wonderful relaxing drink that will help you slow down and boost your immune system at the same time, try some homemade chai - not the processed stuff with loads of sugar, but homemade goodness.Check out my recipe:In 10 ounces of water, boil the following: 4 whole black peppercorns, 4 whole green cardamom pods, 3 whole cloves, ½ stick cinnamon, ½ inch fresh ginger root. Let boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Then add ½ cup almond milk. Heat again, strain and enjoy.Try some herbs. Many tout the benefits of Echinacea, but I have a big fan of Astragulus. It can even be taken by those with auto-immune conditions because it is an adaptogen. That means it is thought to help protect the body against various stresses, including physical, mental, or emotional stress. Like many herbs, you don't want to take it forever. Instead, take it for week when you start feeling run down. Or if you're traveling, take it a few days before, during, and then a few days after your trip.Hang out with the Fun-Gi. Mushrooms are great for increasing your white blood cells - the cells responsible for fighting off illness. Whether sautéed, marinated or raw, mushrooms are amazing foods. While maitake and shitake are the most coveted for the immune boosting powers, according to Dr. Joel Fuhrman, your standard white button mushrooms have recently been shown to be pretty powerful immune boosters.Not sure how to add mushrooms to your diet? Try this easy and delicious recipe.A Fall Celebration Salad2-3 shitake mushrooms, cleaned, de-stemmed and sliced
juice of ½ lemon
1 tbl Bragg's amino acids
½ Asian pear, sliced thin
hand full of walnuts
hand full of dried cranberries (without sugar if you can find them)
2 cups mixed greensDressingJuice of 1 lemon
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp sea saltPlace sliced mushrooms in a glass bowl. Pour lemon juice and Bragg's over the mushrooms. Stir. Let sit for 20 minutes or longerWhisk together the dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over greens. Place greens on a plate. Evenly distribute marinated mushrooms, pear, walnuts and cranberries on each plate.Any other tips you like for staying healthy this fall?

Basics of Human Digestion

We all have a very good idea about digestion. Let's revisit the basics. Digestion is the process of separating out the nutrients from the food and absorbing them into our body.The human body is designed to keep up its normal functioning. In other words, the body tries to fight off sickness. Lots of under the hood activities happen inside the body to fight off sickness. Nutrients are needed for such maintenance. The body gets nutrition through the process of digestion.Digestion happens along the digestive tract. The human digestive tract is very much a long passageway. Digestion is a two-step process.First step is to crush the food into smallest possible particles. The aim is to expose the largest possible surface area of the food. This way the most amount of nutrition is available.Second step is to mix crushed food with digestive enzymes. These enzymes break down the complex nutrient molecules into simpler molecules. That way nutrient molecules are easily absorbed within the digestive tract wall. Later on, nutrients are transported into the bloodstream.The digestive tract has four main components. Mouth and throat are the first part of the digestive system. Esophagus joins the throat with the stomach. Esophagus along with stomach is the next part of the digestive tract. Small intestine, liver, pancreas and gall bladder form the hub of the digestive system.Main digestive activities take place in the small intestine with the help of enzymes from liver, pancreas and gall bladder. Last part of the digestive tract is the large intestine. Bacteria ferment the remaining food in the large intestine.Food is crushed and ground in the mouth with the help of teeth. Teeth are the hardest substance in the body. Strong jaw bones help crushing and grinding the food. The stomach has strong muscles, which vigorously churn and mix the food. Rhythmic muscular action - referred to as peristalsis - ensures that food keeps traveling along the digestive passageway.As you can imagine, it is easy to crush soft and moist food compared to hard and dry food. There is either saliva or mucus present all along the digestive tract. This keeps food soft and moist.There are different types of glands secreting different types of enzymes all along the digestive tract. Enzymes help the breakdown of protein, carbohydrates and fats in the food.One unique feature of digestive tract is that within the stomach and small intestine the internal lining has a fold like structure which provides for extra surface for nutrient absorption.On top of this fold like internal linings, there is hair like structure called villi. They give an extra absorption area in addition to the folds. This way digestive tract ensures that there is plenty of surface area and opportunities for nutrient absorption along the passageway.Muscular action keeps the food moving along the tract at the proper rate. Food should not get stuck along the path. As blockage would prevent nutrient absorption. Similarly if food passes too fast, the body would miss the chance at separating most amount of nutrition.There are control mechanisms for regulating the food flow. For example stomach can stop the pyloric valve (a valve between the stomach and small intestine) and act as a storage unit if it finds out that the small intestine is very busy with the digestive process.You might wonder what controls various processes, such as muscle movement and enzyme release. Autonomic nervous system controls most of the muscular movements and some of the enzyme release mechanisms. This means they are pretty much involuntary. One can not wish and stop the food moving through esophagus or intestine!The nervous system will decide what is the correct action for muscular movement. Presence or appearance of undigested food at various points along the digestive tract controls much of the enzymatic release. For example, the undigested protein in the stomach would trigger release of protein digesting enzymes in the stomach and small intestine.Enzymes also play a key role in conveying messages to the nervous system about when stomach is full and one should stop eating more. We should eat slowly and give enough time for this messaging to take place. That way we could receive natural stomach 'full' signals and voluntarily stop eating!As food passes along the digestive tract, it has different names. Chewed food in the mouth is called bolus. Bolus also travels through esophagus and reaches stomach. It is called chyme as it leaves the stomach. At this stage it is thoroughly mixed, partially digested and mixed with stomach acids and enzymes. By the time it reaches the end of the large intestine, it becomes feces.Our digestive tract is a very busy system. It is essential for our survival.

The Role of the Small Intestine in Digestion

The small intestine is the grand central of the digestive system. Most of the real digestive process happens here.Most of the protein, fat and carbohydrate breakdown happens within the small intestine. Most of the nutrient absorption also happens here. It is roughly 22 feet long, muscular tube that sits between the stomach and the large intestine.The small intestine connects to stomach through a muscle called the pylorus. This connection is the pyloric valve. Whenever small intestine is not busy with digestion, stomach releases chyme through the pyloric valve.Small intestine works with liver, pancreas and gallbladder for digestion. There are digestive enzymes that secrete within its wall. But the digestive enzymes from liver, gallbladder and pancreas are also delivered here to help with digestion.The liver sends bile to the gallbladder through the hepatic ducts for storage and concentration. Pancreas delivers pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine through the pancreatic duct. The gallbladder is connected to the pancreatic duct through the cystic duct and delivers concentrated bile.The small intestine has three major parts, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Duodenum is a Latin word and it means 12 fingers. It is about 10 inches long. Jejunum is also a Latin word and it mean empty at death. It is about 6 to 8 feet long. And the ileum is the last part, which could be up to 11 and a half feet long.Chyme is partially digested stomach content. Stomach squirts chyme into the duodenum - the first part of the small intestine. The liver and gallbladder deliver bile through ducts to the duodenum. Pancreas delivers a very complex mix of enzymes through the pancreatic duct into the duodenum.Pancreatic enzymes include alkalis such as bicarbonates, which neutralize the stomach acid. Besides alkalis, pancreas secretes 15 different enzymes that work on three major food components carbohydrates, fats and proteins.The enzymes in the small intestine carry out two stage enzymatic breakdown of the nutrients. Complex nutrient molecules are first decomposed into less complex molecules and later less complex molecules are broken into most basic forms.Bile salts emulsify large fat droplets and create an emulsion of tiny fat droplets. Thus increasing the surface area for enzyme action.Pancreatic amylase converts long chain carbohydrates like starch into disaccharides (two molecule sugars) - mainly maltose sugar. Pancreatic lipase works on small fat droplets and converts triglycerides into monoglycerides and fatty acids. The pancreatic protease enzyme breaks down protein into short chain peptide and amino acids.Remaining of the small intestine - jejunum and ileum - is the site for the last breakdown of the food and its absorption into the blood and lymphatic fluids. The bile and the pancreatic juices continue to work within jejunum and ileum, although intestinal wall also releases few enzymes.The enzymes work within the lining cells and on their surface. These enzymes include lactase and maltase, which work on disaccharide carbohydrates and convert them into simple sugars like glucose and galactose. Intestinal peptidases convert short peptide chains into their sub-units amino acids.This way, finally carbohydrates turn into simple sugars, the proteins turn into amino acids and fats turn to monoglycerides and fatty acids. These are the simplest form of molecules, easily absorbed into the blood stream.Finger-like villi of the small intestine lining give a large area for absorption of nutrients resulting from digestion. Through the surface of the villi, nutrients enter into the blood stream.

Getting Gout on the Run

Amongst other diseases which have been exponentially on the rise in the past few years, gout has bloomed in the past twenty years and continues to afflict people of all ages and both sexes. So, it's not a surprise if you're suffering from this disease-but it's definitely painful and very difficult to live with, not to mention that if left untreated, it can lead to heart disease, diabetes and even death. It is caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals in joints, particularly those of the feet, which leads to acute pain and swelling. Although it may start from the big toe, it can progress to the rest of the foot and even the knee.Home remedies for gout, at least in the early stages, can not only provide symptomatic relief, but also cure for gout. It's important to remember that when this form of arthritis affects multiple joints, one shouldn't rely on home remedies alone and, in consultation with your doctor, use them in conjunction with allopathic treatments. Nonetheless, there are a lot of people who put these home remedies to use and testify to their usefulness, and it's possible that they work in the same manner for you.A very popular and effective home remedy, which has been endorsed by health professionals as well, is that of fresh cherries. Both sour and sweet cherries are beneficial in curing gout as they contain anthocyanins, which are antioxidants and relieve the inflammation in the joints. You should go for fresh cherries, because canned or stored cherries are likely to negate the positive effects of their natural anthocyanins. Apples are also great for gout as they contain malic acid which combats with the build-up of uric acid in the joints. A less enjoyable remedy, which you'd probably not want to go for, is to consume juice of raw vegetables. Vegetables like beetroot, carrots and cucumbers are a great way to 'detox' the uric acid, and if you're up for it the juice should be consumed once a day. Other than fruits and vegetables, vitamin C should also be consumed as research shows that it is very important for lowering blood uric acid levels.Of course, where medication and home remedies might successfully get rid of your gout, they're no substitute for a healthy, safe lifestyle. There are many trigger foods and behaviors which should be avoided if you want to stay away from it, because it's no laughing matter. Generally, for gout it's important to maintain an ideal weight. Overweight people are a much higher risk for gout. However, one should not attempt to lose weight through very low-calorie diets or fasting, because both of those are equally contributive in uric acid levels. It's also important to consume a low-fat diet, with minimal meat and seafood as they contain high levels of purines which contribute to gout. Alcohol should also be avoided and consumed in moderation as it triggers high levels of uric acid which can then get deposited in the joints. With these little changes, you'll see a big difference in your health.

Do You Know Your Protein and What It Does For Your Body?

You may ask why is protein good for me? Well, protein helps burn fat, helps in immune system function, helps build and support muscle system function in our own body composition, helps speed up metabolism, floods the entire body with almost all of the essential natural amino acids. However, protein is not just for building muscle, it plays an essential role in our body and helps build the nervous system. Protein has plenty of natural occurring vitamins. Essentially B Vitamins. Especially when it comes to lean red meat protein. The B Vitamins play an important role in the body's repair. Hair, skin, nails, nervous system, it helps with one's mood and stress levels. Protein is used by the body to repair, build, and maintain muscle. Protein is made up of many amino acids. However, our body cannot use the protein you ingest unless all of the right amino acids are present. The body itself can only produce some of these amino acids and others called the essential amino acids have to be gained from certain foods we eat. Some foods contain what is called complete protein. These are all the amino acids necessary to produce stable protein synthesis in our body. Examples of these foods are milk, eggs, meats, fish, and some vegetables. Below is a chart of proteins and percentages of what our body uses from them:FOOD % PROTEIN BY WEIGHT % NET PROTEIN UTILIZATION-Soybean Flour--- 42%--------------------------61%-Cheese ---- 24-35%--------------------------70%-Meat/Chicken/Turkey 19-32%------------------------ -68%-Fish---- 18-25%--------------------------80%-Eggs---- 12%--------------------------95%-Brown Rice---- 8%--------------------------70%-Milk---- 4%--------------------------82%The chart lets us know for example, that an egg contains 12% protein by weight yet, hold on! Because of the specific amino acids present in that protein 94% of it can be used by our body. Therefore the egg is a great source of protein. Soybean Flour is 42% protein. however, the makeup of that protein is such that the body is only able to use 61% of it. So, there is a big difference between how much protein a food contains and how much of that protein the body can actually use to function properly. Eggs are a such great source of high quality protein that they are used as a basis of comparison in rating the protein the quality of other foods, with eggs given an arbitrary value of 100%. Below is another food chart with protein ratings:FOOD PROTEIN RATINGSEggs 100%Fish 70%Milk 60%Lean Beef 69%Soy Milk/Soy Bean 47%Dry Beans 34%Whole Grain/Wheat 43%Brown Rice 57%White Rice 56%White Potato 34%Sweet Potato 30%As you can see from this list of foods like rice, potatoes and beans give you much less useable protein than eggs or fish because these foods lack one or more of the must needed essential amino acids that cannot satisfy the body's protein needs. You can however combine two or more sources of this low quality protein or "incomplete" protein to obtain high quality "complete" protein. Combining protein in this way is very useful to not only bodybuilders, but for everyone who wants to stay healthy, eating foods that are very low in calorie fat. Also, these complete proteins contain fewer calories than most incomplete protein sources. This can be a great advantage when you are trying to build maximum health.

7 Ways to Stay Healthy This Fall

I'm overjoyed that fall is here. It's my favorite time of year.Fall means pumpkins, mushrooms, apple cider, and soup. Some of my favorite foods.Fall can also mean colds, flu, and low energy.Is there a way to ward off such inconveniences? Well nothing is foolproof, but here are 7 suggestions to stay healthy this fall so you can enjoy all the festivities of corn mazes, apple picking, leaf peeping, pumpkin carving and football.Eat those apples (and other seasonal fruit). Apples have been shown to strengthen your immune system. Other seasonal fruits such as pomegranates and citrus also help you ward off fall illness by giving you a big boost of vitamin C and phytonutrients. Aim for 2-3 servings of these nutrient dense foods a day.Slow down. It seems like I've been going full-throttle lately. I know that for those with kids, the start of school is partial relief, partial stress creator. So as the air is turning colder, take some time out to relax and let your body renew. Even if it's just 10 minutes a day, sit in your favorite spot and watch the world go by. Maybe have a cup of herbal tea. Slow down and take in the crispness of autumn air.Part of slowing down is also getting your 8 hours of sleep a night. I know it's hard to get 8 hours during the long days of summer. The shorter days make fall the perfect time to start a habit of getting to bed earlier and recommitting to 8 hours of sleep a night.Get those fall greens. We often think of green for spring, but greens are also a perfect fall food. Greens grow better in the cooler weather, and are actually sweeter than when grown in the summer. So now is a perfect time to try kale or mustard greens, arugula or bok choi. Of course don't forget the broccoli and cauliflower.Wash up. One of the easiest ways for germs to spread is through hand-to-hand contact. You don't have to get excessive about it, but be sure to wash your hands, especially after you sneeze or if you are traveling with lots of people. Plain old soap and warm water do the trick; so don't waste your money on expensive hand sanitizers or antibacterial soaps or sprays.Spice it up. Spices have been used for centuries to boost your immune system. Try any of these spices to boost the flavor of your dishes, as well as strengthen your immune system. Turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, black pepper and more. For a wonderful relaxing drink that will help you slow down and boost your immune system at the same time, try some homemade chai - not the processed stuff with loads of sugar, but homemade goodness.Check out my recipe:In 10 ounces of water, boil the following: 4 whole black peppercorns, 4 whole green cardamom pods, 3 whole cloves, ½ stick cinnamon, ½ inch fresh ginger root. Let boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Then add ½ cup almond milk. Heat again, strain and enjoy.Try some herbs. Many tout the benefits of Echinacea, but I have a big fan of Astragulus. It can even be taken by those with auto-immune conditions because it is an adaptogen. That means it is thought to help protect the body against various stresses, including physical, mental, or emotional stress. Like many herbs, you don't want to take it forever. Instead, take it for week when you start feeling run down. Or if you're traveling, take it a few days before, during, and then a few days after your trip.Hang out with the Fun-Gi. Mushrooms are great for increasing your white blood cells - the cells responsible for fighting off illness. Whether sautéed, marinated or raw, mushrooms are amazing foods. While maitake and shitake are the most coveted for the immune boosting powers, according to Dr. Joel Fuhrman, your standard white button mushrooms have recently been shown to be pretty powerful immune boosters.Not sure how to add mushrooms to your diet? Try this easy and delicious recipe.A Fall Celebration Salad2-3 shitake mushrooms, cleaned, de-stemmed and sliced
juice of ½ lemon
1 tbl Bragg's amino acids
½ Asian pear, sliced thin
hand full of walnuts
hand full of dried cranberries (without sugar if you can find them)
2 cups mixed greensDressingJuice of 1 lemon
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp sea saltPlace sliced mushrooms in a glass bowl. Pour lemon juice and Bragg's over the mushrooms. Stir. Let sit for 20 minutes or longerWhisk together the dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over greens. Place greens on a plate. Evenly distribute marinated mushrooms, pear, walnuts and cranberries on each plate.Any other tips you like for staying healthy this fall?

Basics of Human Digestion

We all have a very good idea about digestion. Let's revisit the basics. Digestion is the process of separating out the nutrients from the food and absorbing them into our body.The human body is designed to keep up its normal functioning. In other words, the body tries to fight off sickness. Lots of under the hood activities happen inside the body to fight off sickness. Nutrients are needed for such maintenance. The body gets nutrition through the process of digestion.Digestion happens along the digestive tract. The human digestive tract is very much a long passageway. Digestion is a two-step process.First step is to crush the food into smallest possible particles. The aim is to expose the largest possible surface area of the food. This way the most amount of nutrition is available.Second step is to mix crushed food with digestive enzymes. These enzymes break down the complex nutrient molecules into simpler molecules. That way nutrient molecules are easily absorbed within the digestive tract wall. Later on, nutrients are transported into the bloodstream.The digestive tract has four main components. Mouth and throat are the first part of the digestive system. Esophagus joins the throat with the stomach. Esophagus along with stomach is the next part of the digestive tract. Small intestine, liver, pancreas and gall bladder form the hub of the digestive system.Main digestive activities take place in the small intestine with the help of enzymes from liver, pancreas and gall bladder. Last part of the digestive tract is the large intestine. Bacteria ferment the remaining food in the large intestine.Food is crushed and ground in the mouth with the help of teeth. Teeth are the hardest substance in the body. Strong jaw bones help crushing and grinding the food. The stomach has strong muscles, which vigorously churn and mix the food. Rhythmic muscular action - referred to as peristalsis - ensures that food keeps traveling along the digestive passageway.As you can imagine, it is easy to crush soft and moist food compared to hard and dry food. There is either saliva or mucus present all along the digestive tract. This keeps food soft and moist.There are different types of glands secreting different types of enzymes all along the digestive tract. Enzymes help the breakdown of protein, carbohydrates and fats in the food.One unique feature of digestive tract is that within the stomach and small intestine the internal lining has a fold like structure which provides for extra surface for nutrient absorption.On top of this fold like internal linings, there is hair like structure called villi. They give an extra absorption area in addition to the folds. This way digestive tract ensures that there is plenty of surface area and opportunities for nutrient absorption along the passageway.Muscular action keeps the food moving along the tract at the proper rate. Food should not get stuck along the path. As blockage would prevent nutrient absorption. Similarly if food passes too fast, the body would miss the chance at separating most amount of nutrition.There are control mechanisms for regulating the food flow. For example stomach can stop the pyloric valve (a valve between the stomach and small intestine) and act as a storage unit if it finds out that the small intestine is very busy with the digestive process.You might wonder what controls various processes, such as muscle movement and enzyme release. Autonomic nervous system controls most of the muscular movements and some of the enzyme release mechanisms. This means they are pretty much involuntary. One can not wish and stop the food moving through esophagus or intestine!The nervous system will decide what is the correct action for muscular movement. Presence or appearance of undigested food at various points along the digestive tract controls much of the enzymatic release. For example, the undigested protein in the stomach would trigger release of protein digesting enzymes in the stomach and small intestine.Enzymes also play a key role in conveying messages to the nervous system about when stomach is full and one should stop eating more. We should eat slowly and give enough time for this messaging to take place. That way we could receive natural stomach 'full' signals and voluntarily stop eating!As food passes along the digestive tract, it has different names. Chewed food in the mouth is called bolus. Bolus also travels through esophagus and reaches stomach. It is called chyme as it leaves the stomach. At this stage it is thoroughly mixed, partially digested and mixed with stomach acids and enzymes. By the time it reaches the end of the large intestine, it becomes feces.Our digestive tract is a very busy system. It is essential for our survival.

The Role of the Small Intestine in Digestion

The small intestine is the grand central of the digestive system. Most of the real digestive process happens here.Most of the protein, fat and carbohydrate breakdown happens within the small intestine. Most of the nutrient absorption also happens here. It is roughly 22 feet long, muscular tube that sits between the stomach and the large intestine.The small intestine connects to stomach through a muscle called the pylorus. This connection is the pyloric valve. Whenever small intestine is not busy with digestion, stomach releases chyme through the pyloric valve.Small intestine works with liver, pancreas and gallbladder for digestion. There are digestive enzymes that secrete within its wall. But the digestive enzymes from liver, gallbladder and pancreas are also delivered here to help with digestion.The liver sends bile to the gallbladder through the hepatic ducts for storage and concentration. Pancreas delivers pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine through the pancreatic duct. The gallbladder is connected to the pancreatic duct through the cystic duct and delivers concentrated bile.The small intestine has three major parts, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Duodenum is a Latin word and it means 12 fingers. It is about 10 inches long. Jejunum is also a Latin word and it mean empty at death. It is about 6 to 8 feet long. And the ileum is the last part, which could be up to 11 and a half feet long.Chyme is partially digested stomach content. Stomach squirts chyme into the duodenum - the first part of the small intestine. The liver and gallbladder deliver bile through ducts to the duodenum. Pancreas delivers a very complex mix of enzymes through the pancreatic duct into the duodenum.Pancreatic enzymes include alkalis such as bicarbonates, which neutralize the stomach acid. Besides alkalis, pancreas secretes 15 different enzymes that work on three major food components carbohydrates, fats and proteins.The enzymes in the small intestine carry out two stage enzymatic breakdown of the nutrients. Complex nutrient molecules are first decomposed into less complex molecules and later less complex molecules are broken into most basic forms.Bile salts emulsify large fat droplets and create an emulsion of tiny fat droplets. Thus increasing the surface area for enzyme action.Pancreatic amylase converts long chain carbohydrates like starch into disaccharides (two molecule sugars) - mainly maltose sugar. Pancreatic lipase works on small fat droplets and converts triglycerides into monoglycerides and fatty acids. The pancreatic protease enzyme breaks down protein into short chain peptide and amino acids.Remaining of the small intestine - jejunum and ileum - is the site for the last breakdown of the food and its absorption into the blood and lymphatic fluids. The bile and the pancreatic juices continue to work within jejunum and ileum, although intestinal wall also releases few enzymes.The enzymes work within the lining cells and on their surface. These enzymes include lactase and maltase, which work on disaccharide carbohydrates and convert them into simple sugars like glucose and galactose. Intestinal peptidases convert short peptide chains into their sub-units amino acids.This way, finally carbohydrates turn into simple sugars, the proteins turn into amino acids and fats turn to monoglycerides and fatty acids. These are the simplest form of molecules, easily absorbed into the blood stream.Finger-like villi of the small intestine lining give a large area for absorption of nutrients resulting from digestion. Through the surface of the villi, nutrients enter into the blood stream.

Getting Gout on the Run

Amongst other diseases which have been exponentially on the rise in the past few years, gout has bloomed in the past twenty years and continues to afflict people of all ages and both sexes. So, it's not a surprise if you're suffering from this disease-but it's definitely painful and very difficult to live with, not to mention that if left untreated, it can lead to heart disease, diabetes and even death. It is caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals in joints, particularly those of the feet, which leads to acute pain and swelling. Although it may start from the big toe, it can progress to the rest of the foot and even the knee.Home remedies for gout, at least in the early stages, can not only provide symptomatic relief, but also cure for gout. It's important to remember that when this form of arthritis affects multiple joints, one shouldn't rely on home remedies alone and, in consultation with your doctor, use them in conjunction with allopathic treatments. Nonetheless, there are a lot of people who put these home remedies to use and testify to their usefulness, and it's possible that they work in the same manner for you.A very popular and effective home remedy, which has been endorsed by health professionals as well, is that of fresh cherries. Both sour and sweet cherries are beneficial in curing gout as they contain anthocyanins, which are antioxidants and relieve the inflammation in the joints. You should go for fresh cherries, because canned or stored cherries are likely to negate the positive effects of their natural anthocyanins. Apples are also great for gout as they contain malic acid which combats with the build-up of uric acid in the joints. A less enjoyable remedy, which you'd probably not want to go for, is to consume juice of raw vegetables. Vegetables like beetroot, carrots and cucumbers are a great way to 'detox' the uric acid, and if you're up for it the juice should be consumed once a day. Other than fruits and vegetables, vitamin C should also be consumed as research shows that it is very important for lowering blood uric acid levels.Of course, where medication and home remedies might successfully get rid of your gout, they're no substitute for a healthy, safe lifestyle. There are many trigger foods and behaviors which should be avoided if you want to stay away from it, because it's no laughing matter. Generally, for gout it's important to maintain an ideal weight. Overweight people are a much higher risk for gout. However, one should not attempt to lose weight through very low-calorie diets or fasting, because both of those are equally contributive in uric acid levels. It's also important to consume a low-fat diet, with minimal meat and seafood as they contain high levels of purines which contribute to gout. Alcohol should also be avoided and consumed in moderation as it triggers high levels of uric acid which can then get deposited in the joints. With these little changes, you'll see a big difference in your health.

Basics of Human Digestion

We all have a very good idea about digestion. Let's revisit the basics. Digestion is the process of separating out the nutrients from the food and absorbing them into our body.The human body is designed to keep up its normal functioning. In other words, the body tries to fight off sickness. Lots of under the hood activities happen inside the body to fight off sickness. Nutrients are needed for such maintenance. The body gets nutrition through the process of digestion.Digestion happens along the digestive tract. The human digestive tract is very much a long passageway. Digestion is a two-step process.First step is to crush the food into smallest possible particles. The aim is to expose the largest possible surface area of the food. This way the most amount of nutrition is available.Second step is to mix crushed food with digestive enzymes. These enzymes break down the complex nutrient molecules into simpler molecules. That way nutrient molecules are easily absorbed within the digestive tract wall. Later on, nutrients are transported into the bloodstream.The digestive tract has four main components. Mouth and throat are the first part of the digestive system. Esophagus joins the throat with the stomach. Esophagus along with stomach is the next part of the digestive tract. Small intestine, liver, pancreas and gall bladder form the hub of the digestive system.Main digestive activities take place in the small intestine with the help of enzymes from liver, pancreas and gall bladder. Last part of the digestive tract is the large intestine. Bacteria ferment the remaining food in the large intestine.Food is crushed and ground in the mouth with the help of teeth. Teeth are the hardest substance in the body. Strong jaw bones help crushing and grinding the food. The stomach has strong muscles, which vigorously churn and mix the food. Rhythmic muscular action - referred to as peristalsis - ensures that food keeps traveling along the digestive passageway.As you can imagine, it is easy to crush soft and moist food compared to hard and dry food. There is either saliva or mucus present all along the digestive tract. This keeps food soft and moist.There are different types of glands secreting different types of enzymes all along the digestive tract. Enzymes help the breakdown of protein, carbohydrates and fats in the food.One unique feature of digestive tract is that within the stomach and small intestine the internal lining has a fold like structure which provides for extra surface for nutrient absorption.On top of this fold like internal linings, there is hair like structure called villi. They give an extra absorption area in addition to the folds. This way digestive tract ensures that there is plenty of surface area and opportunities for nutrient absorption along the passageway.Muscular action keeps the food moving along the tract at the proper rate. Food should not get stuck along the path. As blockage would prevent nutrient absorption. Similarly if food passes too fast, the body would miss the chance at separating most amount of nutrition.There are control mechanisms for regulating the food flow. For example stomach can stop the pyloric valve (a valve between the stomach and small intestine) and act as a storage unit if it finds out that the small intestine is very busy with the digestive process.You might wonder what controls various processes, such as muscle movement and enzyme release. Autonomic nervous system controls most of the muscular movements and some of the enzyme release mechanisms. This means they are pretty much involuntary. One can not wish and stop the food moving through esophagus or intestine!The nervous system will decide what is the correct action for muscular movement. Presence or appearance of undigested food at various points along the digestive tract controls much of the enzymatic release. For example, the undigested protein in the stomach would trigger release of protein digesting enzymes in the stomach and small intestine.Enzymes also play a key role in conveying messages to the nervous system about when stomach is full and one should stop eating more. We should eat slowly and give enough time for this messaging to take place. That way we could receive natural stomach 'full' signals and voluntarily stop eating!As food passes along the digestive tract, it has different names. Chewed food in the mouth is called bolus. Bolus also travels through esophagus and reaches stomach. It is called chyme as it leaves the stomach. At this stage it is thoroughly mixed, partially digested and mixed with stomach acids and enzymes. By the time it reaches the end of the large intestine, it becomes feces.Our digestive tract is a very busy system. It is essential for our survival.

The Role of the Small Intestine in Digestion

The small intestine is the grand central of the digestive system. Most of the real digestive process happens here.Most of the protein, fat and carbohydrate breakdown happens within the small intestine. Most of the nutrient absorption also happens here. It is roughly 22 feet long, muscular tube that sits between the stomach and the large intestine.The small intestine connects to stomach through a muscle called the pylorus. This connection is the pyloric valve. Whenever small intestine is not busy with digestion, stomach releases chyme through the pyloric valve.Small intestine works with liver, pancreas and gallbladder for digestion. There are digestive enzymes that secrete within its wall. But the digestive enzymes from liver, gallbladder and pancreas are also delivered here to help with digestion.The liver sends bile to the gallbladder through the hepatic ducts for storage and concentration. Pancreas delivers pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine through the pancreatic duct. The gallbladder is connected to the pancreatic duct through the cystic duct and delivers concentrated bile.The small intestine has three major parts, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Duodenum is a Latin word and it means 12 fingers. It is about 10 inches long. Jejunum is also a Latin word and it mean empty at death. It is about 6 to 8 feet long. And the ileum is the last part, which could be up to 11 and a half feet long.Chyme is partially digested stomach content. Stomach squirts chyme into the duodenum - the first part of the small intestine. The liver and gallbladder deliver bile through ducts to the duodenum. Pancreas delivers a very complex mix of enzymes through the pancreatic duct into the duodenum.Pancreatic enzymes include alkalis such as bicarbonates, which neutralize the stomach acid. Besides alkalis, pancreas secretes 15 different enzymes that work on three major food components carbohydrates, fats and proteins.The enzymes in the small intestine carry out two stage enzymatic breakdown of the nutrients. Complex nutrient molecules are first decomposed into less complex molecules and later less complex molecules are broken into most basic forms.Bile salts emulsify large fat droplets and create an emulsion of tiny fat droplets. Thus increasing the surface area for enzyme action.Pancreatic amylase converts long chain carbohydrates like starch into disaccharides (two molecule sugars) - mainly maltose sugar. Pancreatic lipase works on small fat droplets and converts triglycerides into monoglycerides and fatty acids. The pancreatic protease enzyme breaks down protein into short chain peptide and amino acids.Remaining of the small intestine - jejunum and ileum - is the site for the last breakdown of the food and its absorption into the blood and lymphatic fluids. The bile and the pancreatic juices continue to work within jejunum and ileum, although intestinal wall also releases few enzymes.The enzymes work within the lining cells and on their surface. These enzymes include lactase and maltase, which work on disaccharide carbohydrates and convert them into simple sugars like glucose and galactose. Intestinal peptidases convert short peptide chains into their sub-units amino acids.This way, finally carbohydrates turn into simple sugars, the proteins turn into amino acids and fats turn to monoglycerides and fatty acids. These are the simplest form of molecules, easily absorbed into the blood stream.Finger-like villi of the small intestine lining give a large area for absorption of nutrients resulting from digestion. Through the surface of the villi, nutrients enter into the blood stream.

Getting Gout on the Run

Amongst other diseases which have been exponentially on the rise in the past few years, gout has bloomed in the past twenty years and continues to afflict people of all ages and both sexes. So, it's not a surprise if you're suffering from this disease-but it's definitely painful and very difficult to live with, not to mention that if left untreated, it can lead to heart disease, diabetes and even death. It is caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals in joints, particularly those of the feet, which leads to acute pain and swelling. Although it may start from the big toe, it can progress to the rest of the foot and even the knee.Home remedies for gout, at least in the early stages, can not only provide symptomatic relief, but also cure for gout. It's important to remember that when this form of arthritis affects multiple joints, one shouldn't rely on home remedies alone and, in consultation with your doctor, use them in conjunction with allopathic treatments. Nonetheless, there are a lot of people who put these home remedies to use and testify to their usefulness, and it's possible that they work in the same manner for you.A very popular and effective home remedy, which has been endorsed by health professionals as well, is that of fresh cherries. Both sour and sweet cherries are beneficial in curing gout as they contain anthocyanins, which are antioxidants and relieve the inflammation in the joints. You should go for fresh cherries, because canned or stored cherries are likely to negate the positive effects of their natural anthocyanins. Apples are also great for gout as they contain malic acid which combats with the build-up of uric acid in the joints. A less enjoyable remedy, which you'd probably not want to go for, is to consume juice of raw vegetables. Vegetables like beetroot, carrots and cucumbers are a great way to 'detox' the uric acid, and if you're up for it the juice should be consumed once a day. Other than fruits and vegetables, vitamin C should also be consumed as research shows that it is very important for lowering blood uric acid levels.Of course, where medication and home remedies might successfully get rid of your gout, they're no substitute for a healthy, safe lifestyle. There are many trigger foods and behaviors which should be avoided if you want to stay away from it, because it's no laughing matter. Generally, for gout it's important to maintain an ideal weight. Overweight people are a much higher risk for gout. However, one should not attempt to lose weight through very low-calorie diets or fasting, because both of those are equally contributive in uric acid levels. It's also important to consume a low-fat diet, with minimal meat and seafood as they contain high levels of purines which contribute to gout. Alcohol should also be avoided and consumed in moderation as it triggers high levels of uric acid which can then get deposited in the joints. With these little changes, you'll see a big difference in your health.

Do You Know Your Protein and What It Does For Your Body?

You may ask why is protein good for me? Well, protein helps burn fat, helps in immune system function, helps build and support muscle system function in our own body composition, helps speed up metabolism, floods the entire body with almost all of the essential natural amino acids. However, protein is not just for building muscle, it plays an essential role in our body and helps build the nervous system. Protein has plenty of natural occurring vitamins. Essentially B Vitamins. Especially when it comes to lean red meat protein. The B Vitamins play an important role in the body's repair. Hair, skin, nails, nervous system, it helps with one's mood and stress levels. Protein is used by the body to repair, build, and maintain muscle. Protein is made up of many amino acids. However, our body cannot use the protein you ingest unless all of the right amino acids are present. The body itself can only produce some of these amino acids and others called the essential amino acids have to be gained from certain foods we eat. Some foods contain what is called complete protein. These are all the amino acids necessary to produce stable protein synthesis in our body. Examples of these foods are milk, eggs, meats, fish, and some vegetables. Below is a chart of proteins and percentages of what our body uses from them:FOOD % PROTEIN BY WEIGHT % NET PROTEIN UTILIZATION-Soybean Flour--- 42%--------------------------61%-Cheese ---- 24-35%--------------------------70%-Meat/Chicken/Turkey 19-32%------------------------ -68%-Fish---- 18-25%--------------------------80%-Eggs---- 12%--------------------------95%-Brown Rice---- 8%--------------------------70%-Milk---- 4%--------------------------82%The chart lets us know for example, that an egg contains 12% protein by weight yet, hold on! Because of the specific amino acids present in that protein 94% of it can be used by our body. Therefore the egg is a great source of protein. Soybean Flour is 42% protein. however, the makeup of that protein is such that the body is only able to use 61% of it. So, there is a big difference between how much protein a food contains and how much of that protein the body can actually use to function properly. Eggs are a such great source of high quality protein that they are used as a basis of comparison in rating the protein the quality of other foods, with eggs given an arbitrary value of 100%. Below is another food chart with protein ratings:FOOD PROTEIN RATINGSEggs 100%Fish 70%Milk 60%Lean Beef 69%Soy Milk/Soy Bean 47%Dry Beans 34%Whole Grain/Wheat 43%Brown Rice 57%White Rice 56%White Potato 34%Sweet Potato 30%As you can see from this list of foods like rice, potatoes and beans give you much less useable protein than eggs or fish because these foods lack one or more of the must needed essential amino acids that cannot satisfy the body's protein needs. You can however combine two or more sources of this low quality protein or "incomplete" protein to obtain high quality "complete" protein. Combining protein in this way is very useful to not only bodybuilders, but for everyone who wants to stay healthy, eating foods that are very low in calorie fat. Also, these complete proteins contain fewer calories than most incomplete protein sources. This can be a great advantage when you are trying to build maximum health.

7 Ways to Stay Healthy This Fall

I'm overjoyed that fall is here. It's my favorite time of year.Fall means pumpkins, mushrooms, apple cider, and soup. Some of my favorite foods.Fall can also mean colds, flu, and low energy.Is there a way to ward off such inconveniences? Well nothing is foolproof, but here are 7 suggestions to stay healthy this fall so you can enjoy all the festivities of corn mazes, apple picking, leaf peeping, pumpkin carving and football.Eat those apples (and other seasonal fruit). Apples have been shown to strengthen your immune system. Other seasonal fruits such as pomegranates and citrus also help you ward off fall illness by giving you a big boost of vitamin C and phytonutrients. Aim for 2-3 servings of these nutrient dense foods a day.Slow down. It seems like I've been going full-throttle lately. I know that for those with kids, the start of school is partial relief, partial stress creator. So as the air is turning colder, take some time out to relax and let your body renew. Even if it's just 10 minutes a day, sit in your favorite spot and watch the world go by. Maybe have a cup of herbal tea. Slow down and take in the crispness of autumn air.Part of slowing down is also getting your 8 hours of sleep a night. I know it's hard to get 8 hours during the long days of summer. The shorter days make fall the perfect time to start a habit of getting to bed earlier and recommitting to 8 hours of sleep a night.Get those fall greens. We often think of green for spring, but greens are also a perfect fall food. Greens grow better in the cooler weather, and are actually sweeter than when grown in the summer. So now is a perfect time to try kale or mustard greens, arugula or bok choi. Of course don't forget the broccoli and cauliflower.Wash up. One of the easiest ways for germs to spread is through hand-to-hand contact. You don't have to get excessive about it, but be sure to wash your hands, especially after you sneeze or if you are traveling with lots of people. Plain old soap and warm water do the trick; so don't waste your money on expensive hand sanitizers or antibacterial soaps or sprays.Spice it up. Spices have been used for centuries to boost your immune system. Try any of these spices to boost the flavor of your dishes, as well as strengthen your immune system. Turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, black pepper and more. For a wonderful relaxing drink that will help you slow down and boost your immune system at the same time, try some homemade chai - not the processed stuff with loads of sugar, but homemade goodness.Check out my recipe:In 10 ounces of water, boil the following: 4 whole black peppercorns, 4 whole green cardamom pods, 3 whole cloves, ½ stick cinnamon, ½ inch fresh ginger root. Let boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Then add ½ cup almond milk. Heat again, strain and enjoy.Try some herbs. Many tout the benefits of Echinacea, but I have a big fan of Astragulus. It can even be taken by those with auto-immune conditions because it is an adaptogen. That means it is thought to help protect the body against various stresses, including physical, mental, or emotional stress. Like many herbs, you don't want to take it forever. Instead, take it for week when you start feeling run down. Or if you're traveling, take it a few days before, during, and then a few days after your trip.Hang out with the Fun-Gi. Mushrooms are great for increasing your white blood cells - the cells responsible for fighting off illness. Whether sautéed, marinated or raw, mushrooms are amazing foods. While maitake and shitake are the most coveted for the immune boosting powers, according to Dr. Joel Fuhrman, your standard white button mushrooms have recently been shown to be pretty powerful immune boosters.Not sure how to add mushrooms to your diet? Try this easy and delicious recipe.A Fall Celebration Salad2-3 shitake mushrooms, cleaned, de-stemmed and sliced
juice of ½ lemon
1 tbl Bragg's amino acids
½ Asian pear, sliced thin
hand full of walnuts
hand full of dried cranberries (without sugar if you can find them)
2 cups mixed greensDressingJuice of 1 lemon
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp sea saltPlace sliced mushrooms in a glass bowl. Pour lemon juice and Bragg's over the mushrooms. Stir. Let sit for 20 minutes or longerWhisk together the dressing ingredients. Pour dressing over greens. Place greens on a plate. Evenly distribute marinated mushrooms, pear, walnuts and cranberries on each plate.Any other tips you like for staying healthy this fall?

Basics of Human Digestion

We all have a very good idea about digestion. Let's revisit the basics. Digestion is the process of separating out the nutrients from the food and absorbing them into our body.The human body is designed to keep up its normal functioning. In other words, the body tries to fight off sickness. Lots of under the hood activities happen inside the body to fight off sickness. Nutrients are needed for such maintenance. The body gets nutrition through the process of digestion.Digestion happens along the digestive tract. The human digestive tract is very much a long passageway. Digestion is a two-step process.First step is to crush the food into smallest possible particles. The aim is to expose the largest possible surface area of the food. This way the most amount of nutrition is available.Second step is to mix crushed food with digestive enzymes. These enzymes break down the complex nutrient molecules into simpler molecules. That way nutrient molecules are easily absorbed within the digestive tract wall. Later on, nutrients are transported into the bloodstream.The digestive tract has four main components. Mouth and throat are the first part of the digestive system. Esophagus joins the throat with the stomach. Esophagus along with stomach is the next part of the digestive tract. Small intestine, liver, pancreas and gall bladder form the hub of the digestive system.Main digestive activities take place in the small intestine with the help of enzymes from liver, pancreas and gall bladder. Last part of the digestive tract is the large intestine. Bacteria ferment the remaining food in the large intestine.Food is crushed and ground in the mouth with the help of teeth. Teeth are the hardest substance in the body. Strong jaw bones help crushing and grinding the food. The stomach has strong muscles, which vigorously churn and mix the food. Rhythmic muscular action - referred to as peristalsis - ensures that food keeps traveling along the digestive passageway.As you can imagine, it is easy to crush soft and moist food compared to hard and dry food. There is either saliva or mucus present all along the digestive tract. This keeps food soft and moist.There are different types of glands secreting different types of enzymes all along the digestive tract. Enzymes help the breakdown of protein, carbohydrates and fats in the food.One unique feature of digestive tract is that within the stomach and small intestine the internal lining has a fold like structure which provides for extra surface for nutrient absorption.On top of this fold like internal linings, there is hair like structure called villi. They give an extra absorption area in addition to the folds. This way digestive tract ensures that there is plenty of surface area and opportunities for nutrient absorption along the passageway.Muscular action keeps the food moving along the tract at the proper rate. Food should not get stuck along the path. As blockage would prevent nutrient absorption. Similarly if food passes too fast, the body would miss the chance at separating most amount of nutrition.There are control mechanisms for regulating the food flow. For example stomach can stop the pyloric valve (a valve between the stomach and small intestine) and act as a storage unit if it finds out that the small intestine is very busy with the digestive process.You might wonder what controls various processes, such as muscle movement and enzyme release. Autonomic nervous system controls most of the muscular movements and some of the enzyme release mechanisms. This means they are pretty much involuntary. One can not wish and stop the food moving through esophagus or intestine!The nervous system will decide what is the correct action for muscular movement. Presence or appearance of undigested food at various points along the digestive tract controls much of the enzymatic release. For example, the undigested protein in the stomach would trigger release of protein digesting enzymes in the stomach and small intestine.Enzymes also play a key role in conveying messages to the nervous system about when stomach is full and one should stop eating more. We should eat slowly and give enough time for this messaging to take place. That way we could receive natural stomach 'full' signals and voluntarily stop eating!As food passes along the digestive tract, it has different names. Chewed food in the mouth is called bolus. Bolus also travels through esophagus and reaches stomach. It is called chyme as it leaves the stomach. At this stage it is thoroughly mixed, partially digested and mixed with stomach acids and enzymes. By the time it reaches the end of the large intestine, it becomes feces.Our digestive tract is a very busy system. It is essential for our survival.

The Role of the Small Intestine in Digestion

The small intestine is the grand central of the digestive system. Most of the real digestive process happens here.Most of the protein, fat and carbohydrate breakdown happens within the small intestine. Most of the nutrient absorption also happens here. It is roughly 22 feet long, muscular tube that sits between the stomach and the large intestine.The small intestine connects to stomach through a muscle called the pylorus. This connection is the pyloric valve. Whenever small intestine is not busy with digestion, stomach releases chyme through the pyloric valve.Small intestine works with liver, pancreas and gallbladder for digestion. There are digestive enzymes that secrete within its wall. But the digestive enzymes from liver, gallbladder and pancreas are also delivered here to help with digestion.The liver sends bile to the gallbladder through the hepatic ducts for storage and concentration. Pancreas delivers pancreatic enzymes into the small intestine through the pancreatic duct. The gallbladder is connected to the pancreatic duct through the cystic duct and delivers concentrated bile.The small intestine has three major parts, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Duodenum is a Latin word and it means 12 fingers. It is about 10 inches long. Jejunum is also a Latin word and it mean empty at death. It is about 6 to 8 feet long. And the ileum is the last part, which could be up to 11 and a half feet long.Chyme is partially digested stomach content. Stomach squirts chyme into the duodenum - the first part of the small intestine. The liver and gallbladder deliver bile through ducts to the duodenum. Pancreas delivers a very complex mix of enzymes through the pancreatic duct into the duodenum.Pancreatic enzymes include alkalis such as bicarbonates, which neutralize the stomach acid. Besides alkalis, pancreas secretes 15 different enzymes that work on three major food components carbohydrates, fats and proteins.The enzymes in the small intestine carry out two stage enzymatic breakdown of the nutrients. Complex nutrient molecules are first decomposed into less complex molecules and later less complex molecules are broken into most basic forms.Bile salts emulsify large fat droplets and create an emulsion of tiny fat droplets. Thus increasing the surface area for enzyme action.Pancreatic amylase converts long chain carbohydrates like starch into disaccharides (two molecule sugars) - mainly maltose sugar. Pancreatic lipase works on small fat droplets and converts triglycerides into monoglycerides and fatty acids. The pancreatic protease enzyme breaks down protein into short chain peptide and amino acids.Remaining of the small intestine - jejunum and ileum - is the site for the last breakdown of the food and its absorption into the blood and lymphatic fluids. The bile and the pancreatic juices continue to work within jejunum and ileum, although intestinal wall also releases few enzymes.The enzymes work within the lining cells and on their surface. These enzymes include lactase and maltase, which work on disaccharide carbohydrates and convert them into simple sugars like glucose and galactose. Intestinal peptidases convert short peptide chains into their sub-units amino acids.This way, finally carbohydrates turn into simple sugars, the proteins turn into amino acids and fats turn to monoglycerides and fatty acids. These are the simplest form of molecules, easily absorbed into the blood stream.Finger-like villi of the small intestine lining give a large area for absorption of nutrients resulting from digestion. Through the surface of the villi, nutrients enter into the blood stream.

Getting Gout on the Run

Amongst other diseases which have been exponentially on the rise in the past few years, gout has bloomed in the past twenty years and continues to afflict people of all ages and both sexes. So, it's not a surprise if you're suffering from this disease-but it's definitely painful and very difficult to live with, not to mention that if left untreated, it can lead to heart disease, diabetes and even death. It is caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals in joints, particularly those of the feet, which leads to acute pain and swelling. Although it may start from the big toe, it can progress to the rest of the foot and even the knee.Home remedies for gout, at least in the early stages, can not only provide symptomatic relief, but also cure for gout. It's important to remember that when this form of arthritis affects multiple joints, one shouldn't rely on home remedies alone and, in consultation with your doctor, use them in conjunction with allopathic treatments. Nonetheless, there are a lot of people who put these home remedies to use and testify to their usefulness, and it's possible that they work in the same manner for you.A very popular and effective home remedy, which has been endorsed by health professionals as well, is that of fresh cherries. Both sour and sweet cherries are beneficial in curing gout as they contain anthocyanins, which are antioxidants and relieve the inflammation in the joints. You should go for fresh cherries, because canned or stored cherries are likely to negate the positive effects of their natural anthocyanins. Apples are also great for gout as they contain malic acid which combats with the build-up of uric acid in the joints. A less enjoyable remedy, which you'd probably not want to go for, is to consume juice of raw vegetables. Vegetables like beetroot, carrots and cucumbers are a great way to 'detox' the uric acid, and if you're up for it the juice should be consumed once a day. Other than fruits and vegetables, vitamin C should also be consumed as research shows that it is very important for lowering blood uric acid levels.Of course, where medication and home remedies might successfully get rid of your gout, they're no substitute for a healthy, safe lifestyle. There are many trigger foods and behaviors which should be avoided if you want to stay away from it, because it's no laughing matter. Generally, for gout it's important to maintain an ideal weight. Overweight people are a much higher risk for gout. However, one should not attempt to lose weight through very low-calorie diets or fasting, because both of those are equally contributive in uric acid levels. It's also important to consume a low-fat diet, with minimal meat and seafood as they contain high levels of purines which contribute to gout. Alcohol should also be avoided and consumed in moderation as it triggers high levels of uric acid which can then get deposited in the joints. With these little changes, you'll see a big difference in your health.

Do You Know Your Protein and What It Does For Your Body?

You may ask why is protein good for me? Well, protein helps burn fat, helps in immune system function, helps build and support muscle system function in our own body composition, helps speed up metabolism, floods the entire body with almost all of the essential natural amino acids. However, protein is not just for building muscle, it plays an essential role in our body and helps build the nervous system. Protein has plenty of natural occurring vitamins. Essentially B Vitamins. Especially when it comes to lean red meat protein. The B Vitamins play an important role in the body's repair. Hair, skin, nails, nervous system, it helps with one's mood and stress levels. Protein is used by the body to repair, build, and maintain muscle. Protein is made up of many amino acids. However, our body cannot use the protein you ingest unless all of the right amino acids are present. The body itself can only produce some of these amino acids and others called the essential amino acids have to be gained from certain foods we eat. Some foods contain what is called complete protein. These are all the amino acids necessary to produce stable protein synthesis in our body. Examples of these foods are milk, eggs, meats, fish, and some vegetables. Below is a chart of proteins and percentages of what our body uses from them:FOOD % PROTEIN BY WEIGHT % NET PROTEIN UTILIZATION-Soybean Flour--- 42%--------------------------61%-Cheese ---- 24-35%--------------------------70%-Meat/Chicken/Turkey 19-32%------------------------ -68%-Fish---- 18-25%--------------------------80%-Eggs---- 12%--------------------------95%-Brown Rice---- 8%--------------------------70%-Milk---- 4%--------------------------82%The chart lets us know for example, that an egg contains 12% protein by weight yet, hold on! Because of the specific amino acids present in that protein 94% of it can be used by our body. Therefore the egg is a great source of protein. Soybean Flour is 42% protein. however, the makeup of that protein is such that the body is only able to use 61% of it. So, there is a big difference between how much protein a food contains and how much of that protein the body can actually use to function properly. Eggs are a such great source of high quality protein that they are used as a basis of comparison in rating the protein the quality of other foods, with eggs given an arbitrary value of 100%. Below is another food chart with protein ratings:FOOD PROTEIN RATINGSEggs 100%Fish 70%Milk 60%Lean Beef 69%Soy Milk/Soy Bean 47%Dry Beans 34%Whole Grain/Wheat 43%Brown Rice 57%White Rice 56%White Potato 34%Sweet Potato 30%As you can see from this list of foods like rice, potatoes and beans give you much less useable protein than eggs or fish because these foods lack one or more of the must needed essential amino acids that cannot satisfy the body's protein needs. You can however combine two or more sources of this low quality protein or "incomplete" protein to obtain high quality "complete" protein. Combining protein in this way is very useful to not only bodybuilders, but for everyone who wants to stay healthy, eating foods that are very low in calorie fat. Also, these complete proteins contain fewer calories than most incomplete protein sources. This can be a great advantage when you are trying to build maximum health.