DIET 2: physiological facts

  • We need each day amounts of protein, carbohydrate and fat specific to our size and activity level. These amounts should be divided into at least 3 but as many as 5 portions and eaten together at roughly equally spaced intervals throughout the day.
  • Protein sources are meat, fish, firm tofu, eggs, soy meat substitutes, hard cheese, cottage cheese and generally any food with roughly greater than 2x more grs. of protein than carbohydrate per serving.
  • Carbohydrates  sources are fruits, vegetables, grains and all related products, sweetened milks and yogurts, soy desserts, ice cream and generally any food with roughly greater than 2x more grs. of carbohydrate than protein per serving.
  • Protein/carbohydrates sources are milk, plain yogurt, soy beverages and generally any food with roughly equivalent grs. of protein and carbohydrates per serving.
  • Fat sources are butter, nuts, oils and oil products, avocados and generally foods that are primarily fat.
  • We need protein to maintain our systems and as a last choice, for fuel.
  • We need carbohydrates for fuel and most of the micro nutrients that keep our systems integrated.
  • We need fat for fuel and to maintain primarily our nervous system.
  • Both protein and fat control the rate at which sugar enters the blood.
  • Insulin tries to maintain an optimally constant level of sugar in the blood. It converts excess sugar into fat. Even if sugar is not in excess, if protein and fat are not present in the digestive process, insulin will convert some of the required sugar into fat thus elevating our needs.
  • Our body uses fat first. So if there is too much in what we eat, some of even our needed sugar will be converted into fat.
  • If we eat what we need, we'll have the body/mind necessary to strive for real life. (see poem)