bodybuilding

We need protein in our diets in order to survive. It’s as simple as that. But, protein is also necessary in the prevention and treatment of a wide array of serious health issues, including some cancers. Protein is what makes our muscles grow properly, and even our hair and fingernails are made from protein.

There are a number of high protein diets that have been very popular in recent years. Many of them were built on the premise that if protein was a fat burner, then more protein would mean more fat burning. These diets suggested that you could lose weight and be healthy by eating extreme amounts of protein while severely limiting the amount of carbohydrates (even the healthy ones). Protein can be dangerous in amounts over the recommended amount and may be even more dangerous to those who have certain health conditions or diseases. Before starting any kind of diet plan, it is important to consult your doctor for suggestions and recommendations.

Can a protein supplement play a role in a good diet and balanced nutrition? In most cases, it is better to get all nutrition from natural food sources. Protein, one of the building blocks of good nutrition, can be found in a number of different food sources, both animal and plant based. However, in today’s fast paced world, it is difficult to get the right nutrition from the foods that we eat. Most people do not sit down to eat a meal, let alone take the time to cook healthy foods. We tend to eat on the run, and that typically means fast food; fat laden, greasy and fried, fast food.

Do you know what PMR or polymyalgia rheumatica is? It is an inflammatory disorder which can cause muscle aches and stiffness mostly affecting the shoulders, neck, upper arms, hips, and thighs. These symptoms can develop gradually in some people but can also appear overnight in others. The causes are not exactly known but it may be a faulty immune system, genetic, environmental factors, or simply a facet of aging. It may go away on its own within a year or two, however, there self-care techniques as well as medications that can be used to treat PMR instead.

Despite all of the various fad diets that would tell us otherwise, the best bet for weight loss is a balanced, well rounded diet that has all of the necessary nutrients and represents all of the food groups, within reason. A good diet is also one that is easy to follow and delicious as well.

Most people assume that the gastric bypass and other weight loss surgeries are available with no limitations to the people who need them. However, there are some people who are so obese that they present too big of a risk for surgeons until they are able to lose some weight, typically while on a strict regimen of medically supervised care. After some people gain so much weight that they are a danger to their own health, they may end up in a hospital so that they can be cared for.

Although it is not common across the United States, kwashiorkor, a severe form of protein malnutrition can be found in children of very poor families, in the elderly who live in nursing homes or other long term care facilities, and in patients that are in the hospital for surgery (one in every two surgical patients has some form of protein deficiency), or for extended admissions (about half of the general hospital populace are affected). Primary protein deficiency, the lack of enough overall calories or the lack of enough specific protein calories is far less rare than secondary protein malnutrition.

There is a condition that is an accumulation of fat cells in the liver which is known as steatosis, commonly referred to as fatty liver. This condition is present in alcoholics and non-alcoholics, and if not properly treated, can lead to a type of cancer of the liver known as hepatocellular carcinoma, which can be found in approximately 10-24% of the public. In fact, as much as ten percent of patients with fatty liver will develop the disease.

The skin is the largest organ of the body. It is also subjected to all types of abuse throughout its lifetime, including burns of varying degrees. A first degree burn is the most minor and consists of redness and slight- to-moderate pain but no blisters. It usually heals in seven to ten days with no scarring. A minor sunburn is a first degree burn in most cases. A second degree burn may have blisters and may ooze. The surface may look moist or raw and there will be some moderate to severe pain involved. A third degree burn is the most serious of the burns and can actually be less painful than a first or second degree burn. This is caused by damage to the nerves which may make them even more serious. Third degree burns may appear charred and the skin may be white or cream colored in and around the area. All third degree burns can be life threatening and should be treated at the hospital immediately. Second degree burns that are on the face or on the chest should be treated professionally as well.

There is often great debate over whether or not vegetarians and vegans get enough protein. As long as a vegan or vegetarian is eating a variety of different foods, they are getting plenty. The average diet gets about 14-18% of their overall calories from proteins, while the vegan diet contains about 10-12% protein (Source: Mangels). Many of the foods and protein supplements that are eaten by the vegan and the vegetarian have enough nutrients to make them a great part of the healthy diet. Vegetarians may have reduced risk of a number of diseases, but may put themselves at risk for other health conditions because they are not getting all of the micronutrients that they need.