by kelsey | Jan 9, 2013 | Diet, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Ready-to-drink shakes and giant tubs of protein powder seem to be dominating the supplement market these days. But should you be using these products? The purpose of this post is to review some of the pros and cons of these supplements, so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not they are right for you.
First, let’s talk about protein’s role in health. Protein is essential for a number of functions in the body, including building and repairing muscles and other tissues. Protein is typically not used as energy sources during exercise and physical activity. Carbohydrates and fat are our main sources of energy. Protein is found in both plant and animal foods. Sources of protein include meats, dairy products like milk and yogurt, whole grain products, nuts, and beans and legumes. All sources of protein are not created equally. Animal sources of protein are considered high-quality or complete proteins because they contain all the essential amino acids (the building blocks of protein). Plant-based proteins are typically missing one or two amino acids and need to be mixed (think beans and rice) in order to get a complete source of protein.
The average individual needs 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram. To figure out your needs, divide your weight in pounds by 2.2 to get your weight in kilograms. Then multiply by 0.8.
Example: 160 pounds/ 2.2 = 72.7 kilogram x 0.8 gram = approximately 59 grams of protein needed.
To but this in perspective, a 3 oz. chicken breast has about 20 grams of protein. This is also the average amount of protein in a scoop of protein powder. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, if you are eating a variety of foods with enough calories to maintain your weight and keep your energy up during workouts, protein supplements aren’t necessary. It is entirely possible to get the protein you need through your diet. If you are looking to build muscle, you don’t need to pile on the protein, either. You may need to increase your protein intake slightly. It is recommended that strength athletes eat 1.2 -1.7 grams of protein per kilogram. Most of us aren’t training for World’s Strongest Man or Woman so our needs are not this high. It is important to realize that just eating more protein alone won’t help you put on muscle; you have eat enough calories as well. Extreme high protein intake can be harmful to your liver, kidneys, and heart, so it’s very important to discuss your needs and intake with your physician or dietitian.
|
Pros
|
Cons
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| Provide high quality, easily digested protein |
Expensive ($30-$100 or more!) |
| The ready-made –shakes can be an appropriate meal replacement or snack if you’re short on time and if they provide other necessary nutrients |
Typically contain the same amount of protein as regular food sources. |
| May be a good idea for vegetarians or vegans, who can have trouble getting enough high-quality protein from plant-based sources. |
Do not always contain the nutrients found in food, so you may be missing out on other important nutrients. |
| |
Flavor (now this is a personal factor but what if you spend $40 and you hate the way it tastes? |
References
American Dietetic Association. (2009). Position of the American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and athletic performance. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 109(3), 509-527.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2012). Do I need protein drinks if I am working out? Nutrition Q and A.
-Written by Chelsea Rambo, MS–USD Dietetic Intern
by kelsey | Jan 9, 2013 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Weight Management
County Fair Foods treated us to some delicious treats last night at our STRIVE 2 Survive kick-off! My personal favorite was the Berry Parfait. They’re super easy to make and loaded with great nutrients. This treat is a good breakfast or a snack….be sure to give it a try!
Berry Parfait
3/4 c sliced strawberries
3/4 c blueberries
1 6 oz tub fat free vanilla yogurt
1 tbsp wheat germ
1/2 banana sliced
1/3 c granola
Layer all of the ingredients in a bowl or cup using about 1/3 of each until you have used all of your ingredients. Enjoy!
-Kelsey
by Dan | Jan 6, 2013 | Equipment, Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Wellness/Health
I got a great Christmas present from Sarah this year. The Nike+fuelband watch. It calculates how many calories you are burning while doing activity, counts how manysteps you take, and can even be used as a regular watch.
Here it shows how many steps I took on this particular day. It attaches to your computer by USB, and you can register it to yourself, with your weight, height, and age. You can keep connecting to the computer and it will continue to keep a log/journal of your activities–steps taken, calories burned, on a daily basis.
You can have it set for different goals, and once you achieve them, it lets you know that you have made it that day. It is a great way to keep track of all the activity you do for the day. You can use when you are actually doing exercise, or wear it all day long so you have an idea just how many steps you actually take in a regular day. Very convenient, and useful. You are doing walking everyday, why not count it besides! Keep moving everybody!
Maybe this will help me actually keep track of the number of consecutive days. Somewhere in the last 2 months I started going backwards instead of forwards, and have been listing the days 100 less than it should have been. My consecutive days should actually as of today be 1928. Now to keep track more closely as I go.
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 1928
by kelsey | Jan 3, 2013 | Etc.
We have been busy with the enrollment for our winter STRIVE program, however there is still room! If you are interested and/or want to get signed up, be sure to contact us to reserve your spot! Our first lecture is January 8th at 5:30pm at the County Fair Banquet Hall. We are looking forward to working with another great group!
by Dan | Dec 31, 2012 | Exercise, Goals, Motivation, Weather, Wellness/Health, Winter
Here is a recent photo of scenery here in SD when the trees are all frosted. When you have scenery like this, it makes it much easier to get outside and exercise. This is the last day of 2012. Time to start getting our plans prepared on how we are going to help take care of ourselves, and be healthier and more active going into 2013. I just recently talked about maintaining your focus. Every once in a while you can look at the big picture to see how you are doing, but along the way, you may have to focus on some of details.
Those details can offer a lot of assistance in helping to overall keep us on track. Just remember, don’t get overly hung up on the small details. We have to find that blend between each detail, and the overall picture. At this time of year, you can’t focus solely on the weather. You just need to get out and get going. If we waited for the perfect day, we would never get started. So along the way, occasional look at the details, but stay focused on the big picture. In the long run, you will be much happier, and hopefully, be more healthy as a result. Happy New Years eve, and keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 1822
