| 1. What is my BMI and how do I calculate it? | | | | Fats are also an important part of our diet. |
| | | | Many foods contain fat in different amounts. |
| BMI means Body Mass Index. Healthy weight | | | | High-fat foods include dairy products like |
| is defined as a BMI equal to or greater than | | | | butter and cream as well as mayonnaise and |
| 19 and less than 25 among all people aged 20 | | | | oils. |
| or over. | | | | |
| | | | There are two kinds of fats: saturated and |
| To determine body mass index, divide weight | | | | unsaturated. |
| in kilograms (2.2 lbs.=1 kg) by height in | | | | |
| meters squared (39.4 ins.=1m). | | | | Fat is necessary because: the only way to get |
| | | | certain fat-soluble vitamins is to eat fat, |
| For example, if you are 1.75 M tall and weigh | | | | your body has no way to make certain |
| 80 kg. , your BMI will be = 80/1.75X1.75 = | | | | essential fats, so you must get them in your |
| 26.122, slightly overweight ("obesity" is | | | | food. |
| ofen defined as a BMI equal to or greater | | | | |
| than 30, which approximates to 30 pounds of | | | | Another reason is that fat is a good source |
| excess weight.) | | | | of energy, in fact it contains twice as many |
| | | | calories per gram as do carbohydrates or |
| 2. What are carbs, proteins, fats? | | | | proteins. Your body can burn fat as fuel |
| | | | when necessary |
| Carbohydrates provide your body with its | | | | |
| basic fuel, very much like a car engine and | | | | 3. What else does my body need? |
| gasoline. Glucose goes directly into the | | | | |
| cells, which convert it into the energy they | | | | Mainly vitamins and minerals. These can be |
| need. | | | | found in various foods, fruits, etc..It |
| | | | seems the "Standard Western Diet" is |
| There are two types of carbohydrates: | | | | deficient in vitamins and minerals. This has |
| | | | led to the creation of vitamin and mineral |
| Simple carbohydrates (also called "sugars" on | | | | supplements. |
| food package labels): glucose etc. | | | | |
| | | | 4. What are the dangers of being overweight |
| Complex carbohydrates ("starches"), made up | | | | (too fat)? |
| of chains of glucose molecules, which is | | | | |
| simply a way plants store glucose. | | | | When it gets to a certain level, overweight |
| | | | becomes "obesity", which has been described |
| Starches can be found in great quantities in | | | | as "a serious, chronic disease that is known |
| most grains (wheat, corn, oats, rice) and | | | | to reduce life span, increase disability and |
| things like potatoes and plantains. | | | | lead to many serious illnesses including |
| | | | diabetes, heart disease and stroke, cancer, |
| Your digestive system breaks a starch back | | | | osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, gall bladder |
| down into its component glucose molecules so | | | | disease, gout." |
| that the glucose can enter your bloodstream. | | | | |
| | | | 5. What exactly is Atkins diet? |
| Carbohydrates provide cells with energy, | | | | |
| proteins provide cells with the building | | | | Dr. Atkins diet, first introduced in 1972, is |
| material they need to grow and maintain | | | | strictly focused on limiting carbohydrate |
| their structure. | | | | consumption. |
| | | | |
| Protein can be found in both animal and | | | | That is why it is called a low-carb, |
| vegetable foods. Most animal sources (meat, | | | | high-protein diet or sometimes simply a |
| milk, eggs) provide "complete protein": they | | | | low-carb diet, together with other diets |
| contain all of the essential amino acids. | | | | such as South Beach Diet, Power Protein Diet |
| | | | etc... |