What You Need to Know About Carbs and Protein

When people discuss nutrition they always break food down into certain basic groups. If you've taken any interest before, you'll be familiar with them: protein, carbohydrates, fat, sugars, etc. But what are these, exactly? What does it mean to eat the right amount of 'protein', and are certain kinds of protein or carbohydrates better than others? Today we'll take a closer look at these food groups, break them down to a basic level, and make sure that everybody is on the same page.

Let's start it off with protein. Proteins play a vital role in our lives-they are the building blocks for most of our body tissues, such as skin, muscle, nails, and tendons among others. Proteins also take part in many metabolic functions such as nutrient absorption, transportation of oxygen, and they even help deactivate toxic substances.

But what are they? Proteins are large molecules that are built by chains of amino acids. There are about 20 different types of amino acids that can be combined in any sequence or number to form different types of protein, which can either come from animal or vegetable sources. Protein that come from animal sources can be found in red meats, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy products. On the other hand, vegetable sourced protein can be found in dry fruits, soy, legumes, mushrooms and whole grains. Animal protein contains a larger number and diversity of amino acids. In general their biological value is greater than vegetable protein. However, animal proteins are harder to digest, which is why you may be left with a 'heavy' sensation after a big ol' steak.

When we consume red meats, poultry, and / or fish, we are not only consuming protein, but we also intaking metabolic waste such as uric acid and ammonia. And guess what-these elements are toxic. A smart way to consume animal based proteins and yet avoid these toxic elements is by eating eggs and dairy products. Also, when we consume animal protein, we are very likely also consuming saturated fats that are present in meat. High levels of saturated fat can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and promote obesity.

So now let's take a look at carbs. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for both the muscles and the brain. They can be divided in two main groups: simple carbs (sugars-boo!) and complex carbs (starch-long term energy, yay!).

Simple carbohydrates can be found in fruits, refined sugars, honey, and sweets in general. Our body is able to absorb them almost immediately and they end up being a great source of instant energy. However, it's important to keep in mind that simple sugars that come from fruits and natural sources have a great advantage over simple sugars that come from refined sources (candy, etc). Simple carbs from natural sources usually come with other important elements such as minerals, organic acids, vitamins (which play a key role in their absorption) and other metabolic functions.

Complex carbohydrates are found in cereals, breads, pasta, legumes and vegetables. Even fiber is a type of carbohydrate. Complex carbohydrates are built by many molecules of sugars. When we consume these types of carbohydrates, our bodies gradually break these large chains down into simple carbs. The extra step in breaking down these large molecules allows the body to have better control of blood sugar level which at the end translates into having steady levels of energy.

After breaking the carbs down, our bodies metabolizes carbohydrates into glucose and glycogen. During any physical activity our muscles feed off the glucose that is found in our blood, and also off the glycogen that is stored in out liver and muscle tissue. A diet rich in complex and simple carbohydrates will help refuel and replenish the levels of glycogen and glucose which are critical when we undertake any intense fitness activities such as the PX90 or Slim in 6. We can achieve this by eating more fruits, vegetables, brown rice, potatoes, and yams.