Essential amino acids

Amino acids are formed of an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a side chain. Human body is unable to synthesize 9 essential amino acids. These essential amino acids must be obtained from food. The essential amino acids are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Such amino acids as arginine, cysteine, and tyrosine may be required in particular situations for premature babies and in people suffering from liver disease. Meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products are important sources of high quality proteins. Essential amino acids in these products can satisfy human requirements. The food proteins such as egg albumin, milk casein, and wheat gluten are digested into their constituent amino acids and then absorbed from intestine. Amino acids in the body are connected by peptide chemical bonds forming proteins such as enzymes, hormones as well as structural, transport, and contractile constituents of the body. Plant foods taken separately are less suitable protein sources. However, balanced vegetarian diets can also satisfy human protein needs if they harmonize each other with essential amino acids.

Essential fatty acids

People have particular nutritional demands for certain organic substances. Among them are essential fatty acids. The case is that human body is unable to synthesize 2 essential fatty acids called linoleate and linolenate. Therefore, these essential fatty acids must be obtained from dietary plant sources. Human body may store assimilated fatty acids or oxidize them to get energy. These essential fatty acids are important precursors of eicosanoids needed for numerous significant metabolic processes. Essential fatty acids take part in the production of phospholipids that are important constituents of cell membranes and nerve fibers. Production of some hormones also requires participation of essential fatty acids. From all these standpoints, essential fatty acids are valuable dietary substances. Vegetable oils are precious sources of linoleic and linolenic essential fatty acids. Deficiencies of these essential fatty acids may develop in patients with disordered intestinal absorption, babies fed with low-in-fat formulas, and small children consuming nonfat milk or meals low in fat.

Moderate thinness

Moderate thinness and limits of moderation

Everything in life has its limits and even "moderate" doesn’t always mean "good". For example, moderate thinness may be unhealthful. Why? How to find it out? If your BMI is low, you may be moderately thin. To detect moderate thinness you must know your normal weight range determined with BMI calculator. Suspect moderate thinness if your weight is 10% below the ideal one. Inadequate nutrition and excessive physical activity may cause this unpleasant condition. If you are in stress, overwork, sleep bad, skip meals, fast, have dyspepsia, diarrhea, constipation, hepatic dysfunction, and sexual problems your way to moderate thinness is paved. Low energy levels make people with moderate thinness indifferent, easily tired, and susceptible to infections due to weak immunity. If you want to forget about this condition, keep to diets containing more calories than are spent.

Vegetable oil

The notion vegetable oil includes important substances such as olive, peanut, coconut, cottonseed, sunflower seed, soybean, safflower, rape, sesame, mustard, red palm, and corn oils. Vegetable oil contains unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and is liquid at room temperature. Valuable essential linoleic acid may be found in corn, sunflower, cottonseed, and safflower oils. Any vegetable oil produces more calories than other foods. Practically any natural vegetable oil contains carotene and vitamin E, which is valuable antioxidant important also for healthy sexual activity. Oils are consumed in the form of various foods. Industrially, vegetable oil is produced from seeds and fruit by means of pressure extraction. Then, oils undergo processing to get neutral or yellow color and to remove odor. Oils are used in breads, rolls, and other baked foods. Unsaturated oils may be hydrogenated and used for shortening and cooking.

What are fats?

Fats are natural organic triglycerides composed of three molecules of fatty acids and one molecule of glycerol. Triglycerides are the main food lipids. Fats are stored in the body as adipose tissue. Fats are lighter than water and are water insoluble. However, fats are soluble in organic solvents. In the pure state, fats do not possess any taste, color, or odor. Examples of pure fats are palmitin, stearin, and olein. Fats in adipose tissue are mixtures of several pure fats and free fatty acids in different proportions, which determine their properties. Fats may be saturated or unsaturated. Saturated fats are usually more stable and are solid at room temperature. People consume fats getting them from food. Some natural fats, such as butter and lard, may be used in food almost without preparation. Fats are extracted from animal tissue by boiling in water with subsequent cooling and skimming.

What are carbohydrates?

People, wanting to know what are carbohydrates, must bear in mind that carbohydrates are the main source of energy. Carbohydrates are represented by starches found in grains, legumes, and tubers as well as by sugars in plants and fruits. The living cells use carbohydrates in the form of glucose. After absorption from the intestine, glucose gets into the liver and is stored there as glycogen. Another portion of glucose passes into the bloodstream and is carried to the muscles and organs. Carbohydrates are burned during metabolic processes producing energy, carbon dioxide and water. Foods with high carbohydrate content are often the cheapest and richest in energy.

Women and Weight

Facts about BMI calculator for women

Nobody can deny that women are better or may be the best half of humanity. Unfortunately, some of them may experience significant problems with their weight and health. How to correct this sad state of the art? Science! Researchers developed unique bmi calculator for women based on the 1985 NIH recommendations. BMI calculator for women is a reliable indicator of weight condition and shows the shortest way to reach the ideal weight. Knowing normal weight range any woman can easily determine required weight loss or needed weight gain. Women are curious and desire to know their future. BMI calculator for women predicts health risks associated with various weight problems and shows how to avoid them.