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Life Essentials takes a closer look at carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, vitamins & minerals; and the role they play in our bodies.
Carbohydrates are compounds made up of types of sugar. All carbohydrates provide the body with the fuel needed for physical activity, but not all carbs are equal. Learn why good carbs made from whole grains are healthier than bad carbs such as enriched white flour. Understanding the difference between simple and complex carbohydrates, knowing which carbs are good and bad will allow you to make better dietary choices and possibly help you avoid diseases such as diabetes.
We also look at artificial sweeteners, the role of sugars, and how to curb sugar cravings in an easy to understand manner.
Proteins perform a variety of functions in living organisms, including catalyzing metabolic reactions, repairs DNA, responding to stimuli, and transporting molecules from one location to another. They also play a role in the maintenance of healthy bones, muscles, and organs. The body uses protein to produce hemoglobin in red blood corpuscles (the vehicle that transports oxygen to all of our tissues). Without adequate protein the lungs and immune system would cease to function properly.
There are 22 standard amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein, but we only use 20 of the existing 22. We synthesize eleven amino acids, however the other nine amino acids must be obtained from your dietary intake.
You'll learn about the dangers of too much protein and having too little protein in your diet. The role proteins play in hormone synthesis and the pitfalls of Anabolic steroids.
Dietary fat, along with proteins and carbohydrates provides the body with its needed energy. Fats must be part of a dietary choice in that some fat soluble vitamins cannot be absorbed except along with dietary fats; not all fats are bad. There are "good fats" essential to health, and there are "bad" and "ugly" fats like belly fat that are detrimental to your health.
This book highlights what you need to know about fats. The ones you should minimize or never have in your diet. Which fats are best to include with your meals and how these fats affect your well-being, good and bad.
Water is extremely important in that biological systems need a fluid, a liquid into which molecules can dissolve and chemical reactions. Water is used to hydrolyze many substances. It breaks the bond between amino acids in proteins. Water readily dissolves other substrates and this attribute is used to transport substances through the body. Water is a fundamental component of blood plasma, tissue fluid and lymph. Water is the medium that is used by the body to carry a wide range of substances such as red blood cells that carry oxygen, platelets used for clotting, as well as minerals, which can then be easily transported and made available to the body cells.
On Earth, 96.5% of the planet's water is found in oceans and 71% of the Earth's surface is vital for all known forms of life. We, ourselves are composed of 65% water. This book examines the different categories of water, not only the importance, but the necessity of water for the survival of our species and Eco-system.
Due to various reasons we are not always getting the proper nutrients into our bodies. Vitamins, minerals, and supplements bridge the gap from what we don't get nutritionally from the foods we eat. Unfortunately, many of us don't know what this vitamin does or how that supplement will help us feel better.
This book breaks down the various vitamins, minerals, supplements (antioxidants) in a simple and easy to read fashion of what a vitamin is, how it works in our body, and what specifically each vitamin, mineral, or supplement does; and what amount is recommended each day.
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