The youth have problem with their weight; what is right and what is not about food and weight reduction? 5. Separation Diet; carbs and protein…

Overweight and obesity is a big health problem at present. In all the countries the youth have problem with their weight. Young women have eating disorders or overweight. Young men have problem with his T-Shirt when the weather becomes mild. The health insurances say that almost 30% of the persons treated for weight problems are below 18 years old. The youth must be given the right information so that they know what they do and what is right. I try to explain some of the important general points from today onwards.

The Separation Diet is said to be a balancing diet, meaning persons who are overweight lose weight and persons who are underweight gain weight. Most people lose weight. You may say wonderful. Is it really wonderful?

During this diet protein containing foods and carbohydrates containing foods should be kept strictly separate from one another.

Acid forming foods such as meat, fish, cheese etc. and alkaline forming foods such as fruits and vegetables should not be eaten at the same time. Neutral foods like yoghurt, milk etc. could be mixed with carbohydrates and protein.

The recommended protein foods are meat, poultry, fish and cheese and carbohydrate foods are whole grains, cereals, bread, rice, potatoes and sugars.

Sounds wonderful and where the problem is, you may ask. There are few serious problems. You gain weight if you mix carbohydrates and protein once again. It works only as long as you separate the foods strictly. Another big problem is the quantity plays always a major role. You can separate your food, but when excess amount is consumed there will be no weight reduction and the weight can go up. The total calories what you take is always important.

The positive effect I have seen is people are giving more care to select their food. Therefore, many eat regularly their fruits and vegetables portions too.

Consult with your dietician to know the best food for you to reduce weight. It is always individual. Enjoy your food and reduce and maintain your weight…

The youth have problem with their weight; what is right and what is not about food and weight reduction? 4. Carbs or fats and protein?

Overweight and obesity is a big health problem at present. In all the countries the youth have problem with their weight. Young women have eating disorders or overweight. Young men have problem with his T-Shirt when the weather becomes mild. The health insurances say that almost 30% of the persons treated for weight problems are below 18 years old. The youth must be given the right information so that they know what they do and what is right. I try to explain some of the important general points from today onwards.

There are persons who take excess carbohydrates and there are others who say excess protein and fat is good for weight loss. As we all know fats have more than double the amount of calories than carbohydrates or protein.

If you consume less fats and protein excess sugar is converted into triglycerides, the blood fat. This blood fat is a risk factor for vascular and heart diseases. Moreover, for our health we need fats and proteins.

If you eat less carbohydrates fats and the sugar produced from the protein by the liver can give you the necessary energy. We need all the three regularly to be healthy. Not enough quantities of carbohydrates, fats or proteins are very bad for our health.

Good carbohydrates are necessary for a good brain function. Moreover, wholegrain products give us valuable fibers, vitamins, mineral and other phytochemicals. These are very important for our metabolism.

Protein is necessary for our muscles, but excess protein brings health problems. It is same with fats too.

Therefore to reduce weight we need good carbohydrates, fats and protein. Consult with a dietician and it is easy to find the right food for your type.

We can eat rice, noodles, potatoes, ice creams, cakes and sweets. Only the amount makes the problem.

Healthy lifestyle and physical activities are also very important always to reduce or maintain weight.

What are the nutrients present in almonds? How is it useful in weight reduction?

Almond is a complete food with vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, carbohydrates and many other vital nutrients. It is an important food for our health.

The nutrients in 100g almonds include:

• Water – 5.7 g
• Protein – 18.7 g
• Fat – 54.1 g, more than 50% ins monounsaturated fats
• Carbohydrates – 9.0 g
• Fibre – 9.8 g
• Minerals – 2.7 g – sodium 25 - 40 mg, potassium 835 mg, magnesium 170 mg, calcium 250 mg, iron 4000 micro g, copper 850 micro g, zinc 2000 micro g, selenium 4 micro g, iodide 2 micro g.
• Vitamins - vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, nicotine amide, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E
• Purine – 30 mg

Almond plays an important role in diet plans for weight reduction. It is low in carbohydrates, has many of the vitamins and the minerals. It is rich in fibre and as a plant food no cholesterol.

100 g almond has 598 calories. During weight reduction I advise this to Stop the hunger at any time of the day. 10 to 20 g is enough to stop your hunger. It is only 60 to 120 calories. On the other hand, 100 g chips have nearly 300 calories and you feel also quickly hungry. The fibres play a vital role here for this. It has only 9% carbohydrates and this makes it also an ideal food for persons who have diabetes.

In the weight reduction it is easier to select the right food if you have enough knowledge about different foods.

Can you tell me the nutritional values of Tapioca (kappa)?

Tapioca (kappa) is the root of a shrub-like plant called Cassava native to Brazil. It is most commonly used as starch and food thickener. In India is used very often used in Kerala.

Almost 90% of tapioca is carbohydrates and has traces of vitamins and minerals. It is gluten and protein free. It has also traces of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Thus it has little nutritional value. If you eat this with fish curry or with grates of coconut this only brings the nutritional value.

Tapioca is used to thicken puddings, jellies and soups. It is used as a binder in tablets by the pharmaceutical industries. It is a thickener in natural paints also. In many South American and African countries different desserts are made with tapioca.

Tapioca can contain a cyanide based toxin. It should not be eaten exclusively and in large amount for a long time. It is very rich in carbohydrates and can raise the blood sugar level dramatically in persons with diabetes.

I am 18 year old woman...few kilos more and fit than slim, but not at all fit...is it right?

It is a very good question. Few kilos more and fit…slim and not at all fit…it is right.

The reasons are very easy to understand. Every organ and cell in our body needs fats. We need all the three fats – saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids - to be healthy. Without fat nothing goes well in your body. Carbohydrates are necessary for all the cells to produce energy.

If a young woman reduces the intake of fats and carbohydrates drastically she will become slim, extremely slim. But what is the price she has to pay for that. The body takes the protein from the muscles and converts it into fat and sugar to live. This means from inside your body, you are eaten to live and this can make you very sick. Everybody including the young women must eat enough fats and carbohydrates.

With right food you could be also slim with necessary regular physical activities.

Women and men can measure their abdominal girth (it is the measurement of the distance around the abdomen at the level of belly button) to know their right weight. Women should not have more than 88 cm and men not have more than 102 cm abdominal girth. Stand in front of the mirror and measure it before breakfast in standing.

Everything is in your hands to make you slim, fit and happy.