Fwd: AHZ ((A Naturopathic Diet part 3))

[Guest guest]

" Malcolm Simmonds "

 

AHZ <<((A Naturopathic Diet part 3))>>

Thu, 17 Jul 2003 07:40:40 +0100

 

=================================

Welcome to ALTERNATIVE HEALTHZINE

=================================

Discover The Secrets Of Vibrant Health

 

Volume 4, Issue 7, July 2003

 

//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\

 

Hi

 

For each of the next few months, there will be an article on a

section of the Naturopathic Diet. The two previous articles in

the series can be found at the archives page of:

http://www.alternative-healthzine.com .

 

This month, the 'Naturopathic Diet' is further considered by giving an overview

of the role of starches and protein in health, then looking at starches in more

detail. The next article will contain much more detail about the protein in our

diet.

 

Best wishes

 

Malcolm

Alternative HealthZine

 

Alternative Healthzine Archives:

http://www.alternative-healthzine.com/html/archives.html

 

 

//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\

 

<<<((( A Naturopathic Diet part 3 )))>>>

 

STARCH AND PROTEIN

 

Eat only Moderate Amounts of Starch and Protein

 

Most people would benefit from eating smaller amounts of starchy

food and whole protein such as meat, fish, eggs and milk, than

most people do. This may require a shift in thinking.

 

Many of us are used to meals containing a large portion of potato

or rice, and a chunk of meat or other protein. This is because,

in the past, priority was given to getting enough protein and

starch to provide calories to keep healthy.

 

 

What are Calories?

 

A calorie is a measure of the amount of energy delivered to the

body by food. The number of calories provided by a food depends

on what it is made of: protein and starch each provide about four

calories per gramme, whereas fat provides about nine calories per

gramme.

 

 

Getting Sufficient Protein and Starch

 

In fact, sufficient protein and starch (and calories) for our

needs are easily available, if these foods comprise 20-50% of the

diet. Even 50% is probably too much.

 

The problem in our Western society is that we are getting too

much protein and too many calories. This is reflected in the high

level of excess weight and obesity in much of the Western world.

 

Nearly half of the UK population are overweight, and almost half

of these are obese. Figures for the US are a little higher.

Interestingly, although Germany's rate is near to that of the UK,

France's obesity rate is only one third that of the UK.

 

Obesity and raised weight leads to raised incidence of various

diseases, not least heart disease and arterial disease, common

causes of death.

 

Another ailment related to a poor balance of dietary intake, is

the high level of osteoporosis in the West. This is closely

related to excessive dietary protein (there is an explanation of

this later).

 

A further disadvantage of eating a lot of starch and protein is

that they easily fill up the stomach. The protein they contain is

valuable for health, but there are relatively few vitamins,

minerals and trace elements in these foods compared, ounce for

ounce, with vegetables and fruit. Where a lot of protein and

starch are eaten, there is less appetite for the more nourishing

vegetables and fruit.

 

The answer is to eat starch in smaller amounts than most people

do; and to greatly reduce the amount of meat, fish, dairy foods

and eggs in the diet.

 

 

Starchy Foods

 

For nearly everyone, it is important to leave as many nutrients

as possible in the food we eat. In the case of salad vegetables,

we can eat them raw - so that's quite easy. With potatoes,

though, this is not possible. One thing we can do with potatoes

is to leave the peel on. The peel is a good source of nutrients,

and should just be scrubbed.

 

Similarly with rice, the outer part of brown rice contains B

vitamins and valuable amounts of other nutrients, whereas the

main part of it is pure protein and starch. The picture is the

same with wheat, so wholemeal bread has a few minerals but,

again, is mainly starch. It is certainly better than white bread,

but still not very nutritious compared to fruit and vegetables.

 

Refined starches - white rice, peeled potatoes and white bread,

for example - are not worth eating from the point of view of the

nourishment they contain. To digest such nutrient-poor foods,

nutrients already stored in the body are 'robbed'. Such foods

deplete the body's stores of vital nutrients, but return

virtually nothing to those stores after they have been digested.

 

 

Healthy Starch Sources

 

Whole grains and pulses (the bean family) are good sources of

starch. These foods also contain a proportion of protein. Whole

wheat grain can be found at health food shops. It can be soaked

overnight and simmered in water, or it can be sprouted in the

same way as other seeds are sprouted. Brown rice is also a

healthy source of starch, and goes well with bean dishes. Bread

is made from powdered wheat and, as such, is probably less

healthy than whole grains. It is best used only occasionally.

 

 

Athletes and Manual Workers

 

If a large amount of energy is expended every day, for example,

for concentrated manual work, or athletic exercise, then the

requirement for calories will be much higher than for the

majority of people. Extra starch and protein will be needed to

provide these extra calories.

 

Whole grains, which are a combination of starch and protein, are

a good source of the extra calories and protein required. If the

extra calories are obtained from meat, there is a tendency to put

on weight, unless the body type is such that it can digest the

extra fat which is contained in meat. If the same amount of

calories are eaten as are expended in exercise, body weight

should stay balanced.

 

 

Moderation

 

We should be moderate in our starch consumption - for most

people, more moderate than we are at present. It can help to use

the following guide: reduce the amount of potato or rice on your

plate, and double the amount of vegetables. Or reduce the amount

of bread and the protein content of a sandwich, and treble the

amount of the salad content.

 

//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\

 

I hope you enjoy Alternative HealthZine. I am always pleased to

hear any comments you may have.

 

Best wishes

 

Malcolm

 

Malcolm Simmonds

 

 

Article author: Malcolm Simmonds

 

Copyright 2000-2003 Alternative HealthZine. All rights

reserved.

 

//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\

 

Please feel free to forward Alternative HealthZine to friends .

We just ask that the full copy is sent.

 

//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\

 

ARTICLE CONTRIBUTIONS: If you have an article that you feel would

be appropriate for Alternative HealthZine please send it by email

to articles

 

//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\

 

Can we help? Send queries, comments, or suggestions to me.

malcolm

 

//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\-//-\\

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@

 

Alternative Medicine/Health-Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc.

 

To , e-mail to:

alternative_medicine_forum-

 

Or, go to our group site at:

alternative_medicine_forum

 

 

 

SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month!