Happy FFF Fun & Flexible Friday & ANS!!

Happy FFF!! Flexible Fun Friday!

How do you take care of your body?
Having fun and being flexible not only

helps you physically, but mentally.

What do you do for FUN?
How do you define FLEXIBLE?

PLEASE visit us in Pasadena tonight at The Food Fair

and check out this fantastic new interview they posted on YOU TUBE yesterday:

Mac-n-Mo’s Chef’s Center You Tube

Talk about FUN/FLEXIBLE/ FOODIE FRIDAY!

Before I sign off, have  a MORSELICIOUS Weekend!!!

NOW…drum roll, please….

I’d like to welcome back Registered Dietitian, Lauren O’Connor

for our Friday ANS Column:

Lauren has agreed to answer your questions

EVERY Friday! So, please keep you questions coming!

Q: How much protein does an adult female need? Male?  I exercise 20 minutes a day.
A: An average adult’s protein requirements are about 0.36g protein per pound of body weight.
For a 110 lb female that would be roughly 40g/day (0.36 x 110).
Athletes and those with more physically demanding lifestyles may require more.
According to an ADA journal peer-reviewed article
the Position of the American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada,
and the American College of Sports Medicine, states
“Protein recommendations for endurance and strength-trained athletes
range from 1.2 to 1.7 g/kg (0.5 to 0.8 g/lb) body weight per day” –
with no differences for men and women. 
Because protein needs change with age,
WebMD provides the following approximations:
  • Infants require about 10 grams a day.
  • Teenage boys need up to 52 grams a day.
  • Teenage girls need 46 grams a day.
  • Adult men need about 56 grams a day.
  • Adult women need about 46 grams a day.

References:

Rodriguez NR, DiMarco NM, Langley S. Position of the American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine:
Nutrition and athletic performance. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109:509-27.

 

Q: Why is protein important?

Do you have any specific recommendations as to what (and how much)
I should be including in my daily or weekly diet?

A: Meeting your protein needs are important for growth & repair, maintaining muscle mass

(lean muscle supports your metabolism), and supporting your organs’ function.

Additionally proteins can help one become more satiated and thus aid in weight management/portion control.

If you aren’t vegetarian, there usually isnt’ a problem getting enough protein

(there are a wide variety of sources, from cereals to meats/fish/poultry and even plant-based foods/combos).

It is ensuring we are getting it from a variety of sources and not just relying on red meat and/or chicken.

Here are some tips for planning your weekly protein intake:

1. Limit your red meat consumption to one time/week. Choose lean cuts, trim off the fat.

2. Strive to consume fish, such as salmon, 3x per week to get the benefit of healthy omega 3’s

3. Include poultry 2x per week. Opt for skinless.

Though flavorful, generally rotisserie chicken contains a lot of fat and sodium in their skin.

4. Supplement the rest of your diet with plant-based sources; including beans and brown rice, nuts,

seeds, tofu, soy beans.

Check out this article for tips on adding in protein through vegetable/plant sources.

These are quite useful even if you aren’t vegetarian.

If you have a carb-heavy diet and feel you aren’t meeting your protein needs –

perhaps your hair is getting brittle, your nails are weak, you are feeling tired/sluggish –

feeling low on oxygen  (possibly anemic – iron sources include protein-rich foods),

consulting a dietitian is recommended to advise you on some lifestyle changes

you can make to improve your intake without overdoing it.

Too much protein can add to serious consequences, such as kidney and / or liver distress,

especially if your diet is deficient in other nutrients.

USDA’s MyPlate stresses that your diet should be richer in fruits & vegetables

and adequate whole grains, but to limit your PROTEIN to only 1/4 of your plate.

That doesn’t mean you won’t get some protein from your whole grains and

plant sources or your protein-rich diary source (milk, soy milk),

it just means your “complete protein” source shouldn’t take precedence over your nutrient-dense plant foods.

Lauren O’Connor, MS, RD is a registered dietitian
and owner/nutritional consultant for Nutri-Savvy.
Her approach and motto:Savor, Taste and Enjoy…Nutrition”.
She focuses on building healthy values and choosing a wide variety of foods,
allowing for all foods – even sweets, in moderation.
O’Connor is a member of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
As a nutritional expert, she’s contributed to various online media including
abcnews, everydayhealth, iVillage, Shine by yahoo,
Shape, LivingInThin, FitSugar and Multiples&More.
For more info. about Lauren O’Connor and her Services,

9 thoughts on “Happy FFF Fun & Flexible Friday & ANS!!”

  1. Appreciate the recommendations Lauren gave for protein requirements/protein sources. I tend to go heavy on the fruits/vegs, but need the protein to help balance the blood sugar levels.

    What do I do for fun? DANCE!!

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