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Correct diabetes diet
Proteins
Proteins are essential to the body, providing the material from which
body
cells are made and repaired. Proteins are composed of
chains of amino acids.
There are hundreds of these in nature.
Our bodies use around 20, which can be
arranged in an almost
infinite number of ways. Amino acids are usually split
into
two groups:
essential
and
non-essential. The essential amino acids are those that the body cannot make for itself
and
which must be present in food. There are 8 of them
(infants need a ninth,
histidine). If a protein contains the 8
essential amino acids, in the correct
proportions, it is
called a complete protein; if it does not, it is said to be an incomplete protein.
Complete proteins
are found in meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. Animal proteins, which
are
complete, have a high biological value for man. As we are part
of the animal
kingdom and composed of similar material to other
animals, we can use animal
proteins with the minimum of
waste.
Sources of
incomplete proteins
are cereals, nuts, seeds and legumes. Proportions of amino acids in any one
of
these types of vegetable food differ markedly from those we
need. Proteins from
these vegetable sources are said to be 'of low
biological value'. It is
necessary, therefore, to combine several
vegetable protein sources, fairly
accurately, to ensure that the
body receives the right amino acid mixture.
In practical terms, it is not too difficult to combine vegetables to meet
our
bodies' protein requirements. In these circumstances, the real
advantage of
meat over the vegetables is their associated
nutrients: the B vitamins, vitamin
D, iron, calcium and the more
complex fatty acids.
Our bodies need proteins continually but cannot store them in any
quantity.
Therefore, you should eat proteins regularly on a daily
basis, and at the same
meal, in quantities proportional to your
size. But they must be complete
proteins: if only one of the
essential amino acids is missing, the cell
rebuilding process will
abort.
Our bodies need about 1 - 1.5 grams of complete protein for every 1 kg
(2
pounds) lean body weight per day.
-
All meat - lamb, beef, pork, bacon, etc
-
-
include the organ meats: liver, kidneys, heart, as these contain the
widest
range of the vitamins and minerals your body needs
(weight for weight, liver
has 4 times as much Vitamin C as
apples and pears, for example);
-
-
All poultry: chicken (with the skin on), goose, duck, turkey, etc. But be
aware
that turkey is very low in fat, so fat needs to be
added.
-
-
Continental sausage (beware of British sausage which usually has a high
cereal
content.)
-
-
All animal and meat fats - without restriction - never cut the fat off
meat.
-
-
Fish and seafood of all types
-
-
Eggs (no limit)
-
-
All cheeses (except cottage cheese as this has a high carb content and
very
little fat)
-
-
Soy products are allowed but, as they are toxic, I don't recommend them (see
http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz
)
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