We Are All Unique

What works for you may not work for me. Keto (high-fat, low-carb) can work beautifully for some, but not for others.

• So how do you find out what you should do?
  
• How do you calculate your macronutrient ratios (carbs, fats, proteins)?
  

 
Quick Explanation of the Three.
 
Carbs
Carbohydrates are one of two primary energy sources for humans (the other is fat) and include sugars, starches, and cellulose. Carbs are present in both healthy foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and starchy tubers, and unhealthy foods, namely refined flour and sugar. The consumption of refined flour and sugar in excess is potentially harmful and could contribute to the development of many chronic diseases. On the other hand, eating small amounts of refined sugar now and then, ideally in foods such as dark chocolate and real ice cream, is not a problem unless you struggle with blood sugar issues or severe gut dysbiosis.
 
Fats
Next to carbs, dietary fats constitute a primary energy source for the body. They also help maintain healthy skin and hair, immune function, and temperature regulation and facilitate the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. There are four classes of fats found in the human diet:

• Saturated Fats (milk, meat of ruminant animals, coconut products, including coconut oil, milk, and meat)
• Monounsaturated Fats (olives, olive oil, avocados, mac nuts, lard, duck fat)
• Polyunsaturated Fats (seafood, walnuts, sunflower seeds)
• Trans Fats

 
Protein
Dietary protein is not a significant energy source for the body but is essential for providing amino acids for many biological processes, including the assembly of enzymes and signaling molecules, the maintenance of skin and muscle, and for healthy growth and development.
Sources of complete protein include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products.
 

Now How To Calculate Your Macros
First, start with the Carbs, then Protein, then fill in the rest with Fats.

1. Carbs
Based on your health status, age, activity level, and other lifestyle factors, select one of the categories of carbohydrate intake:

• Very-low is less than 10 percent of total calories
• Low is 10 to 15 percent of total calories
• Moderate is 15 to 30 percent of total calories
• High-carb is more than 30 percent of total calories

Once you have chosen a category, convert the percent of carbohydrates into a decimal (for example, 15 percent becomes 0.15) and multiply this by your total daily calorie intake. For instance, if you are a man who eats approximately 2,500 calories per day and are aiming for a carb intake of 15 percent, multiply 0.15 x 2,500. The answer is 375, which represents your daily calorie intake from carbs. Divide this number by four, because there are four calories in one gram of carbs, to get the number of grams of carbohydrates (in this case, 94 g) per day.
 
2. Protein
Select the protein intake category that best fits your health status, activity level, and life stage. Meaning, a generally healthy person should aim for 10 to 20 percent of total calories, while someone who is trying to lose weight, correct blood sugar problems, or gain muscle mass could aim for 20 to 35 percent of total calories.
Example: If you are a man looking to lose weight, you may aim for 25 percent of calories as protein. Multiply your daily calorie intake, 2,500 calories, by 0.25 (625 protein calories). Then divide by four (as with carbs, there are four calories per gram of protein) to get your daily recommended protein intake, in this example, 156 grams.
 
3. Rest should be Fats
Once you've determined your ideal carb and protein intakes, fill in the remaining gap with fat. And there are nine calories in one gram of fat. Adjust the types of fats you're consuming based on your genetics and health status.

 
For the full article, in depth details, resources and references, go to Chris Kesser's website. Source - click here.

Declining muscle mass is part of aging, but you are not helpless to stop it.
 
Muscle aging may start at a relatively young age. By the time you’re in your 30s, age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) may already have begun if you've neglected to take proactive steps to prevent it.

Your muscles help keep your metabolic system intact, and maintaining muscle mass helps protect you against metabolic and hormonal decline, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

With appropriate diet and exercise, especially strength training, you can avoid and even reverse age-related muscle loss.

We all know the saying, "Two things for certain in life are death and taxes"… but in fact we should add "losing muscle mass", too.

Age-related muscle loss, is a natural part of aging. After age 30, you begin to lose as much as 3% to 5% per decade. Most men will lose about 30% of their muscle mass during their lifetimes. Less muscle means greater weakness and less mobility, both of which may increase your risk of falls and fractures.

But just because you lose muscle mass does not mean it is gone forever. We can indeed increase muscle mass lost due to aging. It takes work, dedication, and a plan, but it is never too late to rebuild muscle and maintain it.

Factors
One possible contributor to sarcopenia is the natural decline of testosterone, the hormone that stimulates protein synthesis and muscle growth. Think of testosterone as the fuel for your muscle-building fire.
The best way to build muscle mass, no matter your age, is resistance training or strength training or weight lifting. Make sure you gradually amp up your workout volume, weight, reps, and sets, as your strength and endurance improve. Always keep changing your routine. Add more weights, less reps or visa-versa. This constant challenging builds muscle and keeps you away from plateaus where you stop making gains.

Diet
Your diet also plays a role in building muscle mass. Use high quality proteins and fats. Minimize carbs. Animal sources (meat, eggs, and fish) are considered the best, as they provide the proper ratios of all the essential amino acids. You want to stay away from processed meat because of high levels of saturated fat and additives.
 
Insulin Resistance Promotes Muscle Wasting
First of all, it's important to realize that maintaining healthy insulin sensitivity is part and parcel of maintaining healthy muscle and avoiding sarcopenia. As you age, insulin no longer prevents your muscle from breaking down between meals and overnight as it normally does when you're young. The same phenomenon occurs when you're insulin resistant or diabetic.
The mechanism responsible for this is called mTOR (Mammalian Target of Rapamycin), which is part of the insulin pathway. This is why insulin sensitivity is essential for proper protein building in your muscle. In short, to build muscle, the mTOR mechanism must be activated. If your insulin receptors are insensitive, this cannot occur, and muscle wasting becomes inevitable. The mTOR mechanism can be activated through both diet and exercise.
Whey protein (watch out for inferior whey products!) is a highly beneficial dietary component as it not only increases GLP-1, a satiety peptide that promotes healthy insulin secretion and helps your insulin work more effectively - it also boosts human growth hormone (HGH). High-intensity interval exercises and intermittent fasting also promote HGH production in your body.
The triple combination of doing high intensity exercises while fasting and consuming high-quality whey protein 30 minutes after your workout is one potent strategy for preventing insulin resistance and muscle wasting.
Another lifestyle factor to consider is sensible sun exposure, as vitamin D is critically important for muscle function. (It's also essential for bone health, along with calcium and magnesium.) Vitamin D deficiency also raises your risk for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, regardless of your weight.

Power
Building muscle is not all about strength. You also need power. Muscle power, how fast and efficiently you move, is more connected to the activities of daily living and physical function than muscular strength. A good way to improve overall muscle power is with your legs, since they are most responsible for mobility. Do quicker movements against resistance, like one's own body weight, can be an effective means of developing power.

Tailored Program
To gain more muscle mass, older men need a structured and detailed fitness program. It should be tailored to the individual with the goals being progression and improvement. It should focus on individual elements like specific exercises, load, repetitions, and rest periods, and should challenge but not overwhelm. You don't want to be sore for 3 days!

Sarcopenia Is Not an Inevitable Fate
While muscle loss is a natural effect associated with aging, it’s not an inevitable fate. A healthy and active 60 year old can have the muscle mass of a 30-year old, while a sedentary middle-aged person who eats a primarily processed food diet and struggles with insulin resistance or diabetes may have the muscle quality of a 70-year old.

Remember, eating real, whole foods and staying active are key, as both will help prevent insulin resistance. In terms of staying active, avoid sitting as much as possible and be sure to engage in resistance exercises. A potent trifecta of strategies that will boost muscle growth is to do high intensity exercises while fasted, and then consume high-quality whey protein after your workout to give your muscles the nutrients they need to rebuild.

Sources: Harvard Health & Dr. Mercola

Are you Having digestive Issues? Go easy on the Veggies!
 
You may know that certain classes of foods, known as FODMAPs, are poorly digested in certain people and can lead to gas, bloating, pain and changes in stool frequency and consistency. Studies have shown that conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are associated with FODMAP intolerance, and that a low-FODMAP diet offers relief in a substantial percentage of people with IBS.
 
Today's tip for those of you with digestive issues, including IBS, constipation, diarrhea and acid reflux: EAT FEWER VEGETABLES!

Yep, that’s right. I said it! Fewer vegetables.

Vegetables (as well as some fruits) are often high in insoluble fiber. While soluble fiber can be soothing for the gut, consuming large amounts of insoluble fiber when your gut is inflamed is a little bit like rubbing a wire brush against an open wound.

High insoluble fiber veggies:

• Greens (spinach, lettuce, kale, mesclun, collards, arugula, watercress)
• Whole peas, snow peas, snap peas, pea pods
• Green beans
• Kernel corn
• Bell peppers
• Eggplant
• Celery
• Onions, shallots, leeks, scallions, garlic
• Cabbage, bok choy, Brussels sprouts
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower

High in soluble fiber veggies, but lower in insoluble fiber (and thus tend to be safer for those with gut issues) include:

• Carrots
• Winter squash
• Summer squash (especially peeled)
• Starchy tubers (yams, sweet potatoes, potatoes)
• Turnips
• Rutabagas
• Parsnips
• Beets
• Plantains
• Taro
• Yuca

Another helpful tip is to reduce the variety of vegetables you eat at any given meal. Instead of stir-fries with six different veggies, have a single steamed or roasted vegetable as a side dish. This works better for most people with gut issues.

Let's be clear, I'm not suggesting that you don't eat these foods at all if you have digestive problems. I'm simply suggesting that you limit them.

Below a few steps you can take to make these foods more digestible and less likely to cause problems.

They include:

1. Never eat insoluble fiber foods on an empty stomach - Always eat them with other foods that contain soluble fiber.
2. Remove the stems and peels - (i.e. from broccoli, cauliflower, and winter greens) from veggies (and fruits) high in insoluble fiber.
3. Dice, mash, chop, grate or blend high-insoluble fiber foods to make them easier to break down.
4. Insoluble fiber foods are best eaten well-cooked - Steamed thoroughly, boiled in soup, braised, etc; avoid consuming them in stir-fries and if you do eat them raw

 
Think Primal - It's worth pointing out that most traditional cultures only ate a few vegetables and fruits that were available seasonally. They couldn't walk into a grocery store and buy every vegetable on the planet at every time of year.

AND, please don't forget, I have nothing against vegetables. In fact, they're good and I do think they’re beneficial.

One more tip: Fermented vegetables like sauerkraut, kim chi, sauerruben, and cortido are excellent alternatives for people with gut issues. First, the fermentation process “pre-digests” the vegetables and makes them easier to absorb. Second, fermented veggies contain probiotic microorganisms that help heal the gut.