Fine Tune Your Menus for Healthy Weight Loss

Focusing on macronutrients when trying to lose weight forces you to take a closer look at the carbohydrates, protein and fat you are consuming. After all, not all calories are created the equal. It is true that counting calories can ultimately help you lose or gain weight, but when you need to fine tune menus to focus on specific goals, it is more important to know which foods are providing the calories you consume. Learning the correct portion size for each macronutrient is critical to keeping your macro intake balanced as well as managing your goal for calorie consumption.

• PROTEIN - Ideally, your macronutrient consumption will include the following lean proteins in moderate amounts: fish, seafood, eggs, lean chicken, pork, beef and lamb. In the absence of carbohydrates to convert into glucose, your body can process energy through a reverse conversion using an available source of protein.
• FAT - Since hormones are constructed from fat molecules and cholesterol, it is important to consume enough fat to avoid suppressing normal hormone production. Extra virgin olive oil and avocados provide healthy monounsaturated fats and certain antioxidants that can help protect memory and cognitive function in the elderly as well as works as an anti-inflammatory.
• CARBOHYDRATES - Carbohydrates do not make you fat or keep you from losing weight as long as you are consuming them within the context of how much energy your body needs on a given day. The amount of dietary carbohydrate needed for optimal health in humans in unknown. The only cells that have an absolute requirement for glucose is in the central nervous system and can obtain energy indirectly from the oxidation of fatty acids.

As you start a weight loss program, your macronutrient ratios and overall intake of calories will continually change. That's why it is essential for you to make the necessary adjustments in the foods you eat. Creating menus by accounting for the macronutrient makeup of your food gives a clearer picture as to what your body will likely do with the energy consumed. If you have been searching for a diet to help you reach your weight loss goals faster, you may want to consider a personalized menu plan with the right portions of protein, fat and carbs for your body.