Meats, Poultry, and Fish

Appendix B What is Protein?

Proteins are part of every cell, tissue, and organ in our bodies. Every part of our body is either made of proteins or made by proteins. These body proteins are constantly being broken down and replaced. The protein in the foods we eat is digested into amino acids that are later used to replace these proteins in our bodies. Protein is found in the following foods:

• meats, poultry, and fish • legumes (dry beans and peas) • tofu • eggs • nuts and seeds • milk and milk products • grains, some vegetables, and some fruits (provide only small amounts of protein relative to other sources) As we mentioned, most adults in the United States get more than enough protein to meet their needs. It's rare for someone who is healthy and eating a varied diet to not get enough protein. What are the types of protein? Proteins are made up of amino acids. Think of amino acids as the building blocks. There are 20 different amino acids that join together to make all types of protein. Some of these amino acids cannot be made by our bodies; these are known as essential amino acids. It's essential that our diet provide these. In the diet, protein sources are labeled according to how many of the essential amino acids they provide:

• A complete protein source is one that provides all of the essential amino acids. You may also hear these sources called high quality proteins. Animal-based foods; for example, meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, and cheese are considered complete protein sources.

• An incomplete protein source is one that is low in one or more of the essential amino acids. Complementary proteins are two or more incomplete protein sources that together provide adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids.

For example, rice contains low amounts of certain essential amino acids; however, these same essential amino acids are found in greater amounts in dry beans. Similarly, dry beans contain lower amounts of other essential amino acids that can be found in larger amounts in rice. Together, these two foods can provide adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids the body needs.

How much protein do I need? Maybe you've wondered how much protein you need each day. In general, it's recommended that 10–35% of your daily calories come from protein. Below are the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for different age groups.2

Recommended Dietary Allowance for Protein Grams of protein

needed each day Children ages 1 – 3 13 Children ages 4 – 8 19 Children ages 9 – 13 34 Girls ages 14 – 18 46 Boys ages 14 – 18 52 Women ages 19 – 70+ 46 Men ages 19 – 70+ 56 Here are examples of amounts of protein in food:

• 1 cup of milk has 8 grams of protein • A 3-ounce piece of meat has about 21 grams of protein • 1 cup of dry beans has about 16 grams of protein An 8-ounce container of yogurt has about 11 grams of protein Appendix C Fat Fat is a component in food. Some foods, including most fruits and vegetables, have almost no fat. Other foods have plenty of fat. This includes nuts, oils, butter, and meats like beef.

The name — fat — may make it sound like something you shouldn't eat. But fat is an important part of a healthy diet. And little kids, especially, need a certain amount of fat in their diets so the brain and nervous system develop correctly. That's why toddlers need to drink whole milk, which has more fat, and older kids can drink low-fat or skim milk. Fat is also needed to protect organs, insulate the body as well as form cell membranes and hormones within the body.

Types of Fat You might see ads for foods that say they're "low-fat" or "fat-free." Lower-fat diets have been recommended for health and to help people lose weight. But nutrition experts are finding that fats are more complicated and that some kinds of fat are actually good for your health. As a bonus, fat in food helps people feel satisfied, so they don't eat as much.

But that doesn't mean a high-fat diet will be good for you. And some fats are better than others. Here are the three major types:

Unsaturated fats: These are found in plant foods and fish. These may be good for heart health. The best of the unsaturated fats are found in olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, albacore tuna, and salmon. These are characterized by the presence of at least one double bond within the carbon chain that causes these molecules to be kinked, difficult to be packed close together and therefore less dense.

Saturated fats: These fats are found in meat and other animal products, such as butter, cheese, and all milk except skim. Saturated fats are also in palm and coconut oils, which are often used in commercial baked goods (the kind you buy at the store). Eating too much saturated fat can raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease. These fats do not contain any double bonds and all of the carbon atoms are saturated with hydrogen atoms, making them straight molecules that can be packed close together to become very dense. Trans fats: These fats are found in margarine and many types of fast food like fries or potato chips. Trans fats are also found in certain foods that you buy at the store or in a restaurant, such as snack foods, baked goods, and fried foods. When you see "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oils on an ingredient list, the food contains trans fats. Trans fats are also listed on the food label. Like saturated fats, trans fats can raise cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease. Chemically, these fats contain a unique bond that allows the molecules to be packed even closer together than saturated fats and thus, these fats can be very dense.

Why Do We Need Fat? Dietary fat helps a kid's body grow and develop like it should. Fats fuel the body and help absorb some vitamins. They also are the building blocks of hormones and they insulate nervous system tissue in the body. Typically,

So fat is not the enemy, but you'll want to choose the right amount — and the right kind — of fat. If you're getting most of your fat from lean meats, fish, and heart-healthy oils, you've already made fat your friend! Appendix D

Carbohydrates

There are two major types of carbohydrates (or carbs) in foods: simple and complex. Typically, fat should comprise 10-25% of your total calorie intake/day.

Simple carbohydrates: These are also called simple sugars and include smaller simple molecules such as glucose or lactose. Simple carbs can be broken down easily and cause rapid changes in blood sugar levels. Simple sugars are found in refined sugars, like the white sugar you'd find in a sugar bowl. If you have a lollipop, you're eating simple carbs. But you'll also find simple sugars in more nutritious foods, such as fruit and milk. It's better to get your simple sugars from food like fruit and milk. Why? Because sugar isn't added to these foods and they also contain vitamins, fiber, and important nutrients like calcium. A lollipop has lots of added sugar and doesn't contain important nutrients.

Complex carbohydrates: Complex carbs are formed when several simple sugars combine to form larger molecules. Since these are larger than simple carbs, it takes more time to break them down and they cause gradual changes in blood sugar levels. These are also called starches. Starches include grain products, such as bread, crackers, pasta, and rice. As with simple sugars, some complex carbohydrate foods are better choices than others. Refined grains, such as white flour and white rice, have been processed, which removes nutrients and fiber. But unrefined grains still contain these vitamins and minerals. Unrefined grains also are rich in fiber, which helps your digestive system work well. Fiber helps you feel full, so you are less likely to overeat these foods. That explains why a bowl of oatmeal fills you up more than sugary candy with the same amount of calories as the oatmeal.

So which type of carbs should you eat? Both can be part of a healthy diet.

How the Body Uses Carbohydrates When you eat carbs, your body breaks them down into simple sugars, which are absorbed into the bloodstream. As the sugar level rises in your body, the pancreas releases a hormone called insulin. Insulin is needed to move sugar from the blood into the cells, where the sugar can be used as a source of energy.

When this process goes fast — as with simple sugars — you're more likely to feel hungry again soon. When it occurs more slowly, as with a whole-grain food, you'll be satisfied longer. These types of complex carbohydrates give you energy over a longer period of time.

The carbs in some foods (mostly those that contain a lot of simple sugars) cause the blood sugar level to rise more quickly than others. Scientists have been studying whether eating foods that cause big jumps in blood sugar may be related to health problems like diabetes and heart disease.

You're probably already on the right track if you are limiting simple sugars (such as candy) and eating more complex carbohydrates (like vegetables, oatmeal, and whole-grain wheat bread).