Lean Protein Recipes

Arguments over the proper proportions of fat to carbohydrate to protein in your daily calorie consumption likely won’t end until the U.S. balances its federal budget—and we’re not expecting either very soon.

The recipes that can be downloaded here were used by a client almost 20 years ago in DeLand, Fl, who showed great body-sculpting results. They provide substantial protein with little fat. Presumably, they also fill you up so that your carb cravings dissipate.

Not sure I subscribe to the claim that carbohydrates make people fat, and insulin causes obesity. Some trendy diets focus on blood sugar levels and blame carbohydrates for causing a sudden rise in blood sugar. During metabolism, as blood sugar levels rise, insulin is released to send sugar to the brain and muscles to be burned for energy, while the excess is stored as fat.

The theory is that if individuals limit their intake of carbohydrate, the rapid rise in blood sugar is avoided and less sugar will be stored as fat. You decide. Try these recipes and let me know how it works.

--Terry Duschinski, April 26, 2012

Muscle Madness

Don't you love good discussions centering on sarcomeres, sliding filament theory, myofibrils, crossbridges, ATP production, fiber recruitment patterns and mitochondrial function? By chance this is unrognizeable terminology, my point is proven -- our appreciation of muscle is grossly inadequate.

I wish we could give muscle a new image, one apart from the physique distortions of bodybuilding, especially that which is chemically enhanced.

Muscles, or more precisely the force production of muscle enable us to move, work, perform chores, accomplish tasks, remain ambulatory, enhance our skeletal system and contribute to good health. Have you noticed that those unable to use their muscles (i.e. Christopher Reeves) die earlier?

To help you better appreciate muscle -- the complex, intricate, amazing organism it truly is, I've assembled several YouTube lectures. I also encourage you to read Dr. Doug McGuff's article, The Fountain of Youth, from which I've quote several times in previous weeks here, and in my podcast/CD program (no direct link is possible; you'll have to visit McGuff's website and click "articles" then "Fountain of Youth").

The first video is a basic overview; afterward, it gets quite involved. The purpose is to demonstrate the elaborate system that is muscle contraction. Please give these a try:

Dr. Robert Droual, a professor at Modesto Junior College, has several muscle anatomy posts:

Whew! Got it? Can't say I understand all this, but it sure looks like muscle activity should burn calories.

If you read Dr. McGuff's article, this video will help you understand mitochondria:

If you're hungry for more, venture onto YouTube; there are plenty more muscle anatomy videos.

Tanya Zuckerbrot has some calorie-cutting suggestions, such as cream cheese versus peanut butter, or pecan pie versus pumpkin pie: