Ultimate Youism #5: Consider high quality, lean animal proteins like “premium unleaded fuel” for your high performance vehicle.
We all know food quantity counts, but what about food quality? While Ultimate You advocates animal protein sources, they are not all created equal. High quality lean protein is one place where you get what you pay for.
Protein is an ally in your weight-loss battle for a couple of reasons. First, protein causes the secretion of glucagon, which tells your body to stop storing fat and to burn it. Second, because protein creates a higher ratio of glucagon to insulin, your blood sugar stays more stable, which helps you stave off crashes and cravings.
Although most high-protein diets are not picky about the types of protein they allow, this program encourages you to be selective.
For example, compared to grass-fed beef or bison, or fish, conventionally raised red meat contains significantly more saturated fat and fewer super fats like CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and omega-3 fatty acids (more to come on essential fatty acids and omega-3s). The optimal proteins on the Ultimate You plan include organically raised, hormone- and antibiotic-free, lean animal proteins such as chicken, turkey, game meat, grass-fed beef and bison, and wild-caught fish.
Don’t Cheap Out on Protein
You get what you pay for: Conventionally raised meats are often loaded with inflammatory chemicals and exogenous hormones like estrogen, which can thwart weight loss. So spend a little extra on quality meat, poultry, and fish, and your health and weight will benefit.
When you shop for protein, keep these tips in mind.
• Choose beef, poultry, and fish labeled “free range,” “cage free,” “grass fed,” and “no hormones or antibiotics added.”
• If you choose beef that is not grass fed, opt for the leanest cut possible.
• Choose fish with the lowest levels of contaminants. These include wild Alaskan salmon (fresh, frozen, or canned), Atlantic mackerel and herring, sardines, sablefish, anchovies, and farmed oysters.
• Avoid fish with the highest levels of mercury, including canned albacore, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, tuna steaks, and whale
It does all add up when you get to the checkout counter, so if you need to cut back to keep the grocery bill under control do so with other items – but not protein. Items that are animal based (i.e. meat, dairy), contain a lot of fat (nuts, nut butter, olive oil, etc) and that you can’t wash well (i.e. mixed salad greens) are ones that you should opt for organic and higher quality. Skimp on hearty greens, like kale; fruit or veggies that you don’t eat the skin of; or even apples, that although you eat the skin on, that you can wash really well.
Body By Hardware 