Source: Reddit.com
Thursday, June 28, 2012
How many eggs can you eat per day?
You eat 40 whole eggs per week. 5 to 6 eggs daily at breakfast. You eat them with veggies, really like them and feel full of energy at the gym each time your day starts with an omelet.
But everyone tells you you're crazy eating so many eggs. They tell you eggs are unhealthy because they're full of cholesterol. You'll clock your arteries and die if you continue. Sounds familiar? Truth or myth? Let's see.
Why People Say Eating Lots of Eggs is Unhealthy. Eggs contain high amounts of cholesterol. 1 large egg has about 200mg cholesterol and 5g of fat. Almost half of that fat is saturated fat.
The logic is that since eggs are high in cholesterol, a high egg consumption will increase your blood cholesterol. So by cutting eggs from your diet, your blood cholesterol will decrease. This, however, isn't how your body works.
Facts on Cholesterol. You can find studies showing that high cholesterol levels will make you live longer and more immune to infections & diseases than low cholesterol levels. More facts:
- Your Body Makes Cholesterol. Your liver makes 3-6x more cholesterol than you can get eating eggs and other animal products.
- Cholesterol is Vital To Your Body. You need it for the production of steroid hormones like Testosterone and to build & repair cells.
- Dietary Cholesterol Isn't Bound to Blood Cholesterol. There's no relation to cholesterol & saturated fat intake to higher cholesterol levels.
Benefits of Eating The Egg Yolk. Eating the yolk makes your life easier since you don't have to separate it from the egg white each time. Eating the yolk is also healthier for 3 reasons:
- More Vitamins. The yolk is full of vitamins A, D, E. Vitamin D is especially important since most people lack vitamin D.
- Twice The Protein. Eating whole eggs doubles the protein intake you'd get eating egg whites only: the yolk contains half the protein.
- Increased Testosterone Levels. Saturated fat and cholesterol increase testosterone production. Both are heavily present in the egg yolk.
How to Protect Yourself Against Heart Diseases. This is the real concern people have regarding cholesterol. Some things you can do.
- Lose Fat. People with high cholesterol usually have excess body fat. Read the article on fat loss and apply.
- Exercise. This will make you lose fat and improve your health. CheckStrongLifts 5x5 if you don't know where to start.
- Eat Healthy. No more junk food, sodas, artificial trans-fats and refined sugars. Apply the 8 nutrition rules.
- Get Antioxidants. Like berries and green tea. These keep your LDL particles acting normal, preventing blockage in arteries.
- Relax. Stress can negatively influence your cholesterol levels. Relax, take breaks, exercise, think positive, ...
- Avoid Drugs. Cholesterol lowering drugs are harmful to your liver in the long-term and useless if you don't eat healthier, exercise and lose fat.
If you tried the above and your cholesterol levels haven't improved, then MAYBE you're part of the minority of the population who's genetically predisposed.
Bicycle Touring is more fun!
Furthermore, bicycle touring allows you be more relax, funny and more interactive with your fellow cyclist. Hence the ride will be more enjoyable!
Let's travel on bikes.
Source : Pic from travellingtwo.com
Malaysia's favourite breakfast
According to Star Online, 1 serving of Nasi Lemak is 644 calories. Add another 290 calories for a fried chicken. Meanwhile, 1 piece of Roti Canai (or Prata) + dhal gives you 360 calories. While Roti Telur is 414 calories. Teh Tarik is 83 calories and 2 half-boiled eggs & plain Roti gives you 227 calories.
There you go people! Malaysian cyclist whether they are riding or not still favour these dishes despite high calories over some 'mat salleh' food for breakfast. No wonder, it is hard to lose weight even on bike tour!
Which drink is better?
Water
The natural choice for hydration is water. It hydrates better than any other liquid, both before and during exercise. Water tends to be less expensive and more available than any other drink. You need to drink 4-6 ounces of water for every 15-20 minutes of exercise. That can add up to a lot of water! While some people prefer the taste of water over other drinks, most people find it relatively bland and will stop drinking water before becoming fully hydrated. Water is the best, but it only helps you if you drink it.
Sports Drinks
Sports drinks don't hydrate better than water, but you are more likely to drink larger volumes, which leads to better hydration. The typical sweet-tart taste combination doesn't quench thirst, so you will keep drinking a sports drink long after water has lost its appeal. An attractive array of colors and flavors are available. You can get a carbohydrate boost from sports drinks, in addition to electrolytes which may be lost from perspiration, but these drinks tend to offer lower calories than juice or soft drinks.
Juice
Juice may be nutritious, but it isn't the best choice for hydration. The fructose, or fruit sugar, reduces the rate of water absorption so cells don't get hydrated very quickly. Juice is a food in its own right and it's uncommon for a person to drink sufficient quantities to keep hydrated. Juice has carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes, but it isn't a great thirst quencher.
Carbonated Soft Drinks
When you get right down to it, the colas and uncolas of the world aren't good for the body. The acids used to carbonate and flavor these beverages will damage your teeth and may even weaken your bones. Soft drinks are devoid of any real nutritional content. Even so, they taste great! You are more likely to drink what you like, so if you love soft drinks then they might be a good way to hydrate. The carbohydrates will slow your absorption of water, but they will also provide a quick energy boost. In the long run, they aren't good for you, but if hydration is your goal, soft drinks aren't a bad choice. Avoid drinks with lots of sugar or caffeine, which will lessen the speed or degree of hydration.
Coffee and Tea
Coffee and tea can sabotage hydration. Both drinks act as diuretics, meaning they cause your kidneys to pull more water out of your bloodstream even as the digestive system is pulling water into your body. It's a two-steps-forward-one-step-back scenario. If you add milk or sugar, then you reduce the rate of water absorption even further. The bottom line? Save the latte for later.
Alcoholic Beverages
A beer might be great after the game, as long as you were the spectator and not the athlete. Alcohol dehydrates your body. Alcoholic beverages are better for hydration than, say, seawater, but that's about it.
The bottom line: Drink water for maximum hydration, but feel free to mix things up a bit to cater to your personal taste. You will drink more of what you like. In the end, the quantity of liquid is the biggest factor for getting and staying hydrated.
Source: about.com/chemistry / photo from beginning nutrition
Reliable tires
It is made for extreme bicycle touring and is favourite among touring cyclist around the world.
You can use it for both on or off road expedition. The tire is really fast.
I have them fixed to my folding & last touring bike..until now (touch wood) it has not puncture.
So, invest in good tires like Schwalbe that use anti-puncture compound or layers. They really works.
It may be a bit expensive but it worth it because changing tires during cycling ride is very troublesome especially when you are fully loaded.
Instant Carb
Why? because they can give instant carbs when in urgent need in a small & easy size to carry.
Yes, they are expensive and tastes funny, so it is optional.
Usually I don't even use them in a tour.
Usually I don't even use them in a tour.
So don't worry, you DON'T have to carry them if you don't want to.
What to eat on bike tour?
As a Malaysian, I'd eat anything local, but I'd try to skip Nasi Lemak before ride, not because it is not 'sporty' enough for cyclist but because of the sambal that might hurt my stomach. I'd opt for Roti Canai and Teh Halia instead. And sometimes, I'd eat Bee Hoon Goreng or Mee Goreng, if they are available.
And what if you are overly conscious about your calories intake? Then skip Nasi Lemak or Roti Canai, just eat 2 half-boiled egg & plain bread. Hmmm Boring........
During ride, eat simple carbs like sweets, cakes, bread etc. I used to carry biscuits, nuts, raisins or dates for bike tour. Or simply eat bananas which is easy to digest.
After ride, I usually eat Nasi Campur because I love Rice and I need those carbs, and add up with Fish or Chicken for the Protein we need for muscle recovery. And don't forget the junk food like crackers, potato chips, chocolates too.
So, don't worry too much about what to eat. Just enjoy the tour & the food! Bicycle touring will burn out those calories when you ride slow as we usually do, so eat up!
How and When to Hydrate
Sipping fluids before and after a hot weather workout is just as important as drinking during a ride. Here we turn to the experts for the when, how and what of staying quenched.
Time it right Hydrating before pedaling helps you avoid drying out on the road. For best absorption, sip 12 to 16 ounces of water four hours before hopping onto your bike; two hours before, sip another 12 ounces. While riding, drink enough to match the intensity of the exercise, the heat of the day and your body's needs—the average recommendation is one 16-ounce bottle per hour in cool weather, up to as many as four bottles per hour in extremely hot weather, based on a 150-pound cyclist. Afterward, your goal is to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. If the ride was easy or moderate, sipping water and having a small meal within an hour of finishing should be sufficient, but if the ride was long and intense, use the weighing method below to determine your drinking regimen.
Customize People sweat at different rates, and rides vary in terrain, speed and distance, but hydration goals are the same regardless. "Your aim is to minimize fluid and electrolyte loss or gain," says Douglas Casa, Ph.D., the director of athletic training education at the University of Connecticut, at Storrs. The best way to learn your individual sweat rate: Step on the scale before and after a long or hard ride. If you weigh less afterward, you should be drinking a bit more; if you weigh more, you should cut back to avoid overhydration.
Keep it simple "On easier rides, stick with water. You'll get the mother lode of electrolytes, calories and fluids from the meals and fluids you consume prior to, and after, your ride," says Casa, who's been researching hydration and exercise issues for more than a decade. When a ride is intense, pushes past an hour, or is in hot weather, consider a sports drink. "I recommend staying away from the stuff with 9,000 ingredients," says Casa. "You just need the essentials—fluid, carbohydrates and electrolytes."
Try and try again The only way to find what drinks work for you is by testing them. "Some products may not taste good to you, while others may sit in your stomach in a bad way," says Casa. If you're the type of salty sweater who finds white streaks on your jersey after a ride, you may need a drink with more sodium. For extreme salt sweaters, Casa suggests adding 1/4 teaspoon of salt to 16 ounces of sports drink (that's 600mg of sodium). If you find that a sports drink upsets your stomach, try diluting it with water. "Just never start a big event with a new product in your bottle," says Casa. "That's a recipe for disaster."
Source: Bicycle.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)