Monday, September 7, 2009

5 Myths About Arm Fat And Protein Intake

By Katherine Crawford M.S.

Because of the popularity of high protein diets and the aggressive marketing of supplement companies, women are more confused than ever about protein. Are you confused?

I know I was.

It seems almost impossible to find the truth about protein amongst so much marketing material. And if you don't know how to optimize your protein intake you could waste a lot of time trying to get rid of those flabby arms.

So here are 5 misconceptions about flabby arms and protein:

1. Powders and bars are superior to food. Whole food will always provide a superior supply of protein. Why? Because protein from whole food sources will digest slower and will be accompanied by a whole range of additional nutrients.

2. Multiple whey protein shakes reduces arm fat. Nothing could be further from the truth! The only time you should have whey protein is right after your arm workout, that's it. Whey protein digests way too quickly to warrant further consumption.

3. Fast absorbing protein is best. Just like with carbohydrates, slower digestion is better. Any time you spike a nutrient in your bloodstream there is going to be a subsequent drop. And protein is no exception.

4. The more the merrier. This is an outdated bodybuilding myth. While protein does positively affect hormones and gives you a sense of fullness, going overboard negates all the positives. Protein should not be more than 30% of your total caloric intake.

5. Hormone-enhanced meat is bad. There have NOT been any solid studies showing a direct link to hormone-enhanced meat and a decrease in female health. However, there are solid ethical (and ecological) arguments for avoiding said meats.

Getting rid of flabby arms doesn't have to be hard. The key here is to ignore the marketing hype and stick to what has been proven by solid research. And knowing how to properly manage your protein intake is critical for losing arm fat.

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