Health and weight loss

Oregano, also scientifically known as Origanum vulgare, is an herb used in cooking to add flavor to different dishes, especially those of Mexican and Mediterranean cuisines. It contains a number of nutrients, including vitamin K, iron and manganese. Research shows that oregano consumption may influence the hormone progesterone in the body.

Hormones are signaling molecules synthesized in the body and secreted by endocrine glands. They are released into the bloodstream where they are transported to specific tissues. Hormones then attach to cell membranes and signal a chemical message to the cell. They are involved in a host of different processes such as metabolism, reproduction, mood and sexual function. Some vital hormones in the body are testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, insulin and glucagon, according to Medline Plus.

Most of oregano’s effects on the body are due to its high content of antioxidants, which play a role in destroying the production of free radicals that lead to disease and illness, according to a study conducted by researchers at Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry in Romania. Scientists discovered that oregano scored the highest out of all medicinal plants in its ability to scavenge free radicals. The research was published in the October 2011 issue of “National Product Research.”

Oregano intake may help increase the production of the hormone progesterone, according to a study conducted by researchers at Aeron Biotechnology. Scientists discovered that oregano is one of the main herbs that binds to intracellular receptors for progesterone and increases its release. Progesterone plays a role in several functions in the body, from promoting normal sleep patterns to normalizing blood sugar levels. In addition, it stimulates new bone formation. Although oregano impacts progesterone, it has no impact on other hormones in the body. The findings were published in the March 1998 issue of “Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.”

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/551041-oregano-hormones/#ixzz1dNX6y3El

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Your body uses amino acids to build muscle tissue as well as skin, hair and much of the other tissues in the body. Your body also uses amino acids for energy production and other functions. Your body makes its own amino acids save for 10 essential amino acids — leucine, valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, lysine, methionine, arginine and histidine — which you have to get from your diet. You can get amino acids from a variety of nutrition sources.

Animal sources include the flesh of the animal as well as the bones, blood and milk. The only part of the animal that does not contain any protein, and therefore no amino acids, is the fat. Animal sources are considered complete proteins because they contain all 10 essential amino acids. This means if you eat any foods from these sources, you will get all of the amino acids you need to survive.

All plants have some amino acids, but most do not have all 10 essential amino acids, which makes them incomplete. The soybean is the only plant that does have all 10. Grains such as wheat, rice and barley have some of the essential amino acids. Legumes, such as beans and peanuts, have the rest. When you combine them together — such as beans and rice — you get all 10. Leafy vegetables, roots and fruits also contain amino acids, but grains and legumes provide the essentials.

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There are nine amino acids that appear in protein chains that are essential in the human diet, according to Medline Plus. These amino acids are isoleucine, lysine, histidine, leucine, methionine, phynlalanine, tryptophan, threonine and valine. Protein chains that contain all nine of these amino acids are complete proteins. Foods that contain complete proteins include poultry, meat, eggs, fish, dairy products and soy. However, of these complete protein sources, Medline Plus and the Harvard University School of Public Health agree that discretion is necessary when integrating sources of protein into the diet. Many sources, like meat and dairy products, contain saturated fat, cholesterol and other properties that could potentially cause health difficulties. Subsequently, both suggest that the best sources of complete protein are poultry and fish.

Given that complete proteins are chains that include all nine essential amino acids, incomplete proteins do not. Accordingly, eating foods that contain only incomplete proteins may result in a protein deficiency, although this is rare. Sources of incomplete proteins are peas, seeds, beans, nuts, grains and some vegetables. Vegetables tend to contain proteins that are most incomplete.

Some foods that contain incomplete proteins can pair with another food that contains incomplete proteins to result in a meal that contains all nine amino acids. Examples of foods that complement one another to provide complete proteins include rice and beans, corn and beans and wheat cereal.

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Protein diets rely on the energy required to digest protein and the increased feeling of fullness that protein provides to help you lose weight. Protein comes from a wide variety of sources and can be classified as complete or incomplete. The “completeness” of the protein relates to the amino acids that make up the protein found in a particular product. Learning about different proteins and how to mix and match those proteins will better enable you to utilize a protein type diet safely and effectively. However, before implementing a protein-based approach to your diet, consult with your doctor and nutritionist to ensure it will be safe for you.

Complete proteins contain all the essential amino acids your body needs. Amino acids are “essential” if your body cannot naturally produce them, making them essential for dietary intake. Complete protein sources normally come from animals and animal related products. These include meat, yogurt, milk and eggs. Since these products contain complete proteins, you will not need to worry about getting the required nutrients for proper growth and development of your body tissues.

Many protein-based diets focus on complete protein foods; however, “incomplete” proteins can also be eaten to increase the feelings of being full and curbing your appetite. Incomplete proteins lack one or more of the nine essential amino acids. This makes pairing different incomplete protein sources important for curbing hunger and optimizing growth and development of body tissue. Incomplete protein sources include pasta, lentils, soy, nuts, rice and beans. The Utah Education Network advises you pair beans and bread, beans and rice or peas and pasta to ensure the proteins found in the pairing complement each other, ensuring you are getting all of the essential amino acids you need.

According to Harvard School of Public Health, you need to balance intake of complete and incomplete protein foods to meet your nutritional needs. Furthermore, the school acknowledges that the decrease in refined carbohydrates that goes along with a higher protein diet is beneficial but that complex carbohydrates are essential for proper body functioning. Eating just high saturated fat proteins from sources such as bacon or red meat should be avoided or minimized and replaced with soy or tofu sources. Diets high in saturated fats increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and other heart related conditions.

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