Archive for August, 2009

Protect Yourself Against Diabetes

Being overweight is not just a cosmetic problem, it's a major health problem around the world. Just in the US alone, two-thirds of adults weigh more than they ought to. And, as the study in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition points out, a  low-carb diet that minimizes bad carbs is a much better way to go than eating sugar-loaded, low-fat products.

I love sugar as much as the next person and, as a matter of fact, I have a serious sweet tooth. However, a low-fat cookie for example has more sugar per serving than a regular one. Not surprising since low-fat translates into added sugar – no tasty no selly.

A Common Sense Approach to Dieting

The thing that has worked for me, after having read and studied both of the definitive books on the subject of low-carb dieting; Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution and the South Beach Diet by Dr. Arthur Agatson, is a combination of low-carb and low-fat, meaning, have that juicy steak – but cut off the excess fat, enjoy your cream cheese – but on a stalk of celery, not a bagel, keep the bacon for breakfast – but limit it to two slices.

Use common sense when faced with eating decisions. Keep track of what you don't eat and make a list of the (bad) carbs that didn't make it past your lips. At the end of a week use this formula to see the amount of weight gain you avoided. (this is only an approximation because of the differences in body structure from one person to another).

I start the formula with a stern warning; one dessert consumed = 1 lb of weight gain, no matter the portion size. That's the bad news IF you should fall. But for each 100 grams of bad carbs you resist you can say you avoided a pound of weight gain.

So, at the end of the week, if you lost 3 lbs and you resisted 300 bad carbohydrates, you can say you doubled your weight loss! It's just like resisting a sale, especially when you don't need the item that is discounted. Like my Dad always said (i know it's corny but I think of it often) "Son, if you want to double your money, fold it twice and put it back in your pocket."

Low-Carb Diets Show Protective Effect Against Type II Diabetes!

Thomas Halton, a recent graduate of the Harvard School of Public Health and founder of a nutrition consulting company called Fitness Plus, seemed to be a bit surprised that the one diet that did seem to show a protective effect against type 2 diabetes was a low-carb plan, one that advocates cutting out "bad" carbs like processed sugar and flour. Duh!, just because dieters the world over (nutritionists and doctors too!) have been brainwashed by all the low-fat propaganda out there doesn't mean that there aren't people in the know.

It's just too much of an effort to actually read about the science behind low-carb in Dr. Atkins and Dr. Agatson's books. All that talk about not eating any white stuff, bread, potatoes, pasta and sugar – all my favorites! All someone needs to hear is that Dr. Atkins said never eat fruit! Not true but for someone who hasn't read the book to know that he advocated not eating fruit only during the induction phase of his weight loss plan.

What has happened here is that the sugar people have done their jobs well, just go to any grocery store or even specialty "health food" stores and read the nutrition labels of their "low fat" products. Prepare to be amazed at the sky-high carbohydrate content – 99 percent of which is sugar! In order to make low-fat products palatable, food manufacturers have to add sugar when they take out the fat. No taste = no sale!

Low-Carb Diets Show Protective Effect Against Type II Diabetes!

There is only one diet I know that has been shown to have a protective effect against type 2 diabetes, drum roll please…A low-carb plan, one that advocates cutting out "bad" carbs like processed sugar and flour and limiting the "good" carbs like those found in vegetables and fruit.

Duh!, just because dieters the world over (nutritionists and doctors too!) have been brainwashed by all the low-fat propaganda out there doesn't mean that there aren't some people in the know.

Dr. Atkins NEVER said "don't eat fruit." He DID say "don't eat fruit during the induction phase" of his low-carb regimen. But what is it that most people will say when the subject of low-carb and the Atkins Plan comes up in conversation? "isn't that the nut that said don't eat fruit, it's bad for you?" What a travesty.

What has happened here is that the sugar people have done their jobs well, just go to any grocery store or even specialty "health food" stores and read the nutrition labels of their "low fat" products. Prepare to be amazed at the sky-high carbohydrate content – 99 percent of which is sugar! In order to make low-fat products palatable, food manufacturers have to add sugar when they take out the fat. No taste = no sale!