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August 3rd, 2010
11:00 AM ET
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I think many people would respond better to this report if Dr. Gupta had presented in the report some reduced-fat and even vegetarian options for low carb meals. Having adapted MANY recipes to low-carb, I can attest that the low-carb meal no longer has to be a burger with cheese and mayo. For those of us whom have made permanent changes in our eating habits, we know the broad spectrum of healthier options for low carb recipes. Its very much about education and proper presentation of these options that may help turn the tide of obesity in the US.
Regarding comments made Aug 3 through Aug. 4 at 10:01am, your comments are well intentioned and for some people these simple concepts will work. But I agree most with the comments made by Michelle on Aug 4-5. I pretty much can't improve on what she said.
Fad diets often don't work because they aren't designed to successfully be used as a permanent change in eating habits. However, certain low-carb plans ARE designed for lifetime eating changes. What's important to note is that some people's bodies, their metabolisms, how their bodies process food....respond better to low-carb while others respond better to low-fat.
Of course an excercise plan is important, not just for weight-loss/maintenance but to address other potential health issues, osteoporosis, diabetes and more.
It is not true that you need to eat carbs. There are no essential nutrients in simple and most complex carbohydrates. Fibre can be had from vegetables. There are essential fatty and amino acids. These carbs were not available throughout most of our human history, and we managed to convert fat into energy just fine. In fact Ketosis (fat burning for energy) is our natural metabolism. Babies are born in ketosis. Please do not confuse ketosis with ketoacidosis.
Most diseases of modernity and their increased prevalence (heart disease, cancer, diabetes etc) can be directly linked to the increased consumption of carbohydrates, particularly refined sugars and flour.
The tenet that saturated animal fats are bad for your heart is wrong. As people in the low carb communities and many scientists have known for decades- a diet high in fats and low in carbs actually reduces bad cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and increase HDL levels.
Low fat diets are strongly linked to several cancers- particularly pancreatic cancer.
Brad- that calories in- calories out is way over-simplified and ingnores several very important factors, such as:
The Thermic Effect of the Food You Eat- the amount of energy required to process the food you have eaten (not all food types are processed the same- processing protein burns more calories than processing carbs).
The Fiber Content of the Food You Eat- fibre in not digestable so althoug it has the same 4 calories per g as carbs- they do not affect the body in the same way
The Glycemic and Insulin Indices of the Food You Eat- the amount of insulin needed to get rid of the sugar from the carbohydrate you have ingested. As we all know- insulin is a fat storage hormone- the more insulin you have the harder it is to burn fats. More carbs equals more insulin.
The Different Macronutrients Present in the Food You Eat – Although insulin's primary function is to shuttle glucose (sugar) into skeletal muscle, it also carries many other nutrients to their respective storage sites — this includes lipids (fat). Since carbohydrate ingestion stimulates a large insulin response and fat ingestion gives to blood lipid levels, when the two are consumed together, they promote the greatest fat storage.
The Size, Frequency and Time of the Meals You Eat- if you eat meals more frequently, you body learns to expect the food and doesn't store it in case you might starve it for several hours. Also eating a lot of carbs before bed spikes insulin and promotes fat storage while sleeping as the carbs can't be burned off during the day.
Another study showed that people who followed low carb and ate the same number of calories as someone following a lowfat/low cal diet, on average, lost 15% more weight. Most people eating low carb consume more calories that people eating low fat.
Brad, it isn't that easy. Nutrition and satiety are now part of that equation. If we followed that old 1940's rule as you presented it, then yeah, you could lose weight by eating a daily caloric deficit value, but alot of us have tried that and engaged in diets made up of nothing but chocolate or grapefruit or whatever. We've only recently learned (within the last 20 years perhaps) that fad diets which try to emulate that old equation aren't healthy and the body will ultimately react to it in a negative manner. The human body needs nutrients to convert the food into energy, and if the nutients suck, the results will too. We're just now unraveling that secret, of what is balanced nutrition and will provide long term satiety versus what is yet another fad.
You need both fat and carbs in your diet in order to be healthy. You need some amount of fat because it is the fat molecules that carries the needed vitamins, minerals and enzymes throughout your body. You need carbs because that is the body's fuel for energy. If you want to lose weight, you have to be committed to do it first and foremost. You must change your eating style. You must watch calories. You must exercise. You must watch your portions. You must give yourself "cheat days" because total restriction will lead to binging. It's all common sense really. I have friends that have had the gastric bypass surgery, and they are suffering the consequences now. One friend had a hole in her stomach and was rushed into surgery. One couldn't stop overeating and it caused internal damage and she had to have reconstructive surgery. Self control is the most important part of losing weight. No quick fix will work. It takes time – those who lose weight at 1-2 pounds a week are much more likely to keep it off than those who lose a lot in a short amount of time.
What a concept.. Burn more calories than you intake!!
ELEM: The new miracle weight loss plan! (Eat Less, Exercise More)
I agree with Brad. Counting claories and daily exercise is the only fool proof way to lose weight and keep it off.
The Problem is that everyone wants the easy way out.
The answer is simple eat food that is good for you, get enough exercise and drink a lot of water.
Don't eat too much of one kind of food, have a balanced diet that includes Carbs, Proteins, and Fats. Stay away from foods that are empty calories like junk food and soda.
If you hate exercise, then find hobbies that will keep you in shape, or sneak exercise into your daily life, like take the stairs, park farther away from stores so you walk more, play a sport, do yard work, or home repair, take-up gardening. It may sound silly, but things do add-up. Once you get use to a more physical life style then working-out and doing more physical activities becomes more enjoyable.
Dr. Gupta, as always, presents things in perspective. No miracle plans. Fair and balanced presentation of the facts. The problem is we're just not doing it as the recent obesity rates show.
How about a low calorie diet?? Weight loss is pure physics: calorie intake minus calorie usage = weight loss or weight gain.