Posted on 06/06/2011 6:53:29 AM PDT by decimon
A modest reduction in consumption of carbohydrate foods may promote loss of deep belly fat, even with little or no change in weight, a new study finds. Presentation of the study results will be Sunday at The Endocrine Society's 93rd Annual Meeting in Boston.
When paired with weight loss, consumption of a moderately reduced carbohydrate diet can help achieve a reduction of total body fat, according to principal author Barbara Gower, PhD, a professor of nutrition sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
"These changes could help reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, stroke and coronary artery disease," Gower said, noting that excess visceral, or intra-abdominal, fat raises the risk of these diseases.
Gower and her colleagues conducted the study, with funding from the National Institutes of Health, in 69 overweight but healthy men and women. Subjects received food for two consecutive eight-week periods: first a weight maintenance intervention, and then a weight loss intervention, which cut the number of calories that each person ate by 1,000 each day.
Subjects received either a standard lower-fat diet or a diet with a modest reduction in carbohydrates, or "carbs," but slightly higher in fat than the standard diet. The moderately carb-restricted diet contained foods that had a relatively low glycemic index, a measure of the extent to which the food raises blood glucose levels. This diet consisted of 43 percent calories from carbohydrates and 39 percent calories from fat, whereas the standard diet contained 55 percent of calories from carbohydrates and 27 percent from fat. Protein made up the other 18 percent of each diet.
At the beginning and end of each study phase, the researchers measured the subjects' fat deep inside the abdomen and their total body fat using computed tomography (CT) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans.
After the weight maintenance phase, subjects who consumed the moderately carb-restricted diet had 11 percent less deep abdominal fat than those who ate the standard diet. However, when the researchers analyzed results by race, they found it was exclusive to whites. Whites have more deep abdominal fat than Blacks even when matched for body weight or percent body fat, and may benefit from loss of this metabolically harmful depot, Gower said.
During the weight loss phase, subjects on both diets lost weight. However, the moderately carb-restricted diet promoted a 4 percent greater loss of total body fat, Gower said. "For individuals willing to go on a weight-loss diet, a modest reduction in carbohydrate-containing foods may help them preferentially lose fat, rather than lean tissue," she said. "The moderately reduced carbohydrate diet allows a variety of foods to meet personal preferences."
whatever...I’ll stick with what works for ME.
my grandfather died at age 50, in his bed, of probably a massive heart attack....he was SKINNY...but smoked. This was the 1950’s....I have worked at doing things to avoid that fate....and I lived through the high carb/fat free, etc diets....caveman type eating has been the best for me. I forgot to mention that I also take a good amount of Vitamin D, fish oil, and cod liver oil...and eat oil/butter, etc....(organic)
Okay and interesting to note. Thanks for the info.
I know it drops your weight, but what does it do to your Homocysteine levels, Triglycerides, Cholesterol and Prolipoprotein levels?
I did and that was just a typo leaving out the word ounces. I was multitasking when I typed that message.
He fell and died of Organ failure two weeks later in a Coma. At any rate I think the following paragraph was very interesting.
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/atkinsdiet/a/dratkinsdeath.htm
“Following this, a Nebraska doctor known to be anti-Atkins, and associated with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, requested Dr. Atkins’ medical records, which should not have been released, but which mistakenly were sent. The Medical Examiner’s report had a hand-written note that Atkins had a history of myocardial infarction (heart attack), congestive heart failure, and hypertension (written “h/o MI, CHF, HTN”). The above Committee made much of this and began the rumor that Atkins had “died of his own diet”. The misconceptions remain to this day. “
I know it drops your weight, but what does it do to your Homocysteine levels, Triglycerides, Cholesterol and Prolipoprotein levels?
My dr didn't test my prolipoprotein levels or my homocysteine levels. but my cholesterol and triglycerides are envious for any 40 year old. (And are better than they were a year ago.)
So here's my question to you: You've asked many people on this thread to ask their doctors what they would think of this diet. When I hold my paw up and say, "My doctor PUT me on this diet," you push for more.
My health energy and vitality are higher than they've been in years. I *feel* better. Does that make a difference to you?
Obviously, my doctor doesn't think that my prolipoprotein or homocysteine levels are that important and didn't test for them. Are you telling me that you are more of an expert than my doctor who just (6 weeks ago) performed a complete physical (with blood work) on me and pronounced me in excellent health?
Sprite, you've obviously got an ax to grind. I believe that my diet is the best one that I've found for *me*. For my body. If you've had better results by eating another way - more power to you. But you shouldn't go around telling other people how their body would best respond to food. And you definitely shouldn't go around trashing a diet that has saved lives (mine included).
If you don't want to eat low carb, don't do it. Nobody is forcing you.
But nobody is going to convince me to eat any other way.
What is the point you were trying to make with this reference?
Your “prolipoprotein” comes from your Liver. It’s secreted into your body. It triggers the oxidation of your fat cells which in turn triggers a heart attack. Bottom line the higher the number the worst.
High levels of Homocysteine in the blood is the common denominator of people that died from heart attacks or cancer. It comes from the Cows and Chickens we eat.
If you feel an all meat diet is how you want in life, then I support you. It’s your right and life. I was wondering how you have such healthy blood. This is because it goes against everything I have looked over and study. Granted I have only been looking for 4 years. It’s not long, but I have not been sick since. No allergies, I’m no longer allergic to cats and not in even the common cold.
Nonetheless, I think that is great you can do that. I wish I could eat Steaks every night. Love the taste, but I have do it in moderation.
Per the above note...,
The medical examiner said Dr. Atkins had a history of myocardial infarction (heart attack), congestive heart failure, and hypertension.
I understood that. I was wondering why the poster gave a link that completely refuted their claims. I was thinking that I missed something.
I wrote a very long reply to this person, trying to convey the truth about LC, but finally gave up and didn’t post it. It’s obvious that this person has no interest in learning the truth and has an ax to grind.
There is no perfect diet for every person. I know what works for me and I’m sticking to it. My dr is happy with my labs and there’s no reason to believe that I’m anything but a healthy 40 yo. There are people who do just fine with a high-carb diet (my mom!) and it’s none of my business what they eat.
But I do get *seriously* upset when someone tries to stomp on the very diet that saved my life. There may be twelve people reading this thread that this person persuades to avoid LC and that may mean a dozen early deaths that could’ve been prevented. I’m trying to be fair and civil, but it’s aggravating when false information is being touted as truth. Many people *NEED* this diet!
(And I’m 40 and still say ‘dude’! lol!)
Since one of you (or both?) mentioned insulin resistance, I thought I’d chime in.
I’ve followed the Atkins diet for years with great results, but as an engineer, was swayed a little because there didn’t seem to be science backing up his results. I.e. he showed great studies, but not why the body reacted the way it did. Maybe I didn’t read the book closely enough.
I found Dr. Eades’ books Protein Power & Protein Power Lifestyle and their explanation of the science in the body was like a light bulb going off in my head. It all clicked for me.
One of the biggest points they discuss is Insulin Resistance and all the ailments that it brings on. These symptoms are usually diagnosed as something else, and the symptoms are treated, but not the root cause.
If you haven’t read them, and are interested in the science, I highly recommend these books.
Thanks for the recommendation. I will check it out.
As I said above....generally, Atkins or Caveman diet IMPROVES cholesterol, triglycerides and homocysteine for MOST people....don’t know about the prolipoprotein....as I also said...PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT.
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