High Fat-Low Carb Diet

[Marz]

Thought some people might find this interesting.

I'm typing this from memory - my stupid internet link is terrible today, and none of the sites are loading. So please do have a look if you're interested in these topics, and correct me if I'm wrong with any statements here

There are quite a few proponents of a high-fat, low carb diet. The theory is that saturated fats are only bad for you when combined with a high-sugar/carb diet. Ketosis can be a side-effect of this diet, but only if you go very low-carb as some do.

I can see this diet coming in handy for diabetics, as it promotes a very steady blood sugar level - the pancreas no longer has to work to remove sugar from the blood, the body only needs to work on releasing sugar from fats in a completely seperate process from what I've read. This also promotes weight loss, as now your body is no longer converting sugar into fat and storing it, but actively releasing it from fat stores. Note that this is not the same as starving yourself - you're still eating a good portion of food, and lots of fats, but in the absence of sugar your body is unable to store the fat for future use (If I remember correctly).

It is also not the same as the Atkins diet, and it's certainly not a high-protein/low carb/low fat diet, which would rapidly send you into Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link is one of the blogs I found very informative on this subject. He regularly posts reviews and comments on pubmed articles to do with high fat diets.

He's also very anti-wheat! Apparently there are molecules called lectins in wheat that are insulin mimics. He sites a few studies linking high-wheat diet to increased chance of developing diabetes type 2, Alzheimer's Disease and various other problems.

I tried a high-fat diet about a year ago, and felt a lot better on it. I'm guessing because I switched to whole foods from processed food and bread (meat, fats, butter, eggs, plain salads and veges without sauces). Basically cut out all grains in my diet. I'm not sure why I stopped, I think at the time I was mostly eating at my parents', or my boyfriend's parents' house, and was at the whim of whatever they served up. It's pretty much an all-or-nothing diet, you can't really eat large portions of fat/protein for lunch and then pig out on pasta for supper, because fat + carbs don't mix very nicely in high-fat/high-carb diets.

Comments/thoughts on going this route with gluten-free?

[WheatChef]

A lot of people who forgo the specialty gluten-like products end up on a low(ish) carb diet. Most of the anti-high fat diets only look at the short term effects of switching from a high carb diet to a high fat diet. This is a shock to the system that is normally observed along with unfavorable changes from various systems in the body. However this change is almost always short lived and all of the systems that get off balance from the change soon (within a month or two) get back in harmony and often times rest at a more favorable level than before the implementation of the high fat diet. The human body is very capable of relying heavily on fats for energy production and even ketosis is no problem once the body has adapted to it (2-4 weeks).

It is kinda odd that there is much controversy over it all considering the body uses carbs only for fuel while the body uses fats for fuel, cell structure, brain cells and hormones. Which of those seems more important?

[Marz]

Good to know it's a decent diet to go on long term. I think I might go this route because glutenfree breads are not readily available in South Africa, and I'm too lazy to make my own from the gluten free mixes. Though I will add some rice and potatoes to it.

[Looking for answers]

I've been doing this diet for two years now. I've maintained a great weight and I'm rarely hungry. BTW, for those who worry high fat equals high cholestrol, my doctor says my numbers are text book and that I must have great genes. When I told him it was all the coconuts, avocados, seeds, organic meats I eat, he didn't buy it and said again it was from my great genes. I had to remind him that both my parents have high cholesterol, as does my extended family and my sister, who at 24 was told she was going to need medication. The difference in me and them? My diet!!!

The reality is that this diet works for me, but may not work for all. We're all different. I would advise anyone looking to change diets to check out Dr. Mercola's free nutritional assesment. It will help you determine what your biochemical needs are...this is what I did and what led me to this diet. I acutally paid for it but I think it's free now.

[WheatChef]

Cholesterol is another thing that naturally evens out during a high fat diet (Open Original Shared Link). This is serologically speaking, not dietary speaking though, you don't need to avoid dietary cholesterol.

[missy'smom]

I find this kind of diet VERY effective in managing diabetes. I can't imagine ever going back to the ADA way. I am quite happy to not have to deal with the rollercoaster, or high blood sugars and many other nightmares if I followed the ADA diet. Low-carb is very compatible with gluten-free. I have "met" some folks online who do not have diabetes but care for family members who have it or have a family history and have committed to a low-carb diet and been on one many years in order to protect themselves from developing it. It works well for them. As for the long-term overall health-Dr. Richard Bernstein is living proof that it is a healthy diet. He has had T1 since his teens and has maintained level, normal, non-diabetic BG for many, many years with a low-carb diet he developed. He has been able to reverse some of the complications that he developed and is in fantastic health-has the test results to prove it. His story is quite an inspiring one.