OT:Good Calories, Bad Calories....

This may be more what I'm looking for: http://www.amazon.com/Second-Brain-Grou ... pd_sim_b_2

Hey Drowsey Dancer, you may have hit on just my problem with this book, however, I hate reading technical stuff, if you decide to get this book please keep us posted. I am reading the Paleo and 30 Day Low Carb by Eades right now, and can't read another book like these right now. Truely I'm not lazy, but work full time and have chronic back issues. Stress is at its max right now.

-SWS wrote:Here's one more link describing the USDA Food Pyramid's evolution into the new "My Plate" discussed earlier:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionso ... index.html

That article gives both rationale and criticism for the changes. But they also offer their own similar-sounding "Healthy Plate" alternatives. Nutrition is clearly a science with myriad opinions.

The Gary Taubes March 14th blog entry came up in a side conversation with ozij, and I think it's worthwhile to share:
http://garytaubes.com/

Thanks again, ozij!

2 B Sleeping Soundly wrote:I just have to say a big Thank You to all of you posting in this thread. For me, it is one of the best OT threads I have ever read in my time here. I have found it extremely interesting and now have much research to do and books to buy/read to feed my new found interest. If possible, please continue to keep sharing your thoughts and experiences here in this thread (as your ideas and responses dictate). I am sure this will be a great source of information and inspiration for those looking at this dietary lifestyle, whether pro or con, for quite some time to come!

John

I agree, John. I think the information and opinions shared in this thread have been stellar. I would like to extend my profound gratitude to those who have shared in this thread and all the other great nutrition and diet threads on this message board. So THANK YOU!

-SWS wrote:Kira, as I understand it the term "gut" encompasses the enteric system. The enteric system is often informally referred to as our "second brain"----given that the enteric system produces what are often called "gut reactions". An example of a "gut reaction" would be that "butterflies in the stomach" feeling.

https://www.google.com/#hl=en&sa=X&ei=4 ... 22&bih=656

I was wondering if any of those authors contend that altering intenstinal flora might also alter our moods or feelings as well. If so, I wonder how that might affect drive to eat and adherence to diet. I'm wondering if there are more complex gut-flora behavioral dimensions than basic appetite.

SWS,

Yes, that is exactly what I am talking about.

There are authors who contend that altering intestinal flora can and does alter moods, as well. No studies to hand -- I've asked one of my SCD people who is a top mark researcher what some of her favorite in-depth articles are. Hopefully I can get back with some definitive links.

However, I can give some instances from my personal experience. There was a mom with Crohns who went on SCD. Her son was autistic, and autistic children often have digestive issues. So to make life easier for herself, she put her son on SCD, also, because she didn't want to have to cook two meals for every one consumes, one for herself and one for her son. Her own symptoms were clearing, and so did her son's. And as his gut issues cleared up, so did his autism. The same doctor who diagnosed him as autistic said that he was no longer autistic.

Word of this spread through the autism community like wildfire. The group which ultimately became Pecanbread (http://www.pecanbread.com) formed. I became involved because my background is psychology and special education, and because I am a darn good SCD cook and could help moms adapt recipes for their notoriously finicky kids. (One recipe which is a major hit even with non-SCDers, is my homemade hot dogs.)

One mom, whose son was, I believe, about seven at the time, had gone non-verbal when he was about two. He never made eye contact with anyone. She had a real battle getting him to eat SCD foods because he was a serious starch addict. But she persevered. One morning, I DL messages, and found one from her which began, "I can hardly see to type I am crying so hard...." I thought, "OMG, what happened?!" She continued, reminding us that she had never stopped talking to her son, in the hopes that one day, he would answer her. That morning, she had asked him in her usual tone, if he would like a cookie. An SCD cookie, of course. This child, who had not spoken in five years, looked up, made eye contact, and said, "Yes, Mama! Want a cookie!" So, yes, altering the gut flora can alter mental function.

And, I can speak for the effect from a very personal standpoint: ADD/ ADHD runs in my family. I've mentioned that I suffered with undiagnosed gut problems for 25 years. As my gut issues got worse, so did my ADD/ADHD. Doing Christmas dinner has always been a trial for me and I know entirely too well what's meant when people talk about going into melt down because I have been there myself. During my first, chaotic SCD Christmas, there were a number of things which went wrong (imagine trying to make up your recipes as you go along for a feast being served to the whole family, plus other couples who have been invited at the last minute...). In other years, I'd have gone to pieces. On SCD, I swore, said, "Dammit, that didn't work, here, I'll do this instead..." and kept going. I never noticed. My husband, however, did. And pointed it out to me. And then added, "I like SCD. It's nice to have the woman I married back."

I also know that SCD has given me an appestat, which I lost when my gut got screwed up. I was hungry all the time when eating carbs. Elaine Gottschall said she had a theory on why this would be, but age 82 was not the time for her to be applying for research grants since she likely would not be able to see the project through.

Within a period of time (Unfortunately, my food and event diary for that period is on another computer, so I can't say precisely when), I would be eating, and I would be hungry, hungry, hungry... click... not hungry. Almost literally in mid-bite. Didn't matter if there was still food on my plate. I no longer wanted to eat anything. Even a favorite dessert was not of interest. It's still in effect more than ten years later.

So yes, one's gut make-up does affect one's appetite.

Here's a nice video by Dr. Andreas Eenfeldt interviewing Dr. Eric Westman http://www.dietdoctor.com/the-science-of-low-carb

Dr. Westman is one of the leading low carb researchers--contributing to the growing body of scientific, peer reviewed evidence about the efficacy of low carb diets, and what's really important is that he is the newly elected president of the Bariatric Society--showing that the message is starting to get out about low carb diets.

You can tell Dr. Westman is uncomfortable with being interviewed, but he says a lot of important things in this interview about the safety and efficacy of low carb diets.

Dr. Eenfeldt, BTW, is one of my favorite low carb bloggers. He's one of the cadre of physicians who realized that the conventional advice (eat less, reduce fat, move more) was NOT working for his patients. He gives a very simplified and effective version of the low carb diet--basically eat REAL FOOD, healthy fats, and not too many carbs. It's a simple as that.

Well, I'm off and running or should I say crawling on the low carb eating plan. Can hardly believe that I am actually cooking my first Pork Loin Roast.....you would never know I'm a butcher's daughter. This is a real effort on my part as meat and veggies have never been a staple in my diet. Please keep the low carb "good vibes" coming!

Good luck, Portie. Be aware that you will feel like dirt for a few days. Drink lots of fluids and don't limit your salt. Salty broth and some sprinkles of salt substitute (patassium) will help.

Your body will be crying out for carbs, but feed that craving and you'll be back to square one. If you get through the first week, you'll be amazed at how you feel.

Good luck, good vibes, good gut, and especially good health, portiemom!

Please keep us in the loop...

nmevan wrote: . . . How many carbs in a Brooklyn Lager?

16.3 g. per 12 oz., according to this site:

http://www.dailybeerreview.com/2010/08/ ... onall.html

Okay, my friend got back to me with some articles on the brain/bowel connection. She does note that she likse this article on the gut-brain connection, but it does focus more on the neurological side rather than the gut ecology aspect.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... cond-brain



Here are some others she had bookmarked that discuss the gut-brain connection.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 140247.htm

http://www.economist.com/node/21528214

http://www.geekosystem.com/enterotypes-gut-bacteria/

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/23/healt ... wanted=all


Because she has a functional digestive issue, she does note that she tends to bookmark articles on the neurological side of our digestion, as you can tell. She also says she has seen a number of articles on the newer research area, human gut microbiome, in her reading over the past 8 years, but she didn’t save a list. [sigh]

I'm not an expert per se but I've spent a lot of time of late trying to lose weight and have explored most plans. Too much red meat is probably not good due to high amounts of saturated fat which is the worst kind of fat and are known to clog your arteries.

Now me, I figure nothing is really too bad done in moderation and I'm not necessarily a low carber. They are right, you need plenty of veggies for vitamins and fiber and most fish is high in omega 3 fatty acids. I have found that I do feel better when I decrease the amount of simple carbohydrates, i.e. more processed foods such as white breads, white potatoes, enriched wheat. Whole grain rice, bread and pasta is healthier by most research.

And in the end, to lose weight, you need to eat less calories than you use. However, eating more healthily is a better way to lower your calories. There are logical reasons for all of this. Complex carbs and protein keep you full longer, protein just because it is more filling and complex carbs because it is higher in fiber. Meats high in saturated fats should be eaten less frequently and all your protein does not have to come from meat/fish. Lentils and legumes are great protein sources and really, this is how I eat most of the time. Generally, if I have a meal that requires ground meat I use ground turkey rather than ground beef and if I do use ground beef, I use the leanest I can find. I live in a small town so you don't always have the choices you do in larger communities. Actually, most people that simply institute healthier eating in their daily life generally lose weight without really doing anything specific or counting calories.

At any rate, that's my take.

-SWS wrote:...Red Calories, White Calories. Dr. Taubes, meet Dr. Seuss.

Primal diet experts and low-carb diet experts, PLEASE weigh in here. Would experts who advocate your diet dispute these findings?
http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/12/health/re ... ?hpt=hp_c2

Thanks in advance for enlightening those of us who are non-experts. My ever-so-slight arteriosclerosis and I look forward to your comments.

Kairo, you are stating the "conventional wisdom":

Too much red meat is probably not good due to high amounts of saturated fat which is the worst kind of fat and are known to clog your arteries.

Whole grain rice, bread and pasta is healthier by most research

It's old and very flawed research.

Newer peer-reviewed, scientific research is showing that dietary saturated fat intake does NOT "clog your arteries" in the least. Saturated fat helps to increase HDL (the "good cholesterol") and greatly improves the HDL/triglyceride ratios, decreasing small, dense LDL (the "really bad cholesterol"). Total cholesterol may go up, but total cholesterol is NOT predictive of cardiovascular disease. In fact, studies show that about 50% of people who suffer heart attacks and strokes have low total cholesterol.

Whole grain bread has a higher glycemic index (a measure of impact on blood sugar) than white bread, and a much higher glycemic index than white table sugar. It's a fact that starches increase your blood sugar and your insulin levels, and it's actually blood sugar that's the BEST predictor of cardiovascular disease.

You've heard it all your life--the conventional wisdom is absolutely that whole grains are "healthy" and "better for you" than white stuff, but the reality is that they are BOTH pretty bad for you. Saying whole grains are better is like saying low tar cigarettes are good for you (rather than less bad for you than full tar cigarettes) and therefore you should smoke a LOT of them.

Take a gander at the video I posted above, or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vr-c8G ... T2E4NQAHAA (How Bad Science and Big Business Created the Obesity Epidemic). By every measure, heart disease, Obesity, and diabetes have increased exponentially since the US adopted the low fat, high carb diet. When people adopt a low carb diet, high in fat including saturated fats and moderate proteins, lipid numbers improve, blood sugars improve, overall health improves dramatically with numbers to prove it.

WARNING: New conclusions made by researchers can turn out to be just as flawed as the old ones.

WARNING: New conclusions made by researchers can turn out to be just as flawed as the old ones.

True, they MAY, but the old ones are terribly flawed, and my personal results speak well for the new conclusions.

Here's more "food for thought": http://youtu.be/6-oP34xXFWM

I think this issue is very much like that which brings us here to Cpaptalk.com. It's time to stop listening to the so-called "professionals" who don't want us to think for ourselves about our own bodies. The real stuff is out there, if we open our eyes and look.