Saturday, September 06, 2014

The problem with "diets"


The problem with "diets" is that they are designed to be a temporary adjustment in eating pattern with a goal of changing the number on the scale. What gets lost along the way are long-term implications (health, sustainability, lifestyle) and willpower because of so-called "failed attempts," frustration, and disappointment. With the media flipping around on which macronutrient to remove next (e.g. carbs or fat), it confuses the masses and leads to spinning in circles, chasing the proverbial tail.
Low carb diets are not healthful, sustainable, or effective in the long-term, regardless of the new hype...yet again.
Here are 3 reasons the theory is ridiculous:
1. Carbohydrates are a macronutrient, not a food group. There are carbs in all whole plant foods as well as in refined processed junk foods. Comparing quinoa to a candy bar is destructive, dangerous, and nonsensical.
2. Carbohydrates in whole foods come packaged with the most important nutrients necessary to survive and thrive....phyochemicals and fibers. Our brains can only use carbs as fuel and carb-rich foods provide immediate and lasting energy for the body.
3. Avoiding fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains to minimize carb consumption leaves animal foods and highly processed low carb junk food in the pool as a foundation for the diet. These foods are unquestionably known to promote disease, whereas whole plant foods are known to protect against disease.
The key to permanent weight loss AND long-term health is a *lifestyle* filled with wholesome, intact plant foods, and the avoidance of animal products and processed foods.
*Resources:
--->Dr. David Katz's Diet Research, Stuck in the Stone Age: http://linkd.in/1qfVkEq
--->Marion Nestle's The Diet Wars: Same Old, Same Old: http://bit.ly/1lKCiGd
--->Andy Bellatti's Small Bites Low-Fat vs. Low-Carb: The Winner is Neither: http://bit.ly/YhfEuz
--->Carbs: http://bit.ly/1u3k8Rf
--->JAMA's A Call for The End of The Diet Debates: http://bit.ly/WgFflJ
--->Comparison of Named Diet Programs Finds Little Difference in Weight Loss Outcomes: http://bit.ly/1rObFCG
--->The Truth About Weight Loss From a Weight Loss Researcher: http://bit.ly/1jUz8YB
--->NutritionFacts.org's From Table to Able: http://bit.ly/1unz6Ri and on low-carb diets: http://bit.ly/1rwih6r
--->The Multiple Variables of Weight Loss: http://on.fb.me/1nycKaL
--->Losing Weight On A Vegan Diet: http://bit.ly/1kxibtl
The problem with "diets" is that they are designed to be a temporary adjustment in eating pattern with a goal of changing the number on the scale. What gets lost along the way are long-term implications (health, sustainability, lifestyle) and willpower because of so-called "failed attempts," frustration, and disappointment. With the media flipping around on which macronutrient to remove next (e.g. carbs or fat), it confuses the masses and leads to spinning in circles, chasing the proverbial tail.

Low carb diets are not healthful, sustainable, or effective in the long-term, regardless of the new hype...yet again.

Here are 3 reasons the theory is ridiculous:

1. Carbohydrates are a macronutrient, not a food group. There are carbs in all whole plant foods as well as in refined processed junk foods. Comparing quinoa to a candy bar is destructive, dangerous, and nonsensical.
2. Carbohydrates in whole foods come packaged with the most important nutrients necessary to survive and thrive....phyochemicals and fibers. Our brains can only use carbs as fuel and carb-rich foods provide immediate and lasting energy for the body.
3. Avoiding fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains to minimize carb consumption leaves animal foods and highly processed low carb junk food in the pool as a foundation for the diet. These foods are unquestionably known to promote disease, whereas whole plant foods are known to protect against disease.

The key to permanent weight loss AND long-term health is a *lifestyle* filled with wholesome, intact plant foods, and the avoidance of animal products and processed foods.

*Resources:
--->Dr. David Katz's Diet Research, Stuck in the Stone Age: http://linkd.in/1qfVkEq
--->Marion Nestle's The Diet Wars: Same Old, Same Old: http://bit.ly/1lKCiGd
--->Andy Bellatti's Small Bites Low-Fat vs. Low-Carb: The Winner is Neither: http://bit.ly/YhfEuz
--->Carbs: http://bit.ly/1u3k8Rf
--->JAMA's A Call for The End of The Diet Debates: http://bit.ly/WgFflJ
--->Comparison of Named Diet Programs Finds Little Difference in Weight Loss Outcomes: http://bit.ly/1rObFCG
--->The Truth About Weight Loss From a Weight Loss Researcher: http://bit.ly/1jUz8YB
--->NutritionFacts.org's From Table to Able: http://bit.ly/1unz6Ri and on low-carb diets: http://bit.ly/1rwih6r
--->The Multiple Variables of Weight Loss: http://on.fb.me/1nycKaL
--->Losing Weight On A Vegan Diet: http://bit.ly/1kxibtl