Our Bodies Haven't Changed, But Our Diet Has
This Cave Junction (OR) News article by a man named Jeff Garcia (no, it's not the Cleveland Browns quarterback from the NFL!) will make you want to jump out of your seat and shout, "OH YEAH!!!"
Okay, maybe not. But it will bring a smile to the face of anyone who is livin' la vida low-carb and tired of all the constant negative headlines about low-carb living.
Garcia's column is called "Want To Lose Weight - Then Don't Diet!" explains some of the most basic tenets of the low-carb lifestyle in simple, everyday language that anyone can understand.
He laments the fact that we live in the height of the information age with literally "millions of websites offering all manners of pills, potions and diet plans" and yet we still "face nothing less than an obesity epidemic!"
"How can this possibly be? What is it within us - that drives us to ignore the message that Mother Nature herself is telling us."
If anyone could ever figure out the answer to THAT question, Jeff, then they would be a gazillionaire beyond their wildest dreams while wiping out the entire diet and weight loss industry in one swell foop! It's not gonna happen anytime soon.
But Garcia hits on something that I've hammered at this blog many times as a contributing factor in the obesity problem -- SUGAR! The introduction of massive amounts of sugar in our diet in the early 1950s has led us down this path to self-destruction.
"We must first look at the change in our diet over the last 50 years. Consumption trends of refined carbohydrates such as sugar has risen dramatically, but at the same time the consumption of fats and proteins has remained reasonably stable."
He added that there has been plenty of research to come out regarding the negative effect of consuming too many refined carbs in the form of sugar and its evil twin high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
"Studies have shown that refined sugars have the effect of playing havoc with the fine balance of maintaining the level of glucose in the bloodstream. This in turn has a detrimental effect on our hormonal activity, such as insulin and glucagon which are both responsible for maintaining the level of glucose to its normal level following a 'surge' intake of refined carbohydrates in our diet."
Unfortunately, these refined sugars cause the body to go through dramatic mood swings and can ultimately lead to one of the fastest growing preventable diseases in America -- diabetes!
Regarding the role of protein in the diet, Garcia says studies have shown it creates an "I am full" reaction (that little thing we call satiety) that is essential for controlling the amount of calories eaten which will ultimately keep your weight stable.
We cannot forget exercise either, Garcia contends, because the metabolism will slow down and fat will begin to build up in the body. Our sedentary lifestyle is not at all what our ascestors who lived prior to the 1950s knew anything about. They worked hard and their diet met the needs of their strong work ethic.
"Over the last 50 odd years our diet has changed out of all recognition and yet our body is doing the same as it has been doing for well over the last 100,000 years. We are in the 21st century, our body is still in the 'Stone Age'. So, it is us that need to change...because Mother Nature will not entertain us for thousands of years to come."
So it all comes down to a choice. Am I going to make the necessary changes, such as eliminating sugar and cutting down on the consumption of refined carbohydrates, to bring my weight and health under control? Additionally, will I add enough physical activity to my life to burn off excessive energy that would otherwise be stored as fat?
Which choice will YOU make?
"It's clear that we as individuals have to make a change in what we do if we have any intention to reverse the current obesity trend. The ultimate responsibility lies with each and every one of us to act for the benefit of ourselves."
Ultimately, individuals must decide what is best for them. I couldn't have said it better myself!
You can e-mail Jeff Garcia at jeffg118@yahoo.com.
Okay, maybe not. But it will bring a smile to the face of anyone who is livin' la vida low-carb and tired of all the constant negative headlines about low-carb living.
Garcia's column is called "Want To Lose Weight - Then Don't Diet!" explains some of the most basic tenets of the low-carb lifestyle in simple, everyday language that anyone can understand.
He laments the fact that we live in the height of the information age with literally "millions of websites offering all manners of pills, potions and diet plans" and yet we still "face nothing less than an obesity epidemic!"
"How can this possibly be? What is it within us - that drives us to ignore the message that Mother Nature herself is telling us."
If anyone could ever figure out the answer to THAT question, Jeff, then they would be a gazillionaire beyond their wildest dreams while wiping out the entire diet and weight loss industry in one swell foop! It's not gonna happen anytime soon.
But Garcia hits on something that I've hammered at this blog many times as a contributing factor in the obesity problem -- SUGAR! The introduction of massive amounts of sugar in our diet in the early 1950s has led us down this path to self-destruction.
"We must first look at the change in our diet over the last 50 years. Consumption trends of refined carbohydrates such as sugar has risen dramatically, but at the same time the consumption of fats and proteins has remained reasonably stable."
He added that there has been plenty of research to come out regarding the negative effect of consuming too many refined carbs in the form of sugar and its evil twin high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
"Studies have shown that refined sugars have the effect of playing havoc with the fine balance of maintaining the level of glucose in the bloodstream. This in turn has a detrimental effect on our hormonal activity, such as insulin and glucagon which are both responsible for maintaining the level of glucose to its normal level following a 'surge' intake of refined carbohydrates in our diet."
Unfortunately, these refined sugars cause the body to go through dramatic mood swings and can ultimately lead to one of the fastest growing preventable diseases in America -- diabetes!
Regarding the role of protein in the diet, Garcia says studies have shown it creates an "I am full" reaction (that little thing we call satiety) that is essential for controlling the amount of calories eaten which will ultimately keep your weight stable.
We cannot forget exercise either, Garcia contends, because the metabolism will slow down and fat will begin to build up in the body. Our sedentary lifestyle is not at all what our ascestors who lived prior to the 1950s knew anything about. They worked hard and their diet met the needs of their strong work ethic.
"Over the last 50 odd years our diet has changed out of all recognition and yet our body is doing the same as it has been doing for well over the last 100,000 years. We are in the 21st century, our body is still in the 'Stone Age'. So, it is us that need to change...because Mother Nature will not entertain us for thousands of years to come."
So it all comes down to a choice. Am I going to make the necessary changes, such as eliminating sugar and cutting down on the consumption of refined carbohydrates, to bring my weight and health under control? Additionally, will I add enough physical activity to my life to burn off excessive energy that would otherwise be stored as fat?
Which choice will YOU make?
"It's clear that we as individuals have to make a change in what we do if we have any intention to reverse the current obesity trend. The ultimate responsibility lies with each and every one of us to act for the benefit of ourselves."
Ultimately, individuals must decide what is best for them. I couldn't have said it better myself!
You can e-mail Jeff Garcia at jeffg118@yahoo.com.
posted by Jimmy Moore at
3/26/2006 02:33:00 PM
1 Comments:
He takes a swipe at high protein diets on his Web page, so I can't say I'm impressed.
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