It’s all about sustainability
There seem to be an endless number of podcasts out there dealing with nutrition and health, and I was listening to another one, hosted by Jimmy Moore. He was discussing topics with a functional medicine doctor from Harvard.
It was an interesting discussion and I found the moderators very open to many of the questions. They weren't dogmatic in how people should eat, they were simply trying to demonstrate via evidence that lowering carbohydrates and increasing fats ultimately leads to a wonderful state of well-being and weight loss. They talked about people who simply "cannot conceive” of the idea of giving up on their dessert or donut forever. However, as we have found, once one is eating in a fashion that results in nutritional ketosis (fat burning), the desire for carbohydrates disappears. Usually the person is so pleased with the energy they have, the fact that the cravings have gone and their weight is down, that the idea of going back and eating sugar is simply not worth it.
The mechanism of why we lose our ‘taste' for carbohydrates isn't exactly known, but we do know that even small amounts of ketones in the blood stream seem to inhibit the ‘appetite' centre of the brain. For some people who have a strong impulse to eat, driven by the reward centre of the brain, they can be reassured that if they continue with lower carbohydrate and higher fat eating, these cravings will go down and make sustainability easier.
Although I don't feel everyone should or needs to be ultra-low carb, I do believe it is a very healthy way to eat and certainly one of the best ‘diets' for disease prevention. It even feeds into our microbiome to induce healthy gut flora (beta hydroxybuterate—one of the ketone bodies from fat) helps create a healthy mucous lining for the colon and less chance of what is referred to as the ‘leaky gut syndrome'.
How can I eat when I go out? is a question we get asked a lot. Interestingly I read a recent publication suggesting that if you went to a MacDonald's, it's healthier to have two burgers than burgers and French fries. I gave this a try tonight, as our Thursday ritual is to take my grandson to swimming, then to a restaurant, and tonight we landed at MacDonald's. Well, I ordered two burgers, took off three pieces of bread and had a nice open face two burger sandwich, and kept away from the very unhealthy fries. For total health, I shouldn't frequent these fast food restaurants too often obviously, however, we still can make better choices.
Given the evidence of recent scientific literature looking at diabetes, cancer, blood pressure, weight loss, and so on, I think all of us should begin to limit more and more our sugars/carbohydrates. After a while, you won't miss them. It will become normal to you and you will crave them less. You must focus on why you are doing this, for your health, your energy, a long and healthy life, to prevent disease; the list is endless.
Begin with the obvious; avoid sugary drinks. Then get rid of all the white processed stuff (table sugar basically), then gradually begin to take away those other non-essential carbohydrates such as rice and potatoes. Cereal, never cereal!
You want to lose weight and keep it off, and the best way is to reduce carbohydrates and replace the energy supply with healthy fats. You will be satiated, cravings will be less, and you will sustain your weight loss.
You can do it, never give up!
Dr. B