Monday, July 16, 2012

2012: No flying cars and we're still debating the human diet

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!

Dieticians need to stop MESSING with my HEAD and just settle on what does and does not work dietwise. Calories in calories out works and then it doesn't....some stand by the theory and some don't.

How hard can this be?

How can we possibly be here in 2012 and not have a firm understanding of what makes folks fat and what makes them Not Fat?

How can we could JUST be learning this stuff. We were supposed to have flying cars by now instead of having our scientific minds mired down in trying to figure out how the hell human beings can keep from getting too fat.

Very frustrating.

Here are four myths I read about today in a CBSNews article
  • A calorie is a calorie is a calorie
  • Calorie counts are always accurate
  • Counting calories is the key to weight control
  • Cutting 3500 calories equals one pound of weight loss
The last three I don't much care for. I've done pretty well so far counting calories and assuming 3500 calories equals a pound of weight loss. So I'm just going to throw those three out.

But I am trying to track down exactly about this whole business about calories from different foods functioning  differently in the body. Here's what the article wrote:

In the past few years, we've learned a lot more about how our bodies react to identical calorie levels from different foods, and a new Harvard study is further proof.
Another recent study found that saturated fats, like those found in butter, whole milk, and fatty meats, may override the body's natural satiety mechanism (which enables you to feel full), whereas unsaturated fats, from plant sources like olive oil, avocado, and nuts, may enhance satiety, even when the calorie levels don't differ.
A key study from Wake Forest University found that, even at the exact same calorie and fat levels, monkeys fed trans-fats gained four times more weight and 30 percent more belly fat compared to those given meals made with natural, plant-based fats.
And a recent Penn State study found that, over a 12-week period, dieters who consumed whole grains rather than refined grains lost more belly fat, despite the diets otherwise being identical.
All of this means that quality may be more important than quantity when it comes to the fate of the calories you consume.
So there it is.


1 comment:

  1. Seriously! So not all calories are created equal? That is honestly news to me. What kind of calories do you burn when you exercise? Only the bad ones? Whose to say?

    I'm a bit disappointed with our scientific standing as well. You hear one thing to be law and the next day there's an article on some big website claiming it's a myth. Than that becomes myth. What's truth anymore?

    Maybe worrying about the nitty gritty is kind of silly anyway. We know diet and exercise is good so just try your best to do that. maybe? Hell if I know.

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