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Author Topic:   How Carbohydrates & Obesity are Linked: The Kind, Not the Amount
26taurus
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From: the stars
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posted March 05, 2005 01:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 26taurus     Edit/Delete Message
(got this in an email it's from Dr. Joseph Mercola's website)

It's the kind of carbohydrates you consume, not the number, that becomes a reflection of the number on your bathroom scale. Contrary to popular belief, overweight people don't eat more carbohydrates than those of normal weight. However, it was discovered that overweight people were more inclined to eat an excess of refined carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta, which trigger a rapid spike in blood sugar.

The culprit of weight gain, refined carbohydrates, can be found in processed foods high in sugar. Refined carbohydrates add on extra pounds through their high glycemic index, which means they cause a quick surge in blood sugar. The sugar is then stored in muscle and if it is not used it turns into fat.

On the contrary, other carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables don't have high glycemic indexes.

Even though statistics showed that people are eating less fat, it was revealed that over the course of the past 20 years the rate of obesity has been steadily increasing.

To determine if carbohydrates played a factor in obesity researchers conducted a study by measuring the height and weight of nearly 600 healthy participants. One of the main requirements of the study was for the participants to document the kind of carbohydrates they ate for one year.

The study revealed two key findings:

People with a higher body mass index--a measure of weight that factors in height -- tended to eat carbohydrates with a higher glycemic index

The amount of carbohydrates people ate had no influence on body mass index

Researchers of the study also noted that some countries are now adding glycemic levels on food labels as a guideline to those who are trying to lose weight or control diabetes.

American Journal of Epidemiology February 15, 2005;161(4):359-367
________________________________

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

The lead researcher in this study hit the nail on the head with the following statement: "These findings suggest that low-carbohydrate diets, which recommend people cut back on all carbohydrates, are missing the mark." The findings in this study give new credence to one of the fundamental building blocks of the Total Health Program: It is the kind of carbohydrates you eat--not the amount -- that determines your risk of obesity.

With that said, all carbs aren't created equally, and this is just one more reason low-carb diets like the popular Atkins Diet don't work. In fact, most people might be surprised to find out that one-third of Americans actually require a high-carb diet. Generally, the body prefers the carbohydrates found in vegetables rather than grains because their composition slows their conversion to simple sugars like glucose and decreases your insulin level.

So how do you know if you need a low-carb or a high-carb diet? In our practice we use a system called "metabolic typing" to make this distinction. If you are not familiar with metabolic typing, you would benefit by taking the free condensed version of the metabolic type test. The test is a quick way to help you jump-start your implementation of metabolic typing

Refined Carbohydrates--One Grain and Sugar Away From Chronic Diseases

Never before have most of us eaten so many refined carbohydrates. Consuming excess grain and sugar carbohydrates is one of the primary reasons why so many people suffer from:

Excess weight
Fatigue and frequent sleepiness
Depression
Brain fogginess
Bloating
We all need a certain amount of carbohydrates, however through our addiction to grains, potatoes and sweets most of us are consuming far too many dangerous carbohydrates that can lead to serious chronic health problems like diabetes.

The link between obesity and diabetes is now clearly obvious to even the most skeptical scientist. Your body's storage capacity for carbohydrates is quite limited, so when you consume more than you need they are converted, via insulin, into fat and stored as fat, thus increasing your risk for nearly every chronic degenerative disease.

Any meal or snack high in grain and sugar carbohydrates typically generates a rapid rise in blood glucose. To compensate for this your pancreas secretes the hormone insulin into your bloodstream, which lowers your blood sugar. Insulin is essentially a storage hormone that helps you store the excess calories from carbohydrates in the form of fat in case of famine.

Even worse, high insulin levels that develop as a result of eating grains and sugars suppress two other important hormones--glucagon and growth hormone--that are responsible for burning fat and sugar and promoting muscle development. One way you can protect your body from storing fat and rising insulin levels is through eliminating grains and sugars from your diet.

If you have not read Dr. Rosedale's insulin article, I would strongly recommend doing so. Dr. Rosedale is the physician who helped me appreciate the importance of insulin in 1996. I have had hundreds of people share with me how helpful his article was in helping them understand insulin and how it is devastating their health.

Related Articles:

Proof That Increased Sugar Causes Cancer

Food Companies Focus on Dr. Atkins

Atkins Diet Research Proves Grains Cause Weight Gain

High-Grain Diet May Increase Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Most Low-Carbers are Not Eating Low-Carb

New Atkins Book on Diabetes
http://www.mercola.com/2005/mar/5/obesity_carbs.htm

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aquastar
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From: miami, fl
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posted March 18, 2005 02:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for aquastar     Edit/Delete Message
wow very informative. both my parents are diabetic and i'm a overweight so this is very interesting i'm definitely gonna look more into this.
thanks *

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26taurus
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posted March 18, 2005 05:08 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 26taurus     Edit/Delete Message
Great aquastar! I knew there was a reason I posted this! Glad you found it informative.

And Welcome!

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trillian
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posted March 18, 2005 09:28 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for trillian     Edit/Delete Message
I can't say that I'm a big fan of Dr. Mercola, but I do believe that refined and overly processed foods are among the leading culprits of obesity/illness. But there are other factors, too.

Dr. Mercola continues to vilify almost all grains. I don't believe that whole grains are a problem for most people.

Let's take a look at Asian countries. Rice, and in some cases potatoes, are the main food, served with lots of veggies. Meats and proteins are minimal. And in Asian countries...there are lots of very thin people. It's when the Western foods, with refined carbs and sugars and hydrogenated oils moved in that people started gaining weight

Italy. Pasta pasta pasta. Thin to average people.

France. Rich foods, wonderful breads, delicious cheeses, etc. Thin to average people.


Just a few examples. It's white sugar, white bread, MSG, food additives, hydrogenated oils, growth hormones in our dairy and meats... in America we have tainted our food supply so badly that it's become depleted in nutrients and barely resembles food anymore.

I read his website now and then and can't recall if Dr. Mercola ever writes much about the additives in foods, and the growth hormones that end up in meat and dairy. Of course, the meat and dairy industries won't acknowledge that there is any danger...but that should come as no surprise.

So yes, I agree that almost all processed food in America is full of crap that isn't good for us. And that means almost all food at grocery stores, and all food at fast food restaurants. Think that salad bar looks good? Try to find out what they put on the lettuce to ensure that it doesn't wilt. White breads and refined sugars (including refined honey) are big culprits when it comes to weight gain.

But like all things, they are a piece of a part of a whole. Like portion sizes. We Americans do love to Mega-Super-Size, don't we?


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miss_apples
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From: white bear lake, MN, USA
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posted March 18, 2005 10:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for miss_apples     Edit/Delete Message
What about potatoes? I dont really eat any white bread and I havent had any pasta in a while, but Ive been eating plain baked potatos.

However I think the refined carbs in cakes, cookies, and pastries is more of a culprit than white bread and pasta. Us Americans love our high fat/high sugar baked goods.

And really, I think when it comes down to it, the real problem is overeating, especially eating when stressed or upset rather than just eating when you are hungry. Pasta, white bread, and most foods wont make you fat unless you dont eat them in moderation.

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trillian
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From: The Boundless
Registered: Mar 2003

posted March 18, 2005 11:36 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for trillian     Edit/Delete Message
quote:
Pasta, white bread, and most foods wont make you fat unless you dont eat them in moderation

There is a lot of evidence to the contrary.

While I agree that most things in moderation won't hurt you, I still have to say that things like white bread are barely even food; they're so overly processed.

I would suggest you read more about it. The problem with white breads, some white pastas, sugars and white potatoes is the insulin spike, etc. They end up being stored as fat.

I am not an expert. It's just my hobby to read about food and its impact on our bodies.

As for potatoes, when it comes to desiring weight loss, you would be better off restricting white potatoes and eating more yams and/or sweet potatoes.

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maya-v
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From: New York
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posted March 18, 2005 01:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for maya-v     Edit/Delete Message
How abt the quantities or portions? Everything is going supersized and the ease of foods like chips, french fries and other high calorie foods is so tempting that often we fall prey to them. I think the easier options which are low in nutrition and high in hidden calories are the real culprits. They are literally shoved into our faces and most people dont know better.

Just my two bits!

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26taurus
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posted March 18, 2005 01:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 26taurus     Edit/Delete Message
Well said trillan. You know what you are talking about.

I got this article from my mother. She is always sending me these kinds of articles and I think she likes Dr. Mercola so much because she suffers from Celiac Disease. She seems to think that grains are very much not good for people. Maybe they arent for her but I think different people handle them differently depending on race or ethnicity maybe?

What you said about in your last post is the same exact thing she says.

quote:
While I agree that most things in moderation won't hurt you, I still have to say that things like white bread are barely even food; they're so overly processed. The problem with white breads, some white pastas, sugars and white potatoes is the insulin spike, etc. They end up being stored as fat.

That's right!

P.S. You'll be getting snail mail soon. I'll be mailing you something, hopefully within the next week or so. So keep on the lookout.

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trillian
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posted March 18, 2005 02:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for trillian     Edit/Delete Message
Hi 26T, I meant to say this to you in an earlier post: I just love ya. And I think your mom and I might have a lot in common.

BTW, the reason I'm not a big fan of Dr. Mercola is that when I first visited his website, he was an advocate for the low carb/high protein way of eating. I think it's a potentially dangerous way of eating, though he seems to have modified his viewpoint a bit, now including healthier carbs in what he advises people to eat. And as a vegetarian, of course I can't and won't eliminate carbs.

And you are right. Different bodies react differently to different foods, sometimes based on race or ethnicity. We're all different. Ain't it great?

I'm afraid I don't know anything about Celiac's, 26T. Can you tell us more about it?

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26taurus
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posted March 18, 2005 03:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for 26taurus     Edit/Delete Message
Sure! I'll tell you a little more about it. Or I'll let this little blurb tell you. It sums it up nicely:

quote:
A lifelong digestive disorder, found in individuals who are genetically susceptible, that results in damage to the small intestine by interfering with the absorption of nutrients. Celiac Disease (CD) is unique in that a specific food component, gluten, has been identified as the culprit. Gluten is the common name for the offending proteins in specific cereal grains that are harmful to persons with CD. These proteins are found in all forms of wheat (including durum, semolina, spelt, kamut, einkorn, and faro), and related grains, rye, barley, and tritcale. Damage to the mucosal surface of the small intestine is caused by an immunologically toxic reaction to the ingestion of gluten.

So as you can see there are alot of foods that people suffering from this disease have to avoid. Luckily for her, she is a healthy eater anyway. She tries to stick to a mostly raw food diet. Interestingly over the years that I have worked as a waitress, I've found alot of people have CD. They start to explain to me what it is and I let them know that I know what it is and recommend something they are able to eat. I believe my mother told me that alot of people who have the disease are of Irish ancestry, which she is.

Yeah, I dont know too much about Dr. Mercola, just the few things I've read here and there. I'm not as health conscious as I probably should be, though I dont eat meat. I agree that the low carb/high protein way of eating does not seem healthy. I dont see a diet high in meat protein as being healthy. Indeed dangerous. Interesting that he seems to have changed his view point a bit.

One thing she always says is "Once goes the body, so goes the mind." ...Or something like that. lol It's very true. Our bodily health is very much connected to our mental/emotional health. I've got to get myself back on track with my eating habits.

Well, I'll talk to you soon. I just loves you too!

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wildflwrs
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From: Albuquerque
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posted March 18, 2005 10:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for wildflwrs     Edit/Delete Message
To the one asking about potatoes...there's a book called "Potatoes not Prozak" and goes into the glycemic index and all of that...but she gives some guidelines about carbs and sugars...but she recommends allowing yourself a potatoe in the evening...cause it can help you sleep. I never followed her diet. Potatoes are rich in potassium. I just know that I have lost weight by totally eliminating sweets (candy, cake, ice cream, etc.) and if I refrain from eating out...cause there's where there are tons of calories...high sodium and fat too.

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Randall
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From: Columbus, GA USA
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posted March 19, 2005 06:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message
Interesting.

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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