High/Low Carb-Fat-Protein Diets, Weight Loss & Fad Diet Dieting

Diets and MLM- high/low carb - fat - protein diet and weight loss

Some of the medical complaints patients consult a practitioner for can be classified as being self-inflicted. Of those,
an increasing number is due to practices that are being followed for the principal purpose of improving one's Health,
without - at least initially - people recognizing the worthlessness, or possible Health Risks involved. Various Diets,
most Multi-Level-Marketing (MLM) products, and many forms of random self-Supplementation fall into that category.

____________________________________________________________________________

Nutritional Aspects of High / Low Carb - Fat - Protein Diets

One can speculate, theorize and philosophize ad nauseam why a certain percentage of society is

overweight, and why another percentage is not, despite both groups supposedly consuming the same
number of calories and following the same exercise program. An estimated 50 billion weight loss
dollars are spent annually to compensate for the elusive difference!

Is it all genetic?

Just as an increasing number of everyday medical conditions are being added to a growing list of

diseases thought to have a genetic cause or component, evidence is pointing to genetics playing an

equally larger role with obesity than previously believed (one example being mutations in genes for the
appetite-suppressant hormone leptin). In such cases, even a reasonable dietary lifestyle and adequate
exercise alone are generally not sufficient to help someone maintain a normal weight.

According to the World Health Organization, there are globally more than 1 billion adults overweight and

at least 300 million of them are clinically obese (WHO, 2004). Overweight and Obesity are commonly
assessed by using Body Mass Index (BMI), defined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of
the height in metres (kg/m2 ):

A BMI of >25 kg/m2 is defined as overweight, and a BMI of >30 kg/m2 is defined as obese.

Additional ways to define obesity include measurements of waist circumference, whereby - depending
on the country - recommended limits range from 85 cm to 102 cm (33.5 in to 40 in) for men, and from

80 cm to 88 cm (31.5 in to 34.5 in) for women.

Because of ethnic variations and differences in body build, the most reliable assessment of abdominal

obesity are measurements of one's Waist-to-Hip Ratio, with the cut-off point being greater than 0.95

for men, and greater than 0.90 for women. To calculate the waist-to-hip ratio, use a tape measure, and

while standing upright with feet apart:

• Measure the smallest part of your waist, which is just above the belly button.

• Measure the widest part of your hips, where they meet the top of your legs.

• Divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement, which is the waist to hip ratio.

A ratio of 1.0 or higher is considered a risk factor for insulin resistance and diabetes, cardiovascular

disease and stroke, sleep apnea, and various cancers.

Percentages on the genetic cause for an overweight individual's inability to lose weight range from

4% across various ethnic groups, to 25 - 40% within obese families, to about 70% with identical twins.

To blame genetics is fuelled in part by observations of obese people not generating the same amount

of body heat as lean individuals, and that those with a weight problem are less likely to burn calories

through frequent small body movements, but are rather sitting still for a much longer period of time in

comparison to their thinner counterparts. The most effective treatment for morbid obesity - to reach
and maintain significant weight loss - remains surgery.

Estimated Rates for OBESE Adults - percentage for Japan, China, Italy, Spain, France, Canada, Russia, Germany, Australia, England, Mexico, United States, Greece, Pacific Islands.

On the other hand, since the number of obese children in many parts of the world has tripled since

the mid-1980s, it is evident that lifestyle - rather than genetics - carries a much bigger blame for the

increasing number of overweight children, who eventually become overweight adults.

Many other indications support lifestyle-related causes for weight problems. For instance, very few

obese people are found during a prolonged war, so the most logical reason then is that the tendency

for weight gain is acquired - with perhaps some underlying genetics helping the cause. It would further

explain the effects of cultural differences on someone's weight largely dissipating once the individual

has adapted to the lifestyle in a new country.

Of course a number of medical conditions (hypothyroidism, hypogonadism and related endocrinous

or endogenous disorders) can trigger weight gain, and many prescription drugs are known to cause,

or contribute to weight problems as well, so it is important to pursue aggressive treatments for these
conditions, and/or switch to medications that are better tolerated.

While overweight / obesity rates for most industrialized nations provide at best a rough estimate, there

is frequently a much bigger discrepancy when trying to compile statistics for some third world countries.

In India for instance, the percentage of overweight adults can range from as low as 8% in some rural

areas, to as high as 37% in some urban centers. At the same time, there are some regions where the

population is underweight by as much as 37% (by WHO standards).

Estimated Rates for OVERWEIGHT Adults - percentage for Pakistan, Norway, Phillipines, Canada, Israel, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Holland, Germany, North Africa, Australia, Mexico, United States.

Since weight loss is possible with most overweight individuals following any of a vast number of

weight loss programs, it comes down to the type of lifestyle that will keep the person healthy, have him
or her maintain their ideal weight, while at the same time causing the least restrictions on the types of

foods consumed. In other words -- short-term diets (and short-term weight loss) should ideally

be replaced with long-term modified lifestyles, to maintain long-term weight loss.

Weight Loss Clinics

In addition to their proprietary weight-reducing programs, some weight loss clinics also provide clients

with Vitamin B12 and/or Vitamin B6 injections. Extra Vit B12 frequently improves energy, well-being,

and supports thyroid functions, however some individuals already exhibit above-normal Vit B12 levels,

and of those, a small percentage experiences panic anxiety-like symptoms following a B12 shot, or a

worsening of Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) symptoms (which are rarely attributed to B12 injections), so

this should be kept in mind if those symptoms are experienced.

Vitamin B6 can help with weight loss through a stimulating effect on the thyroid, which - by boosting the

right cardiac output - reduces water retention, hence the diuretic attributes. In those with a disposition

for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), higher doses of Vitamin B6 and higher doses of Vitamin C are not
advisable since they can trigger erratic blood sugar changes and depressive mood swings.

Higher doses of Vitamin B6 will also result in a high magnesium / low calcium ratio, so if not matched

to a patient's requirements (which can happen when Vitamin B6 + Vitamin B12 injections are regularly

given at weight loss clinics), a severe calcium deficiency develops. This by itself - or when aggravated
by an overstimulated thyroid from the regular Vitamin B6 / B12 shots - can result in insomnia, anxieties,

mood swings, chest pains, depression, joint pains, muscle cramps, or other symptoms.

In someone suffering from hypothyroidism + low sodium, Vitamin B6 supplementation on a long-term

basis has a tendency to eventually lower thyroid functions even more, although a brief boost will still

take place every time Vitamin B6 is injected or taken orally. In addition, Vitamin B6 will only affect T4

(thyroxine) levels, but no conversion to T3 (triiodothyronine) takes place - causing a T3 / T4 thyroid ratio

conflict, so rather than trying to boost thyroid functions with Vit B6 injections for weight loss purposes,

iodine, selenium and tyrosine status should be checked and corrected instead.

Weight Loss Diets

Of the many weight loss diets offered over the years (Atkins, Sears / Zone, Sugar Busters, Bernstein,

Ornish, Pritikin, Macdougall, Somersize, Beverly Hills, Caveman, Body Type, Body Code, Grapefruit,

Herbalife, Scarsdale, NutriSystem, Celebrity, Fit For Life, Food Combining, Cabbage Soup, Subway,
South Beach, Volumetrics diet, etc...), they either fall into a low-fat, mostly vegetarian-based category,

or they typically promote higher protein (and fat), and low carbs.

Some of these diets include specific food combining rules where for instance fruit can only be eaten

on an empty stomach, while carbs cannot be consumed together with fats or protein (one has to wait

for 3 hours between these food groups). On the other hand, carbs may be combined with vegetables,

and protein or fats may also be combined with vegetables.

Of course, a normal digestive tract is well equipped to handle carbs, fat, and protein in the same meal,

so instead of observing difficult-to-follow food guidelines, those who believe that they have lost the ability
to digest or metabolize a mixed meal, an easier solution would be to simply supplement a digestive aid.

There are also diets based on readings from the famed psychic Edgar Cayce, who believed that "diets

should be comprised of 80% alkaline-producing foods (fruits, vegetables, dairy products), and of 20%
acid-producing foods (potatoes, bread, sugar, meat)," and there are more peculiar diets, such as the
Christian-based Weigh Down diet, which permits one to eat any type of junk food, as long as one does

not overeat, while the "Eat right 4 your Type / Blood Type Diet" is based on the assumption that people

fare better (including with weight management) when tailoring their diet to their specific blood type.

Many of these (fad) diets unfortunately don't encourage a long-term common sense approach to eating,

such as focusing on a balanced and moderate intake of several basic food groups. Being largely do-it-

yourself based, they generally don't consider the health implications for anyone following specific dietary

recommendations that result in quick weight loss (without establishing individual safety), or they neglect

the long-term health effects of Yo-Yo dieting, including a risk of developing Gallstones as a result of too

quick or large weight loss, in contrast to gradually losing weight, which generally reduces the risk for
obesity-related gallstones.

A common practice with weight loss shakes and special dietary formulations is to add extra potassium

for its diuretic attributes. While it is one of the most important and effective nutrients to aid weight loss,

individuals with chronic inflammatory bladder problems, or other genitourinary conditions have to use

potassium-enhanced products with caution. Many high protein / low carb-promoting diets however do

result in potassium (and zinc) loss due to greater sodium and phosphorus retention when followed for

longer periods of time, so the addition of extra potassium (and sometimes zinc) is frequently necessary

and their requirements should be tested for by a health professional.

Carb / Fat / Protein Ratios

Most diets are successful in the short run because they have a dieter restrict one particular food group

(usually carbs or fats), without making up the calorie loss by increasing the intake of another food group.

That way, they effectively reduce total calorie consumption (the real cause for weight loss) and credit
a change in the Carb / Fat / Protein ratio as the advertised cause for the weight loss. When adding up

the total daily calories, many of these programs are in fact close to a starvation diet.

Some Diet Gurus go so far and use "scientific" reasons to explain the success of their particular

'Low Carb' diets by blaming a high carbohydrate intake for promoting insulin resistance and a rise in

triglycerides. When reviewing those claims, they fail to mention Simple, Refined, and Complex carbs

and their contrasting effects on VLDL triglycerides (heart disease / stroke, blood sugar management),

the immune system (WBC, phagocytosis / inflammation, leukemia), and extra nutritional requirements
(w3 EFAs, chromium, biotin, Vitamin C, manganese, germanium).

Obviously, it seems to have escaped their research that in contrast to consuming Simple Carbs, the
extra fiber and nutrients found in Complex Carbs, plus their different metabolism make a tremendous

difference in the success rate to lose weight. (see also Acu-Cell "Sugar & Glycemic Index").

For weight control purposes, the body does not care whether a larger percentage of daily calories

are derived from complex carbs, or from protein, provided caloric intake matches energy expenditure.

The advantage of a high protein diet is clearly that - unlike fat or carbohydrates - protein is not as readily

converted to fat. There is also its superior satiety, particularly for those individuals who do not have the
resources to nutritionally fine-tune their body, which might otherwise achieve similar satiety with high

complex carb diets as with high protein ones.

Do High Protein Diets cause kidney damage or osteoporosis?

The effects of high protein intake on bone loss or kidney functions is definitely a concern and cannot

be dismissed. Any practitioner who has the resources to do a thorough nutritional analysis can easily

demonstrate an increasingly abnormal high phosphorus / low calcium ratio taking place even in many
seemingly healthy patients after following a prolonged high protein diet. If not compensated for, this can
become a significant cause or contributing factor for bone loss, arthritis, or even hemorrhaging stroke.

Patients following a high-protein diet and also taking anti-inflammatory medications such as Celebrex,

Vioxx, Aspirin, or other NSAIDs, additionally presented with abnormally high sodium / low magnesium
ratios, risking osteoporosis, renal, and cardiovascular disease.

While of less concern for those with normal, healthy kidneys, many overweight individuals are already

at a higher risk for Type II diabetes and at the same time - or as a result of it - suffer more often from

reduced renal (kidney) functions. So unless monitored by a health professional, who would be able to

compensate for nutritional shortcomings, the effects of prolonged do-it-yourself high protein dieting

may come back to haunt those who believe that following the advice of a Best-Selling Diet Book is

the answer. Those advocating high fat diets represent a similar mentality with little regard to long-term
health risks, including Type II diabetes or some cancers.

Of the patients who experienced impaired kidney functions after following a prolonged high protein diet,

pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) was deficient in every single case, while the requirements for extra zinc,
calcium, magnesium, potassium, or other nutritional support varied considerably from one patient to the

next, depending on other health-related factors, age, and any medications taken at the same time.

Although a frequent association is made between high protein diets and a greater risk for bone loss

(which is usually dismissed by those who advocate such diets), high Carbohydrate Diets can create

a similar nutritional environment by generally being higher in phosphates / phytic acid (grains, cereals,
bread, pasta...). The same applies to diets that contain higher amounts of oxalic acid (Swiss chard,
cassava, spinach, rhubarb, cocoa, wheat germ...). So the end result - a higher risk for osteoporosis

by inhibiting calcium uptake, or lowering its ratio - is the same.

Because of long-term negative health effects attributed to "Low Carb / High Protein / High Fat" diets
(such as Atkins), more recent entries to the diet craze have formulated the high protein success around

healthier types of fats and carbs (such as the South Beach diet), which is a step in the right direction
and comes closer to replacing temporary weight loss programs with a more permanent, healthy lifestyle.

Some people achieve weight loss by adapting a Vegetarian Lifestyle, while others fail miserably in

trying to do the same. The ones that succeed may do so as a result of increased potassium and zinc

levels which help reduce water retention and moderately help their metabolism as well. The success

may also depend on the way vegetables are prepared, whereby overcooking will spare more calories

for fat storage, versus those dieters who consume much of their vegetables raw, which requires greater

amounts of calories for food metabolism and as such reduce weight gain. Regardless (and particularly

when much of the food is consumed raw), vegan diets achieve the least satiety no matter how well an

individual's chemistry is optimized, so they are suitable for only a smaller percentage of the population.

Dietary Fiber not only plays an important role with weight management, but it also benefits those who

suffer from insulin resistance, blood sugar, and cholesterol-related problems.

Sources of Insoluble Fiber include wheat bran, whole-grain products, cereals, nuts, and the skins of
some fruits and root vegetables.

Sources of Soluble Fiber include Konjac glucomannan, xanthan gum, guar gum, psyllium husks, oats,

flax seed, pectine, and most fruits without the skin.

Since dietary sources of soluble fiber convey a feeling of fullness without the bloating some prone
individuals experience from a higher intake of insoluble fiber, a number of fiber supplements are sold
specifically for this appetite-suppressing effect, whereby the degree of expansion in water (viscosity)

determines the overall effectiveness of such products for weight control purposes.

The Time spent on eating a Meal has also some effect on satiety, since it takes about 20 minutes for

the stomach to convey a feeling of fullness. In other words, the slower food is consumed, the more likely
the average individual's appetite is satisfied with an average-seized meal. This should help particularly
those who have a tendency to overeat and thus curb their desire for extra and larger desserts.

Going through Middle Age can be a challenge even for those who previously did not have to watch

their weight. Following the hormonal changes taking place post menopause (females) or andropause
(males), many individuals experience a steady decline in potassium and zinc levels, which can lead to

water retention, slowed metabolism, and subsequent weight gain. Other potential effects of insufficient

zinc and potassium levels include fatigue, loss of libido and a rise in blood pressure and/or blood sugar.

Bottom line: Weight gain is a side effect of either:

• consuming too many calories in comparison to physical exercise / expenditure,

• consuming the wrong foods (too many simple carbs or processed / hydrogenated fats & oils:

sugar, honey, syrup, sweet fruit or juice, deep-fried convenience foods, donuts, margarine, peanuts...

(ok are raw nuts, eggs, and moderate amounts of unprocessed oils or saturated fats, including butter),

• caused by drugs, or inadequate nutritional support (low stomach acid, potassium, zinc, iodine...),

• or it is a disease in itself (genetic disorder, hormonal condition, kidney / liver / heart disease).

All diets in the long run become junk diets, because only by introducing a negative or unhealthy factor

(being one-sided), they help with weight loss. Ultimately, they create a risk for (more) health problems,

while at the same time they contribute little or nothing to meet the body's long-term nutritional needs. ¤

_____________________________________________________________________________

High / Low Carb-Fat-Protein Diets

| Eat Right 4 Your Type / Blood Type Diet | Multi-Level-Marketing / MLM Products & Coral Calcium | Sterols, Sterolins & Beta-Sitosterol |

| Vegan / Vegetarian / Vegetarianism | Simple, Refined & Complex Sugar, Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load & Satiety Index | Cocoa & Chocolate |