Fat is slow burning energy. Carbs are quick burning. Unfortunately for the sedentary, simple carbs which will be gorged on the place of the void left by not eating comfort-fat, the simple carbs quickly turn to sugars, which overload the pancreas creating an insulin flood. This leads to cells which quickly become insulin resistant in the region of the pancreas, i.e. in women the hips and the breasts, and in men, the abdominal area. The fat cells themselves refuse insulin which normally converts the sugars to energy. This leads to high blood sugar, and pre-diabetes. In north Americans ,with their low fibre, coloured carb vegetable deficient . excess simple carbs and high fat-protein diet, they get the dual condition of atherosclerosis from the combination of oxidized cholesterol, fat and carbs in a sluggish intestine, and metabolic syndrome which is characterized by a pear shaped body. Eat grease and potato chips and sit on the TV or computer chair all evening and at the desk all day, and u will certainly by 45 be overweight and arterially challenged.
The first way to change all that, is by 1 hours moderate exercise in the morning and evening, and by drastically changing the diet. As has been observed in the Okinawans and Cretans 50 years ago, several glaring differences present themselves. 1. A much more calorie restricted diet. 2. A much greater abundance of seafood. 3. Far fewer simple sugars and carbohydrates 4. no fast food 5. a lot more low level exercise such as bending, digging, walking, etc. It stands to reason that if u eat and exercise like a Cretan or Okinawan u will live like one. The myth that it must be due to genetic factors has long been dispelled by the observation of their statistics once the get to North America. Their lifespan and health changes to that of a North American. Ergo, their diet and activity must be related to their health. I often aver that people eat pumpernickel dark rye of sourdough bread if they must have bread because these breads will not affect the pancreas. Pumpernickel dark rye not at all, and sourdough far less. The reason is unclear but I have tested this with a diabetic, and a blood meter. It is remarkable. Two slices of standard whole wheat or white bread and the blood sugar increases by 50% within a half hour. Three or four slices of pumpernickel and hardly a reaction. Amazing. Pumpernickel is the only bread to have that recommendation on diabetic information sites and with good reason it appears.
What do we make of the new heavily sold paradigm in the popular media that the demonized fat is no longer a demon, that taking vitamins is completely useless, and that the advice of the 1950s' to 1990's physicians is obsolete? Well be extremely cautious. Many of the modern journalists have never made a study of what the sum total of modern doctors and researchers are really saying. Yes there have been new data produced and we know more know. But before we discard all the advice about fat, vitamins and vegetables we had better stop for a moment. A few studies found little effect with taking a few vitamins. However all bread and much milk is now fortified with vitamins, b12, b6, folic acid, Vitamin A and Vitamin D. Why? because they are proven to have an effect on HD and general health, that is why. Folic acid is probably in short supply as it is primarily found in veggies, vitamin b12 not as much, as it is found in meats, milk and fish. I would also not discount that fat and protein could be in excess in the modern diet. We eat more meat and protein than 97% of the world. And we get more cancer and HD by a wide margin. It would take decades of careful clinically controlled studies on 100's of thousands to prove it beyond doubt but the glaring differences between third world and North America is two fold. Sedentary lifestyle and diet. These must be the smoking gun. On the balance the probabilities are there. If we ate like Nigerians, Okinawans, Cretans, and got off our asses a tad more, then the health results would likely be different wouldn't they?
What do doctors in fact say? All physicians have said to me in the past, is
1. eat a lot of leafy green vegetables check
2. don't eat too much check
3. take your pills. i.e. what we prescribe. well maybe check, but it can be dangerous.
4. relax in life in general. check.
All good advice. But I think they need to go much further. They should prescribe diet & exercise as serilously as they prescribe pharmaceuticals. The reason they don't is because of compliance. They can write it down and admonish but how do they get their patients to take the advice. It is not like u can sidle up to the pharma counter and buy a bottle of will power. (that is down the street at the LCBO), or buy a shopping cart of a better diet. Well u can but u have to do it yourself. That is what lifestyle illnesses are all about. the all important part of the therapy is in your own hands. Diet and exercise. |
