question about low-carb diet

Lately i've been more health-conscious, after a few years of making
fun of hippies and vegertian; must an age thing.

Now my diet consists of fish, dairy such as milk and cheese, possibly
eggs too, and lots of carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread albeit
wholegrain, cereal with lots of fibre, i try to fit in vegetables as
often as i can though i'm not as deligent as i should, i'm no where
having 5 portions a day, possibly i have 5 portions a week now though
i do have the intentions to significantly increase that.

I've recently been trying to fast twice a week, from sunrise to
sunset, i found that very very very useful. Sometimes i might fast
every other day. Sometimes i might go for weeks without fasting though
i intent to keep that habit.

I often thought i have a carbohydrate addiction. I go insane when i
run out of chocolate. My recent trials of Fasting seems to help with
that.

So, with carbs being my main diet, I'm not sure i see the rationale of
low-carb diets. I won't be eating red meat, i won't be eating chicken,
i wonder if you can advise me if a low-carb diet is a feasible option,
and aslo what the rationale is and why it might be useful for me, or a
human in general.

Oh i forgot to mention, I'm at the lower end of normal weight, if not
already underweight. So i have no need to lose weight.

I also wonder if a low-carb diet is really a natural diet or if it's
just a weight-loss diet.

Mike Henley wrote:
Oh i forgot to mention, I'm at the lower end of normal weight, if not
already underweight. So i have no need to lose weight.

Then you don't need to be on a low-carb diet.

I also wonder if a low-carb diet is really a natural diet or if it's
just a weight-loss diet.

It is really natural. Hunter-gatherers used to eat that way
most of the year.

martin

--
Clark for President
http://www.clark04.com/

Martin Smith

Sorry, I ignored your other questions.

Mike Henley wrote:
So, with carbs being my main diet, I'm not sure i see the rationale of
low-carb diets. I won't be eating red meat, i won't be eating chicken,
i wonder if you can advise me if a low-carb diet is a feasible option,
and aslo what the rationale is and why it might be useful for me, or a
human in general.

It's a feasible option, but since you are quite happy on a
typical high-carb diet, there isn't much point.

The rationale is that high glycemic carbohydrates cause
extreme spikes in blood sugar and then insulin, which, in
many people, induces hunger, causing us to overeat and gain
weight. Restricting the intake of high glycemic carbs and
hence raising the percentages of protein and fat, stabilizes
blood sugar and insulin, allowing us to eliminate hunger and
cravings. It is also useful for people who must control
blood sugar and insulin levels for medical reasons.

The rationale for a human in general was that long ago, we
in the northern latitudes especially could not exist on a
diet of carbs all year, since they were only available in
the late summer and fall. We hunted and fished for most of
our food for a large part of the year. Apparently, a great
many of us still carry genes that expect us to eat that way
most of the time.

martin

--
Clark for President
http://www.clark04.com/

Martin Smith

"M.W. Smith" wrote in message ...

I also wonder if a low-carb diet is really a natural diet or if it's
just a weight-loss diet.

It is really natural. Hunter-gatherers used to eat that way
most of the year.

martin

You see the thing is... i heard some people get cramps and are low in
energy after a while on a low-carb diet; i'm not entirely sure how
that would be compatible with being a hunter-gatherer.

On 13 Oct 2003 07:04:54 -0700, Mike Henley wrote:

"M.W. Smith" wrote in message
...

I also wonder if a low-carb diet is really a natural diet or if it's
just a weight-loss diet.

It is really natural. Hunter-gatherers used to eat that way most of the
year.

martin

You see the thing is... i heard some people get cramps and are low in
energy after a while on a low-carb diet; i'm not entirely sure how
that would be compatible with being a hunter-gatherer.


I've never had cramps, nor have I been low in energy. In fact, yesterday I
rode my bike 55 miles, then watched my friend's kids for the rest of the
day. I also no longer have the "3pm sleepies" that were prevalent on high
carb. I have more energy now than I've ever had.

--
Bob M in CT
Remove 'x.' to reply

M.W. Smith wrote:

Mike Henley wrote:
Oh i forgot to mention, I'm at the lower end of normal weight, if not
already underweight. So i have no need to lose weight.

Then you don't need to be on a low-carb diet.

some people eat low carb for health reasons. not everyone's doing it to
lose weight.

my suggestion to the OP would be to cut out the highly processed high
carb foods and replace them with more veggies & whole grains. stick to
the lower glycemic carbs.

Mike Henley wrote:
:: "M.W. Smith" wrote in message
:: ...
::
:::: I also wonder if a low-carb diet is really a natural diet or if
:::: it's
:::: just a weight-loss diet.
:::
::: It is really natural. Hunter-gatherers used to eat that way
::: most of the year.
:::
::: martin
::
:: You see the thing is... i heard some people get cramps and are low in
:: energy after a while on a low-carb diet; i'm not entirely sure how
:: that would be compatible with being a hunter-gatherer.

people encounter these problems after switching from a high carb diet.
Hunter-gatherers would not have switched. Those who have been on LC a while
have successefully adapted, and hence do not have these problems. We,
today, have advanced farming, etc. and hence carbs is so much easier to come
by....we eat too many because food companies profit from selling such stuff
to us...and the government lies to support them.

Mike Henley wrote:
:: Lately i've been more health-conscious, after a few years of making
:: fun of hippies and vegertian; must an age thing.
::
:: Now my diet consists of fish, dairy such as milk and cheese, possibly
:: eggs too, and lots of carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread albeit
:: wholegrain, cereal with lots of fibre, i try to fit in vegetables as
:: often as i can though i'm not as deligent as i should, i'm no where
:: having 5 portions a day, possibly i have 5 portions a week now though
:: i do have the intentions to significantly increase that.
::
:: I've recently been trying to fast twice a week, from sunrise to
:: sunset, i found that very very very useful. Sometimes i might fast
:: every other day. Sometimes i might go for weeks without fasting
:: though i intent to keep that habit.
::
:: I often thought i have a carbohydrate addiction. I go insane when i
:: run out of chocolate. My recent trials of Fasting seems to help with
:: that.
::
:: So, with carbs being my main diet, I'm not sure i see the rationale
:: of low-carb diets. I won't be eating red meat, i won't be eating
:: chicken, i wonder if you can advise me if a low-carb diet is a
:: feasible option, and aslo what the rationale is and why it might be
:: useful for me, or a human in general.
::
:: Oh i forgot to mention, I'm at the lower end of normal weight, if not
:: already underweight. So i have no need to lose weight.

You don't have to lose weight on a LC diet....and you won't if you eat
enough. However, the appetite supression may result in you not eating
enough to maintain your weight, so you may be forced to increase your carb
level just to keep your appetite!

In article ,
"M.W. Smith" wrote:

Mike Henley wrote:
Oh i forgot to mention, I'm at the lower end of normal weight, if not
already underweight. So i have no need to lose weight.

Then you don't need to be on a low-carb diet.

Unless he's diabetic or has a family history of diabetes.

Priscilla

(Mike Henley) wrote in message . com...
Lately i've been more health-conscious, after a few years of making
fun of hippies and vegertian; must an age thing.

snipped for brevity

Hi there,

You might want to explore Mary's World-Famous Veggie LC Page:
http://www.geocities.com/msweathe/veggie.html

My pleasure!
Montauk