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This article is written so you can properly understand why eating a high saturated fat
diet wont make you fat and why counting calories and trying to burn more calories than
you consume is a recipe for disaster. Elevated stress, fatigue, frustration and
ultimately weight gain are the results of medium to long term calorie-restriction
and/or excess cardio training.
Youll see why a calorie isnt just a calorie and why the calorie-in/calorie-out theory
based on the law of thermodynamics when applied to a complex system like the
human body is completely bogus.
Staying lean is not just important for aesthetics and self-esteem, but the mere fact
of gaining fat means that you are already metabolically deranged and somewhat insulinresistant. This means that your body is not functioning as it should and the risks of
developing other metabolic problems in the future are high. Type 2 diabetes, heart
disease, hypertension and a weight-gain cycle are some examples.
Taking care of your health is about looking at the science and evidence more than
listening to the current dogma. After all, as more and more people eat healthy
whole grains and low fat and endure long hours of strenuous cardio exercise week
after week, we see the general health condition of people getting worse and worse. If
youve been following the standard recommendations and are still struggling with
weight gain, youll learn that loosing weight is actually effortless when you start to work
with your body instead of against it.
Once again, the story is much more complex than that. If you believe in the calorie
theory and you do the math, youll see that youll need to pedal and sweat for hours
just to burn the calories in a few cookies. Even worse, exercise will increase your
hunger so youll constantly have to fight the way your body wants you to act. Just
sitting there and doing nothing, youll burn an amount of calories thats not too far
from what you burn while exercising. Your brain, digestive system and heart require a
tremendous amount of energy just to run properly.
You probably already know that your body is mainly interested in survival and
reproduction. In the wild, a major component of survival is energy conservation.
Ancient humans werent interested in burning more energy than they had to and
doing otherwise would jeopardize their chances of survival when food was scarce. For
the purpose of energy conservation, the body uses a set-point and will try its best to
keep its composition within that set-point. This is why people struggle so hard to lose
weight when working against their nature and almost always put it back on later on.
The body simply returns to its set-point. This also works the other way around. If you
try to overeat in order to gain fat, itll work for a while, but youll shortly return to
your normal weight once you stop overeating.
In fact, if we didnt have that complex set-point system, it would take an accuracy of
about 0.01% of your calorie intake to stay within a 5 pound range over a 5 year period,
yet we see people staying basically at the same weight for years and years.
If exercising and burning more calories doesnt work, then reducing your caloric
intake and eating smaller portions will, right? Wrong!
When you suddenly spend more energy than usual (i.e: long sweaty miles on the
treadmill), your body will give you strong hunger signals so you can regain the energy lost
and stay within your bodys set-point. This is also true if you start eating more. Youll
have more energy and be inclined to get active and eliminate the surplus. At least,
these happen to a normal and healthy person who isnt metabolically deranged. Youll
also induce a similar situation when your energy input reduces with situations like
starvation or hypothyroidism. Youll have much less energy available and will feel
sluggish and rundown in order to preserve energy.
used to that our insulin is chronically high. This then triggers a chain of reaction that
we call the metabolic syndrome andweight gain is often one of the first signs.
The muscles and the liver can only store a certain amount of glycogen (stored
glucose) at any given time. Once those stores are full, insulin has to remove any
excess glucose in the blood and put it somewhere else. The glucose gets stored in the
fat cells as triglycerides. Et voil! This is the basics of how you store fat.
The story doesnt end there though. Chronically elevated insulin also disrupts another
hormone called leptin. Leptin is a hormone that talks with the hypothalamus to signal
hunger and energy reserves. When insulin is high all the time to deal with all the
sugar, you get hungry and eat even more sugar even if your cells are overfed and
dont need more energy from food.
What happens next if the vicious cycle continues? Your cells become resistant to the
effects of insulin to protect themselves from the damaging and inflammatory effects
of too much glucose. Glucose then has trouble getting into the cells and more of it
gets stored as fat, even when your cells are hungry and deprived. The problem is
that your cells now dont get the energy they would get from glucose, because they are
resistant to insulin.
Your cells are now starving for food while sugar is being stored in the fat cells. Since
your body needs energy and in the energy conservation optic, you get even hungrier,
your energy levels fall while you gain weight.
Also note that excess fructose consumption (from sodas, fruit juices and anything with
added sugar or high-fructose corn syrup) is also a big problem on the standard American
diet and causes insulin resistance at the liver, which is very bad news. The focus of this
article is not on fructose, but a whole article will be dedicated to the specific damage
that fructose does. For now, just keep in mind that carbohydrates are less of a problem
when fructose consumption is low, but in our present society almost any kind of
carbohydrate comes loaded with fructose.
In this sense, obese people are sedentary and overeat because they are fat and not the
other way around, just like teenagers who are not growing because they are
overeating, but are overeating because they are growing. Its not a defect in will-power
or dedication, its a defect in ratios of macro-nutrients consumed which triggers an
unnatural hormonal reaction.
If the vicious cycle continues even more, chances are your cells will become more
and more insulin resistant and you run the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a
situation where the pancreas becomes tired of producing all that insulin and now
produces inadequate amounts to keep your blood sugar in the normal range.
Now this might seem quite unlikely to happen to you and might sound farfetched or
extreme. Keep in mind that the metabolic syndrome presents itself differently and at
different times for everybody. It can take years or decades, but as soon as your start
gaining unnatural weight youre already somewhat insulin resistant. It doesnt mean
its going to develop into full blown type 2 diabetes or other metabolic problems, but
odds are not on the good side. Some people develop some form of the metabolic
syndrome without getting fat, and its quite dangerous, because there is no prior sign or
wake up call.
Some people will imitate their favorite athlete, who might be eating tons of
carbohydrates while staying lean and fit. Athletes can afford to go harder with the
carbs and fructose because their glycogen stores are more often depleted and there
is no negative metabolic effect in repleting glycogen stores. Its when you hammer
them while they are already replete that problems happen.
If excess sugar and especially fructose is bad and is the root cause of all modern
metabolic problems along with grains and omega-6/omega-3 imbalances, you probably
wonder how our ancestors got by eating fruits, probably without restriction. After all,
fructose got its name from the word fruit. The thing is, most fruits back then were
much less sweet and much more fibrous and/or tart. The other thing is that in most
parts of the world, fruits are only available at certain times of the year. Most of the
time, this would happen right at the end of the summer when it was the ideal time to
over-eat a bit and get fatter to go through winter, when food becomes scarce. Getting
a higher amount of carbs a couple of times a year instead of chronically does not
cause problems, especially when your metabolism hasnt been messed up already.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you understand some of the main mechanisms implicated
with weight gain so you can better understand why some people always struggle to
lose weight and why most people following a diet ultimately fail and regain all the
weight. Proper dietary and lifestyle changes that align with what our Paleolithic
ancestors were used to in nature is the only sure-fire strategy for long-term health
and weight control.
Pictures: scale
Ce sunt carbodidratii
Desi cele sapte minuni ale lumii continua sa ne uimeasca si sa ne intrige, exista o enigma si mai
mare pe care omenirea incearca sa o dezlege de mult timp: carbohidratii.
Nutritionistul american Susan Burke si-a asumat misiunea de a descalci itele si de a separa faptele de fictiune in privinta
carbohidratilor.
Imaginati-va un zirconiu cubic si un diamant; zirconiul arata la fel ca diamantele dar numai unul dintre ele este
valoros. Aceasta este diferenta dintre carbohidratii rafinati si cei nerafinati sau complecsi. De exemplu, ganditiva la o felie de paine alba si la o felie de paine integrala cu seminte. Spre deosebire de felia de paine integrala,
care este in mod natural plina de diferite tipuri de vitamine, minerale, micronutrienti si fibre, din painea alba sau scos substantele naturale, au fost procesate, apoi puse laolalta pentru a realiza o imitatie ,declara Burke.
Carbohidrati buni
Cerealele integrale
Painea integrala
Fructele
Legumele
Orezul brun
Turtele si biscuitii de ovaz
Orzul
Fasolea
Lintea
Cartofii
Carbohidrati rai
Cerealele rafinate
Painea alba
Gogosile
Biscuitii
Prajiturile
Bauturile acidulate
Crispurile
Chipsurile
Pastele fainoase
Siropurile din dulceata
Dac ncerci s slbeti, atunci este important s cunoti modul corect de a pierde n greutate.
i, inevitabil, atunci cnd vrei s ncepi o cur de slabire, printre ntrebrile pe care i le pui apar i cele legate de carbohidrai,
de rolul i influena lor.
Ce sunt carbohidraii, care e rolul lor, ct de mult ajung s-mi influeneze dieta i sntatea?
Carbohidratii reprezint sursa principal de energie a organismului (unica hran de care are nevoie creierul) i cel mai uor
de obinut deoarece se gsesc ntr-o gam vast i variat, de la legume, pn la gogoi. Toi carbohidraii conin zahr sub
diverse forme i poart diverse denumiri, cum sunt maltoza (zahrul din bere), zaharoza (zahrul de mas), lactoza (zahrul din
produsele lactate) i fructoza (zahrul din fructe).
De obicei e foarte uor s-i dai seama dup gust ce carbohidrai au cel mai mult zahr i care dintre ei l elibereaz mai
repede. Astfel, o tablet de ciocolat cu lapte elibereaz mai repede zahr dect una cu ciocolat amruie, un ananas dect un
pepene sau o felie de pine alb dect un biscuite din cereale integrale. Cu ct cantitatea de zahr este mai mare i cu ct
este eliberat mai rapid, cu att mai acut este senzaia de uurare care ne cuprinde dup ce ne-am satisfcut pofta de
carbohidrai.
Organismul nostru vrea s ajung la zahrul din carbohidrai, dar viteza acestui proces depinde de o serie de factori. Cu ct
zahrul este mai puin legat de alte substane, cu att mai repede intr n fluxul sanguin.
Care sunt substanele care stau n calea zahrului i nu-i permit s ajung mai repede n organism?
Fibrele sunt principalul factor care i ncetinete absorbia. Tocmai de aceea, fulgii de ovz instant sunt o alegere mai
proast dect cei nerafinii, pentru c cei din urm au coninut de fibre intact, iat stomacul pentru a ajunge la zahr, trebuie mai
nti s-l separe de fibre. Acestea reprezint un obstacol bun n calea digestiei, deoarece o ncetinesc, prin faptul c strbat
nedigerate sistemul digestiv.
O digestie mai lent a carbohidrailor nseamn mai puin insulin. Mai puin insulin nseamn o scdere mai mic a
nivelului de zahr din snge, iar variaii mai mici mici ale nivelului de zahr din snge duc la senzaii de foame mai reduse.
Fibrele nu sunt singurul lucru care ncetinete digestia carbohidrailor. Grsimea, alimentele acide, cum sunt lmia i oetul,
mpiedic creterea brusc a nivelului de zahr din snge. Folosete-le cu ncredere la salate i o s observi beneficiile lor.
Odat ce zahrul a ajuns n snge, pancreasul este cel care ncepe s lucreze, producnd suficient insulin fie pentru a-l
transporta la restul organelor care au nevoie de el, fie pentru a-l pstra pentru nevoi viitoare. i tot pancreasul este cel care tie
de ct insulin este nevoie pentru a se putea realiza acest proces, astfel, n cazul unui aport brusc de zahr n snge el
secret mai mult insulin, iar dac zahrul e asimilat ncet atunci i insulina este eliberat treptat. n acest proces diabeticii au
de suferit deoarece dei consum aceleai zaharuri ca toat lumea, din cauza insuficienei de insulin, zahrul rmne n
snge.
E bine de reinut un lucru important n ceea ce privete obezitatea: zahrul care se absoarbe rapid este duntor, cel
care se absoarbe ncet, lent este mai bun.
Care este explicaia?
Dac zahrul este absorbit lent, nivelul su n snge crete i apoi scade treptat, pe msur ce insulina acioneaz. Prin
scderea lent, senzaia de foame este mai redus, iar pofta pentru ali carbohidrai se reduce. Dac nivelul de zahr crete
brusc, pancreasul furnizeaz deodat mai mult insulin, iar n consecin nivelul de zahr din snge va scdea brusc i mult,
att de mult nct organismul va resimi nevoia de alte zaharuri pentru a compensa scderea mare. Astfel apare o senzaia
puternic de foame, i tindem s mncm mai mult dect avem nevoie, ceea ce va duce n final la o cretere n greutate.
Pe acest principiu putem spune ca s-au evideniat dou tipuri de carbohidrai: carbohidraii ri (care stimuleaz senzaia de
foame, n special cei rafinai) i carbohidraii buni (dup consumul crora vei fi mai puin nfometat).
Un lucru esenial pe care ar trebui s-l facem este s ncercm s nvm ce alimente determin creterea rapid a nivelului
de zahr din snge.
David Jenkies a conceput n anii 80 un mod de a evalua viteza i gradul n care o cantitatea fix de alimente mrete nivelul de
zahr din snge. Aceast scar s-a numitindicele glicemic.
Indicele glicemic al unui aliment este asemntor unui indicator, fiind corelat cu viteza prin care anumii carbohidrai din acel
aliment ajung n snge i duc la creterea nivelul de zahr din snge.
Alimentele cu valori mici ale indicelui glicemic determin o cretere i o scdere lent a zahrului din snge, potolesc foamea
pe perioade mai lungi i reduc poftele alimentare, dect cele cu valori mari.
Trebuie ns reinut faptul c gradul n care crete zahrul n snge nu depinde doar de indicele glicemic, ci i de
cantitatea de alimente consumat. De exemplu, morcovii au un indice glicemic mare, dar densitatea de carbohidrai e redus.
Astfel, va trebui s mncai mai muli morcovi pentru a avea aceeai cretere a nivelului de zahr ca n urma consumul unei felii
de pine. De asemenea, laptele degresat i untul de arahide au acelai indice glicemic, dar laptele este o alegere mai bun.
Tabelul de mai jos i ofer indicele glicemic al unui numr mare de alimente, de la zahr, bere i pine alb, la linte i
spanac.
Produse de patiserie
IG
Pine
IG
Chec
66
68
Brio
88
Pine multicereale
69
Croissant
96
Pine neagr
71
Gogoa
108
Lipie alb
82
Napolitane
109
Pizza cu brnz
86
Chifl de hambuger
87
Buturi
Lapte de soia
43
Pine de secar
92
Suc de mere
57
93
Suc de ananas
66
99
69
Pine alb
101
Chifle
103
Fulgi de ovz
27
Pesmet
106
60
129
70
Baghet franuzeasc
136
Musli
80
Finoase dulce
Gru zdrobit
99
Fursecuri de ovz
79
Gru expandat
105
Biscuii graham
106
Biscuii de orez
117
Napolitane cu vanilie
110
Fulgi de proumb
119
Picoturi
113
96
Cereale (boabe)
Secar
48
Produse lactate
Gru integral
59
20
68
34
68
Lapte integral
39
Orz decortificat
72
Lapte degresat
46
Hric
78
47
Orez brun
79
71
Orez slbatic
81
ngheat
87
Orez alb
83
Paste finoase
Cucu
93
Tiei
50
Mlai
98
53
Mei
101
56
Spaghete albe
59
Supe
54
Macaroane
64
63
Tortellini cu brnz
71
86
78
Sup de fasole
92
Macaroane cu brnz
92
94
113
IG
Leguminoase
IG
Ciree
32
Soia fiart
23
Suc de mere
34
36
Grapefruit
40
42
Piersici
43
42
Caise uscate
43
44
Caise proaspete
43
45
Compot de piersici
43
Nut
47
Portocale
47
54
Pere
47
Fasole pestri
55
Prune
55
Nut la conserv
60
Mere
56
64
Struguri
62
69
Compot de pere
63
74
Stafide
64
74
Suc de ananas
66
Legume rdcinoase
Suc de grapefruit
69
Cartofi dulci
63
Kiwi
83
Morcovi fieri
70
Mango
86
83
Banane
89
Cartofi piure
100
Compot de caise
91
Cartofi noi
101
Ananas
94
Cartofi prjii
107
Pepene verde
103
Cartofi instant
114
Cartofi la microunde
117
Pstrnac
139
Cartofi copi
158
Gustri i Bomboane
IG
Legume
IG
Arahide
21
Anghinare
<20
46
Sparanghel
<20
Ciocolat Snickers
57
Broccoli
<20
62
Varz de Bruxelles
<20
Ciocolat (o tablet de 50 g)
70
<20
Gemuri i marmalade
70
Conopid
<20
Chips-uri de cartofi
77
elin
<20
Floricele de porumb
79
Castravei
<20
Jeleuri
114
Vinete
<20
Bomboane Skittles
98
Sfecl
<20
Covrigei
116
Fasole verde
<20
Curmale
146
Spanac
<20
<20
Zaharuri
Fructoz
32
<20
Lactoz
65
<20
Miere
83
Dovlecei
<20
89
Dovleac lunguie
<20
Zaharoz
92
<20
Glucoz
137
Roii
23
Maltodextrin
150
Mazre verde
68
Maltoz
150
Porumb dulce
78
Dovleac
107