QuestionAmirah
Is it possible that some people do much better on a high carbohydrate low or no meat/fat diet?
The reason I ask is that for years I have been trying to lose weight by eating low calorie, low carb.
From what I read the low fat approach has be discredited.
However, In an effort to reduce my distended belly, GERD, and other digestive problems, I have noticed I feel much better when I cut out red meat.
Lately I have cut out all fats like cheese and butter and that has helped even more, I sleep better, and my belt has also come in a couple notches! But, the daily calorie count though is the same? I though all calories were equal? Go figure...
Anyway, the next step might be to cut out poultry. Fish would be tough though.
On another note, I have Asian friends that eat tons of rice and noodles, lots of veggies, very little meat. Skinny and full of energy. Also my neighbour is Italian and eats a lot of pasta and bread. He eats it like they do in the old country-plain-maybe with a little olive oil.He is 76 and has a girlfriend ;-)
So I figure that for a lot of people, high carb and no saturated fat is probably the way to go.
In the new year I will keep this up and maybe go vegetarian?
Thanks for your thoughts!
AnswerHi Susan!
I'm glad to hear that you're considering transitioning to a vegetarian diet. It's absolutely a great way to lose weight the healthy way, not to mention its an all around healthy lifestyle. Regarding fat, its not surprising that you've realized weight loss as a result of reducing your saturated fat intake. Saturated fats are among the harmful fats. It is found in meat and dairy products as well as coconut and coconut oil. The harmful effect of this form of fat is that it increases LDL cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol that the body does not need. In terms of weight loss and overall health and well-being it would be best if you avoid saturated and trans fats replace those with monosaturated and polyunsaturated fat, which are found in plant-based foods such as safflower, corn and sunflower oils as well as nuts and seeds. The body needs fat as a source of energy. However, care must be taken to ensure that you are feeding the body the type of fat that it needs for optimal health and functioning.
Regarding calories, no, they aren't all created equal so focus on quality versus quantity. Calories measure the amount of energy stored in food. Stated another way, calories measure the amount of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in food. For instance, a gram of protein has 4 calories while a gram of fat has 9 calories. Thus, in measuring carbohydrates, fats and proteins you are also measuring calories. So in this regard, all foods have calories, including plant-based foods as they too have carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Specifically, compared to meat-based foods, plant-based foods are more rich in polyunsaturated and monosaturated fats (the healthy fats), which the body readily absorbs and transforms into energy. To illustrate, lets look at the caloric count of chick peas and chicken. A 3.53 ounce serving of chick peas has 364 calories versus a 3.53 ounce serving of roasted chicken which has only 173 calories. Though the chicken may have more protein, the caloric count is less. So, if it is calories that concern you rest assured that you will still get them on a vegetarian diet. Even if it is protein and caloric intake that you are focusing on there are a variety of plant-based foods that are good sources of both.
Hope this helps!
Warm regards,
Amirah Bellamy, Vegan Coach and Meal Planner
www.AmirahBFit.com
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