Low Fat versus Low Carb

Lisa McGavin
For many year now doctors have been advising us to eat less fat and more grains and cereals (carbohydrates) to prevent heart disease and to lose weight. Interestingly enough, although the consumption of fats has decreased and carbohydrate consumption has increased, obesity and heart disease are still on the rise. Statistics show that obesity has increased from 25% to 33% of the population and that deaths related to heart disease have increased from 40% to 50% of the population since 1970. You have to begin to wonder if the low fat/high carbohydrate diet was really such a good idea.
New evidence (which is quiet common knowledge that has failed to be interpreted correctly until now) suggests that low fat/high carbohydrate diets are, in fact bad for our health. The following points outline why:

• Low fat diets have led to a trend in the avoidance of animal proteins in the form of meat, fish, chicken, eggs and dairy products. This style of dieting leads to nutritional deficiency of amino acids, essential fatty acids, calcium and iron. The result is a lack of energy, depression, brittle bones, decreased fertility, poor immune functioning and generally poor health.
• Diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates also lead to nutritional deficiency. Sugar is often referred to as the anti-nutrient, containing no vitamins or minerals and at the same time using up our bodies stored nutrients in order to be processed once ingested. Flour acts in much the same way as sugar - so much for all those nutritionally deficient bread lovers out there, no wonders you're feeling so tired.
• Low fat/high carbohydrate diets cause you to eat more and feel hungry sooner due to the carbohydrate content of the meal. The carbohydrates cause a sharp rise in the hormone insulin and then a sharp fall; a fall in insulin triggers hypoglycemia and hunger.
• Carbohydrates such as bread, pasta and cereals made with refined processed foods and sugar cause an increase in the production of insulin. High insulin levels convert food into body fat in the form of triglycerides. High levels of triglycerides in the body are one of the greatest risk factors for heart disease.
• Eating sugar and refined carbohydrates makes you fat. The excess sugars are processed into fat stores by the body.
• "Sugar consumption is positively associated with cancer in human and test animals. Tumors are known to be enormous sugar absorbers..."(Sally Falon, Nourishing Traditions, 1995 Promotion Publishing), and "...researchers have found evidence that some cancer cells are such incredible sugar junkies that they'll self-destruct when deprived of glucose, their biological sweet of choice"..."Scientists have long suspected that the cancer cell's heavy reliance on glucose, its main source of strength and vitality, also could be one of its great weaknesses..." (John Hopkins Medical Institutions' News Release).
• Obesity and diets high in food that requires excess insulin production (such as diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates), are leading causative factors in mature age onset diabetes.

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