Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
.... The problem isn't the carbs. The human body needs carbs. The problem is that the human body doesn't need a consistent out-of-control caloric surplus with no deficit in sight.
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Oops! I just assumed that when you said this that you meant
dietary carbs. Was I wrong in that assumption? The body does not need dietary carbohydrate, because it can make glucose on its own.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
Lindy, glucose is a carbohydrate. Protein and fats are converted to glucose for energy, aren't they?
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Indeed they are. Through the process of gluconeogenesis, the body converts dietary lipids and proteins, or body fat and/or muscle, into glucose, which the body then uses for energy. Given a sufficiency or surplus of dietary lipids and protein, the body will turn those into glucose. Absent sufficient dietary protein, the body will use muscle mass as a protein source.
That is why the so-called "low carb" diets must also be high protein diets. Atkins especially cautions against trying to "do Atkins" as a low calorie low fat diet in hopes that it would work faster.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
Also, I've kept up my reading on nutrition throughout the years. I'm aware of the dietary variances between cultures.
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OK. I thought that when you said that "a calorie is a calorie" that you were perhaps unaware of the thermic effect. Or didn't buy into it. But it does give a protein based diet an advantage.
High fat high refined carb eating, the way that so many eat, seems to bring no good to anyone.
Lindy