Nutition - Is it possible to get a balanced diet?

[C~Q]

Astrid, I see what you mean re the "low-fat" thing. I agree, most low fat packaged products contain way too much salt and sugar and are far worse for you in the long run.

I think my biggest beef with low carb diets is the effect it has on exercise. Glucose (a form of Carbs) is a major fuel source for the body and when too little carbs are consumed the body uses fat and protein to make energy. The problem is your body takes a lot longer to provide fuel from fat rather than glucose or glycogen so can really only be used when exercising at a low intensity. I think that the majority of the population should be undertaking more exercise and as such should be fueling their bodies appropriately but this is my personal opinion so please don't attack it!

[C~Q]

"It does not recommend the Atkins diet. However, a low-carb approach is consistent with heart association guidelines so long as there are limitations on the kinds of saturated fats often consumed by people on the Atkins diet, Eckel said. "

Exactly!

[Astrid]

Astrid, I see what you mean re the "low-fat" thing. I agree, most low fat packaged products contain way too much salt and sugar and are far worse for you in the long run.

I think my biggest beef with low carb diets is the effect it has on exercise. Glucose (a form of Carbs) is a major fuel source for the body and when too little carbs are consumed the body uses fat and protein to make energy. The problem is your body takes a lot longer to provide fuel from fat rather than glucose or glycogen so can really only be used when exercising at a low intensity. I think that the population as a whole should be undertaking more exercise and as such should be fueling their bodies appropriately but this is my personal opinion so please don't attack it!

Won't attack your opinion, it is just there is just so much myth out there about low carb, Atkins or some other style, that I like to show that is is not just about eating mounds of bacon. Low carb with exercise is something to be careful of, but then so is any eating with exercise. I have know of people who go to the extreme of exercising whilst only drinking juice for breakfast and eating fruit salads for lunch. I suppose it is all about balance and what is best for each individual.

[Astrid]

"It does not recommend the Atkins diet. However, a low-carb approach is consistent with heart association guidelines so long as there are limitations on the kinds of saturated fats often consumed by people on the Atkins diet, Eckel said. "

Exactly!

Yes, but is not the devil incarnate way of eating either! Just remember with the heart association that a lot of their early recommendations were based on some very dodgy assumptions regarding fat and its affect on the heart and it is hard for them to get away from some of those. The article shows that they are starting to come around and it is nice to see written in mainstream media what many low carbers have known for years about low carb and cholesterol levels.

[C~Q]

Just to clarify, I wasn't thinking that you were attacking my opinion, I just wanted to put up a little safety barrier as some of my comments in other threads have been quite quickly growled at

BTW where is our hiding smilie??

ETA thank you for posting that article and showing me another reason that I shouldn't make sweeping generalisations!

[Nai]

The problem is your body takes a lot longer to provide fuel from fat rather than glucose or glycogen so can really only be used when exercising at a low intensity.

From someone who has personally suffered "bonking" (yes that is the technical term folks) half way through a triathlon from not consuming enough carbs for dinner the night before I totally agree!

I am not a fan of low carb diets personally as I find them too restrictive being a vegetarian, however I am all in favour of balance - particularly a balance for the amount of exercise output vs food intake.

At this point in my life I am being driven by my body and it wants carbs - if I don't eat a high carb dinner at night I am waking at 4am with a rumbling tummy and have to get up and eat to stop from feeling nauseous and headachy. This baby must be doing all night gymnastics in there it's going through that much energy

[Astrid]

At this point in my life I am being driven by my body and it wants carbs - if I don't eat a high carb dinner at night I am waking at 4am with a rumbling tummy and have to get up and eat to stop from feeling nauseous and headachy. This baby must be doing all night gymnastics in there it's going through that much energy

I found when pregnant I craved white toast with vegemite. Don't know what it was that my body wanted, but that combo seemed to help, especially with morning sickness.

I do find with myself though I am more satisfied not having the white carbs in my diet. Take a 1/4 chicken and chips for example. If I eat just the chicken I feel more satisfied hunger wise than when I eat the chips as well. I feel stuffed, but still hungry and am looking for more food sooner, even though I have eaten more calories than the 1/4 chicken on its own.

[Nai]

Mmm white toast with vegemite, hot chips *licks lips* - stop teasing the pregnant woman!

[C~Q]

I do find with myself though I am more satisfied not having the white carbs in my diet. Take a 1/4 chicken and chips for example. If I eat just the chicken I feel more satisfied hunger wise than when I eat the chips as well. I feel stuffed, but still hungry and am looking for more food sooner, even though I have eaten more calories than the 1/4 chicken on its own.

Chips have a high GI factor which means they cause a large and very quick increase in your blood glucose levels which releases large amounts of insulin into your body to regulate your those levels. This happens quite quickly so your left feeling hungry again really soon.

I'd be interested to know the GI of Nutragrain. Even though it's advertised as "ironman" food, I have a bowl and i'm hungry again about an hour later...off to check the net

[christy]

oh man anything like Nutragrain with that much sugar and salt can't be good for you... :P

[C~Q]

Wouldn't you know it, the Nutrigrain website has all this nutritional information but no mention of it's Glycemic Index...Hmmmmmm

[C~Q]

Found this article which I thought might be relevent for this thread. Push to ban 'dangerous' trans fats | NEWS.com.au Apparently they're already banned in America.

[Bathsheba]

That doesn't surprise me about transfats... I think they are banned in many European countries as well. Typical... we are so slow on the uptake here in Australia... what a great dumping ground we must make

[AngelPunks]

my uni lecturer said to us during class one day (for "food as medicine") that we should try to eat 20 different foods every day and that the fresher the food the better because it kept a lot more of the vitality in the foods

[Astrid]

With regards to Nutrigrain I always used to think to myself "Ironmen?? More like constipated men!" Very little fibre in them.

[Nai]

By "Iron men" they are actually referring to what comes out of them - Stools of Steel

[christy]

LOL Nai!!! I was just perusing our mail and found a brochure for "Foods that Harm, Foods that Heal" and one of the side things says "BACON: Less salt than cornflakes?" OMG.... Is it???? That would be hilarious, and yet seriously wrong.

[C~Q]

"BACON: Less salt than cornflakes?" .

No way!!!