Showing posts with label low-carb diets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label low-carb diets. Show all posts

Friday, June 26, 2009

Low-carb living can benefit those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome


"Meat" your answer to IBS. HA! I kill me!


Reprint from Examiner


According to an article found on Modern Medicine, Gregory L. Austin, M.D., of the University of Colorado in Aurora, conducted a study involving 17 patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. After following a two-week standard diet, the participants were then put on a four week very low carbohydrate diet, consisting of only 20 grams of carbohydrates a day.

The abstract shows that of the patients who completed the diet, which totaled 13, all responded with their results. 77% of the participants (10 of the 13) reported adequate relief of symptoms during the low-carb phase of their diet plans. (As someone who suffers from this malady, I can vouch that these results are accurate.) “Pain scores and quality-of-life measures significantly improved. Outcomes were independent of weight loss.” states the author. Their conclusion: “A VLCD provides adequate relief, and improves abdominal pain, stool habits, and quality of life in IBS-D.”

Visit the Mayo Clinic Website to learn more about Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Cereal Killer Contains Scary Truths

Today I'm highlighting one of the great prizes we are giving away in our 2nd Annual Great Start Giveaway! Four lucky winners will receive a copy of this awesome book, so be sure you enter before the deadline of Feb. 1st!


Cereal Killer contains Scary Truths

Reprint from my Examiner.com column




I've certainly had my share of nightmares about cereal, Twinkies and Doritos chasing me and making me binge on them. (Admit it – you've have that dream too!) But you won’t find that kind of suspense and thrills in this amazing book by author Alan Watson. What you’ll read here is even more frightening.

This isn’t your grandfather’s cereal, or even your great-grandfather’s cereal. More than likely it’s because they didn’t eat cereal. They ate real food. Bacon. Eggs. Steak. In the last several decades we have been told that processed low-fat food products are better for us. So naturally we obliged. After all, who doesn’t want to be trim and healthy? After years and years of following what we assumed to be sound scientific advice, are we any healthier? No. In fact, we are one of the unhealthiest nations on the planet. Mr. Watson sees this problem. In Cereal Killer Alan gives us insight into how it all got started and helps us understand just what this so-called “healthy American diet” is really doing to our bodies.

People need to understand that reading the back of a cereal box for your nutritional advice is a bad idea. I’d laugh if I were actually kidding. Here’s a quote:


Keys to Healthy Living

Eating a balanced diet moderate in calories and getting exercise are keys to a healthy lifestyle. A cereal breakfast is a simple step you can take. (Their emphasis, not mine.) Research shows that people who frequently eat cereal have healthier body weights.



Then they explain % daily values.

DV’s tell you if a food group is high or low in a nutrient… Sugar does not have a DV.


And this means what… Eat sugar to your heart’s content?

Who’d like to take a stab at which cereal box this is on? Try Cookie Crisp. So according to the back of the Cookie Crisp cereal box, eating this sugar-filled processed junk for breakfast is perfectly fine. It will keep you at a healthy body weight and since there is no DV on sugar, you don’t have to limit it or consume a certain level. At the least, a statement like this is misleading.

Cereal Killer will change your way of thinking about our government backed nutrition and health guidelines.From the back of the book:

So! How are the children doing?

End of summer, 2008. A record number of American children are being diagnosed with asthma, obesity, diabetes, and bipolar disorder. Along with surging food and medical costs, Americans must come to grips with declining life expectancy – now 37th in the world…
In this explosive book, Alan Watson sheds new light now how corporate greed, government delusion, and slippery science are making our children sick and causing what the late Dr. Robert Atkins called “diabesity.”

Cereal Killer is a stinging indictment of the big cereal companies and drug industries who enjoy huge profits as Americans of all ages suffer from failed “low fat” federal nutrition guidelines and record levels of chronic disease.

After you read Cereal Killer, you will know:

Why obesity is epidemic.

Why diabetes is soaring.

Why cholesterol and saturated fat are not the cause of heart disease.

I could barely put this book down. It has great information and confirms what I think most of us have suspected for years. Health and obesity is big business in America and there are individuals and companies who’d like to keep it that way. We can fight back by staying informed and educated. Mr. Watson’s book is a great place to start and I highly recommend it.

You can learn more about this book and how to purchase it at Diet Heart Publishing or at Amazon.com.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Low-Carb Food List


Many people would like to try the low-carb lifestyle, but are very unsure of what foods they can or can't have. It's not really difficult, but may certainly be overwhelming for those who are new to the idea.

Today I'm going to share with you a low-carb shopping list. I've printed this list out and keep it in my recipe binder where I can always reference it. For many of you, this may be old hat. But for those of you who are needing some direction in regards to food choices, I hope this helps.

Keep in mind that none of these food will have breading on them in any form. If you want something breaded, find a low-carb cookbook and try one of the many recipes available. My personal favorite for breading is mixing spices with crushed pork rinds and Parmesan cheese. :0)

Low-Carb Shopping List


Meat
Beef (all kinds)
Pork (all kinds)
Poultry (all kinds)
Wild game (all kinds)
Fish (all kinds)
Shellfish (all except imitation crab meat)
Deli Meat (watch labels - nitrate free is preferable)

Fresh Fruits and Veggies
Cauliflower
Green Beans
Artichokes
Spinach
Asparagus
Jicama
Broccoli
Yellow Squash
Zucchini
Okra
Spaghetti Squash
Onions
Green, Red, Yellow and Orange Bell peppers
Tomatoes (go easy on these as a general rule)
Cucumbers
Bean Sprouts
Brussel Sprouts
Radishes
Celery
Mushrooms
Lettuce
Bok Choy
Cabbage
Greens
Peppers (jalapeƱo, etc.)
Leeks
Snow Peas
Turnips
Eggplant
Tofu
Pumpkin
Raspberries
Strawberries
Blueberries
Blackberries
Cantaloupe
Lemons
Limes


Dairy

Heavy Whipping Cream
Half & Half
Sour Cream
Cottage Cheese
All hard and soft cheeses
Eggs (why is this considered dairy again?)
real butter
cream cheese

Other Items
*NOTE: Some (not all) of these items MAY cause stalls, so use wisely!
Sugar Free Jell-O
Sugar Free Pudding Mix
Diet Hot Cocoa (read labels)
Coffee
Tea
Water
Diet Soda
Crystal Light (mix is better than pre-made)
Kellogg K2o Protein Water Mix (again, avoid the pre-made)
Sugar Free Kool-Aide
Low-Carb Breads (read labels)
Low-Carb tortillas (read labels)
Sugar Free Chocolates (like ChocoPerfection)
Flax Seed
Nuts
Nut flours
Pork Rinds
Low-Carb shakes and bars
Vital Wheat Gluten
Guar or Xanthium Gum
Coconut Oil
Olive Oil
Stevia
Protein Powders
Splenda
Fiber Fit
True Lemon/Lime/Orange
Davinci or Torani Sugar Free Syrups




The above list is by no means exhaustive. I'm know I've left lots of items out. But you get the idea. Print out this list and carry it with you. When someone pooh-pooh's your plan, just pull this list out and say "Now tell me again how I'm depriving myself?" :0)

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Science Daily


I've gotten quite a few interesting articles from the Science Daily website. I was looking at this article today titled Low-Carb Diets Reduce Inflammation And Blood Saturated Fat In Metabolic Syndrome. As I looked around I noticed several other interesting links that would be of interest to low-carbers. Here are those that caught my eye:

Low-carb Diet Better Than Low-fat Diet At Improving Metabolic Syndrome

20-year Study Finds No Association Between Low-carb Diets And Risk Of Coronary Heart Disease

Moderate-fat Diet Is Kinder To Heart Than Low-fat Diet, Study Shows


Very Low-carbohydrate Diets Work For Men And Upper Body Fat

So there are a few links for you to pursue and enjoy. I'm going to look around more when I have the time. Right now I'm nursing a cold and feel less than great. I'm taking my stuffy head and going back to bed for a bit.