As anybody who follows this blog has probably figured out by now, I'm a low-carb skeptic. (I didn't say anti, I just said skeptic.)
Why? Because when somebody suggests that we all do an about-face on something as fundamental as what we all eat, I think a wee bit of skepticism is in order. The "eat more fat and don't get fat" argument just plain makes me nervous. Sounds a bit too convenient, kinda like "the more you spend, the more you save." Or "eat your cake and don't have it too."
That said, I also believe in keeping an open mind, so I've tried to read up on some of the science behind the fad. You'd think that with all the biochemists in the world, something as basic as metabolism would be well understood? Hardly. Experts don't seem to agree, consensus is not available, and in the end all you can do is go with your gut (no pun intended). And based on my limited knowledge and understanding, I have heard a few arguments in favor of the low carb diet that actually strike me as (possibly) having scientific merit.
One is the blood sugar argument. In a nutshell, by lowering your blood sugar, it may be possible to stabilize the biochemical mechanisms that trigger appetite. As anybody with diabetes is well aware, sugars go to your bloodstream faster than any other food, while fats and proteins take longer to digest. This could result in fewer highs and lows, less binge-and-bust eating, and a more moderated diet.
Second, if you manage to kick your cells into ketosis, this might result in your body burning stored fats using a less efficient mechanism that harvests fewer calories per pound of stored fat, and secretes the excess as ketones (which you literally pee away). Kinda like how a car gets fewer miles per gallon when you exceed 60 mph. By putting your cells under artificial (sugar-starved) stress, you might be able to burn more fat more quickly, leading to weight loss.
The argument that doesn't wash is the subtle marketing spin that nowadays tries to associate the term "calorie" with "carb." Because pound for pound, fats have more than twice as many calories as carbs do. That's one fact on which the experts still agree.
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