Go for it, but I’ll take good, solid research over anecdotal reports any day.

MRE

Hi Tim–

I think there is a significant difference between our philosophy and that of Dr. Atkins.  Check out the discussion forum on our website and see what all the members there have to say.

Best–

MRE

Hi Lynne–

Based on some of the other comments, weight should start dropping in a few days. And it depends on how much you eat on your eat days. If you double up, weight loss will be slow.

Best–

MRE

Hi Kevin–

I agree. I would suspect, though, that the oils are corn, soybean, etc. because not that many people in the general population use coconut, palm and/or palm kernel oils. Also, I would imagine the researchers would be aware of the purported health benefits of olive oil and not include it with the vegetable oils.

Best–

MRE

I so enjoy reading your blog, particularly the new research you highlight.

Hi Carol–

Thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoy the posts.

Best–

MRE

I too thought about the fiber not being discounted (or at least not made a separate subgroup within carbohydrate intake). However, it may not be absolutely necessary. Since the inverse association between DWC and intake of fruits/green vegetables is opposite to that of potatoes/refined carbohydrate intake that would at least suggest something. Fruits/green vegetables have more fiber than potatoes/refined carbohydrate/simple sugar-containing foods. So fiber may be skewing the results but toward the message ‘food with more fiber tend to have less carbohydrate that can affect waist circumference’.

In support to a previous post to this blog entry, when you explain the ‘calorie is a calorie’ concept to an engineer, a physical chemist, or a biochemist, they understand that the concept just doesn’t make any sense at all. I would seem that only nutritionists and dietitians (an physicians for that matter) have bought into that idea. The roots, as explained by Richard Fienman who has published about it, could be traced to the fact that the first law of thermodynamics (or book keeping type of law) is the only flag waived to support the calorie is a calorie idea. Fine if we were closed systems… Like you said once, there is a lot of danger in a little knowledge.

Unfortunately, people in the Academia who understand this are not always involved in nutrition research. Even those with the potential to understand remain so biased or influenced that just can get passed that we don’t use nutrients in the same way, no matter how much evidence is in front of them.

I may have a shot at doing this kind of research and hopefully I’ve gathered enough evidence that supports the need for it as its useful and practical outcomes. However, the most difficult part will be to get passed the biases that research committees may have, which normally tend to negatively influence their decision. So… wish me luck!

Hi Gabe–

Thanks for the commentary. And good luck!

Best–

MRE

Hi Janet–

Thanks for the clarification.

Best–

MRE

I had a quick question for you.
Do we need antioxidants for health and longevity? I’m guessing if you consider cholesterol an antioxidant, the answer would be yes, but other than that, do we in your opinion? In other words, if we don’t need to eat veggies and fruit to be healthy (assuming we instead were eating high quality, pasture-raised animals, including their organs and marrow, with some of it being raw) what’s all the fuss about “phytonutrients” and antioxidants (a fuss I’ve always made as a naturopath)?

I personally place tremendous value on these sorts of nutrients, and, of course, studies always show better outcomes for people with higher fruit and veggie intake, but in light of the well-known studies of Inuits, and the Maasai, I found myself questioning the common recommendation for “more fruits and veggies”. Maybe we just need them if we eat crap otherwise….

Your thoughts are eternally appreciated.
Daniel Chong

Hi Daniel–

I think for the most part that antioxidants are overrated. In my opinion as long as one eats plenty of good quality meat one probably doesn’t need a whole lot more.

Having said that, there are a number of phytonutrients that are probably valuable since most people don’t eat a diet with plenty of good quality meat. And some phytonutrients–circumin is one of my favorites–have therapeutic properties and can be used in place of medications that always seem to come with some side effects.

Best–

MRE

Also, is vegetable oil an independent variable, or is it likely that those who used a lot of vegetable oil did so because they were following low-fat guidelines with the predictable adverse results?

Hi Chuck–

Good to hear from you.

The researchers didn’t do a particularly stellar job of explaining how they arrived at the numbers they did. They did report using the Danish equivalent to the USDA food tables, so I’m assuming that total carbohydrates were counted without removing the fiber component, which would, as you point out, skew the results.

I would bet that you hit the nail on the head about the vegetable oil as well. I haven’t been in Denmark in 30 years so I don’t know what they eat these days, but I would imagine that they’ve fallen for the low-fat fallacy in the same way everyone else has. If so, your observation about the veg oil would indeed hold true.

Best–

MRE

The human body is certainly much more sophisticated than a car engine.

The use of calories by biologists probably started as an useful simplification. Raising it to the altar it is now was certainly a mistake.

Hi Mauro–

In another life, I, too, was an engineer. How well I remember dealing with steam tables and adiabatic expansion in my thermo classes.

I think you’re right about the calorie issue. It probably was used initially as a simplification and took on a new life from there.

Cheers–

MRE