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Conventional WisdomThe recommendation of a low-fat diet is based on these two proven premises:
The first premise directly relates to dieting and weight loss, because the physical laws of energy demand that, to lose weight, you must take in fewer calories than your body needs to operate. And since fat has twice as many calories as carbohydrate, it’s much easier to load up on calories by eating the same volume of fat-based food, versus carbohydrate-based food. However, this doesn’t mean that eating a diet high in carbohydrates guarantees weight loss. Eat enough bread and potatoes, and you can take in the same surplus of calories you’d get from a diet of steak and cheese. In the end, the goal is to reduce the total number of calories consumed, because the body stores excess calories as body fat—no matter if they come from carbohydrates, proteins or fats. Advocates of the high-protein/high-fat diets are quick to point out that, even as their fat intake has decreased, North Americans have become fatter than ever. Their implication is that low-fat diets are to blame. But the real culprits are the many highly processed, low-fat foods that are often laden with empty calories, often from sugar. Again, remember that a low-fat diet can still add unwanted pounds if you forget about calories and portion sizes. So, what’s the conventional recommendation? Choose a diet that’s rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, that provides abundant fiber and bulk, and that’s naturally low in fat and calories. In addition to controlling weight, this type of diet serves to naturally regulate your appetite. « Back |
