Here is an interesting article about sugar versus saturated fat. I don’t think most people here will be surprised by the sleazy history.
3 Likes
There was a very interesting radio show on this very topic a couple of months back. It is on CBC Radio and the podcast is on the web - not sure if the links will work for everyone.
Yes - Gary Taubes who has been quoted on a couple of recent posts is on the program.
I started to figure this out slowly myself. I couldn’t believe what the dietitian was saying that eating cholesterol made you get high cholesterol and I should eat less red meat. I though, if cows are vegetarian why do they have cholesterol - it can’t be from eating meat and eggs… Then I read about how our bodies make cholesterol and I released that we have been duped.
Good quotes from the program (source is the CBC website):
"It’s the hormone insulin that makes you fat and keeps you fat. It’s also the hormone insulin in excess that’s the number one predictor of heart disease. In essence we’ve been fighting the wrong enemy the last 15 years. The enemy has never been fat. The enemy has been excess production of insulin. There’s [sic] two ways you can produce excess levels of insulin in your body. One, is to eat too many fat-free carbohydrates at any one meal. And two, eat too many calories at any one meal. In the last 15 years, especially in America, Americans have been doing exactly that.
– Barry Sears
“Farmers have known for thousands of years, the way you fatten up any animal is to put them in a pen so they can’t run around, and then you feed them lots of grain, basically carbohydrates, whole-grain carbohydrates. Those animals predictably get fat. So we’ve basically created a North American feed lot where we have people exercising very little, eating lots of refined starches. Things like white bread and potatoes and white rice as well as all the sodas and things made with large amounts of sugar. And not surprisingly, we’re getting fat.”
– Walter Willett
3 Likes
just goes to show that brains mean nothing without compassion.
" One, is to eat too many fat-free carbohydrates at any one meal. And two, eat too many calories at any one meal." so too much high fat low carb can also cause a surge in insulin. have people injecting insulin found this to be true?
Thank you for the links to the fat vs. sugar audio files. These are high quality, very worthwhile.
Yes, portions matter. I pay absolutely no attention to calories. However, I do keep my portions moderate and consistent. I find that if I eat excessively that it affects my blood sugar for a longer period and causes it to rise more than normal. This happens even if the meal is virtually no carbs. I don’t know of any element in managing diabetes that can be looked at on its own and not taking into account all the other factors at the same time. Simply changing what you eat and not addressing the volume of food does not provide the complete solution.
1 Like
I’ve personally found that if I eat too many calories at a meal, it can affect my BG for a couple days straight. I experimented for awhile with “intermittent fasting,” since my brother (who is LADA) found that to help his BG control. What I found was trying to cram 2,000 calories (almost entirely from fats and proteins) into a four hour window during the day led to poorer fasting blood glucose, for me.
It works for him, but not for me. I have better control if I eat smaller, more consistent meals throughout the day, even though I eat high fat low carb.
David49, what about cramming all your calories into an 8 hour window? I believe there is some research pointing to benefit from that degree of intermittent fasting.
I could easily cram all my kcals (and carbs) into under 30 minutes, but then I’d be hungry the rest of the time. 
️️
2 Likes
I’ve done that, and it probably would work fine for the most part. I still experience extreme, uh…GI tract discomfort if I put 2,000 or more calories into an 8 hour window, but it doesn’t seem to affect my BG the next day. Honestly, I mostly don’t do that (consistently) because of the inconvenience. I exercise a lot (both intentionally and as a byproduct of biking around town instead of driving), and I’m very susceptible to going low during/after that exercise. It’s become easier for me to try to maintain a fairly steady BG throughout the day by eating small meals. Then again, I also don’t eat many carbs at all, so I’m not likely to spike for that reason.