3 ms·
> imo all processed items are bad And this is the point where I see the problem with 'diet advice' given online (and not online, too, but a lot of it is online
by derleth 14y ago
> imo all processed items are bad
And this is the point where I see the problem with 'diet advice' given online (and not online, too, but a lot of it is online): It's overbroad and not broad enough, because it focuses on the wrong things. Bread is processed, but saying bread is bad is idiotic on its face. Meats are largely unprocessed, but a diet that's all meat is not a weight loss plan unless you live in the high Arctic and/or are doing an immense amount of exercise.
No food is bad in and of itself. It might be unhelpful in achieving a certain goal, but it is not bad. Trying to pigeonhole foods into 'good' and 'bad runs into the basic fact all foods are made of the same components and every component has its use. Yes, even fats. Yes, even carbohydrates.
It's possible to lose weight eating Twinkies in massive amounts. It even improved cholesterol levels.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/...
- Evbn 14y agoNot massive amounts. The Twinkie guy ate 1800 calories a day, including protein shakes. And vitamin suplements to cover his deficit. The balance of the diet matters, so it is a very narrow claim to say that twinkies aren't bad because someone has 1500 Twinkie calories per day and no other junk food He just got all his carbs from twinkies, and used willpower to force himself to not eat when he was hungry. His "massive amounts" are the same that many people eat, plus they eat MORE other foods. A bad food is something that doesn't satiate you as it gives you calories and fat, so you need to do other work to force yourself to not overeat. Example: twinkies
- derleth 14y ago> A bad food is something that doesn't satiate you as it gives you calories and fat, so you need to do other work to force yourself to not overeat. Example: twinkies OK, this is a reasonable first step. My point, really, is that even 'bad' foods can be part of a healthy diet, because health is determined by the overall diet. Demonizing food leads to unhealthy psychological results in the form of the sin-guilt-redemption cycle, when what you really need to lose weight is a clear-headed appraisal of your current state and what you're capable of doing to reach your goal.
- rdouble 14y agoHe ate 4 twinkies per day.
- prodigal_erik 14y agoIt's true that processing isn't inherently evil; I've had good luck with protein and fiber shakes between very small meals. But processed white bread (or pasta or white rice) might as well be candy--just a big hit of carbs that'll leave you craving more right away. Whole wheat and brown rice are only somewhat better.