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Also, a calorie is not a calorie. The body spends much less time and energy digesting simple sugars and starches, compared to proteins and fats, and because car

by kyllo 12y ago

Also, a calorie is not a calorie. The body spends much less time and energy digesting simple sugars and starches, compared to proteins and fats, and because carbs are digested so much more efficiently, they contribute more to weight gain. It is possible to lose weight simply by reducing carbohydrates as a percentage of diet, even if total caloric consumption remains constant. Satiety is also a major factor, probably the most underrated factor in successful weight loss. Because the body digests them more slowly, high fat and protein foods stave off hunger much longer than high carb foods do, so people naturally tend to consume fewer total calories on a low carb diet, due to reduced hunger and cravings.

huehue 12y ago
This is absurd. You're overestimating and basing all your theory on the thermic effect of food while failing to understand how hormones affect our metabolism. Fat and protein are not an optimal source of energy and its use as such will force the body to open up certain pathways that are metabolically inefficient and potentially ruinous in the long term. Cronic ketogenic dieters for example have extremely slow metabolisms and present symptoms of hypothyroidism.
- kyllo 12y ago
  You're reading too much into what I said. None of your claims actually contradict mine. This part actually supports what I said: Fat and protein are not an optimal source of energy and its use as such will force the body to open up certain pathways that are metabolically inefficient and potentially ruinous in the long term. Yes, that's exactly why low-carb diets work. They force your body to use a less efficient fuel, which is an effective way to counteract the problem of having too much fuel. And while ketogenic dieting may be "potentially" ruinous in the long term, obesity is definitely ruinous in the long term. I'm not really a pro-keto person, I think strict keto diets are too extreme for the long term. On the other hand, it's evident that a high carbohydrate diet provides energy that is excessive and unsuited for modern, sedentary lifestyles. Most of us would be a lot less overweight if we simply ate fewer carbs (like <40% of total calories)

by kyllo 12y ago

huehue 12y ago

This is absurd. You're overestimating and basing all your theory on the thermic effect of food while failing to understand how hormones affect our metabolism. Fat and protein are not an optimal source of energy and its use as such will force the body to open up certain pathways that are metabolically inefficient and potentially ruinous in the long term. Cronic ketogenic dieters for example have extremely slow metabolisms and present symptoms of hypothyroidism.

kyllo 12y ago
You're reading too much into what I said. None of your claims actually contradict mine. This part actually supports what I said: Fat and protein are not an optimal source of energy and its use as such will force the body to open up certain pathways that are metabolically inefficient and potentially ruinous in the long term. Yes, that's exactly why low-carb diets work. They force your body to use a less efficient fuel, which is an effective way to counteract the problem of having too much fuel. And while ketogenic dieting may be "potentially" ruinous in the long term, obesity is definitely ruinous in the long term. I'm not really a pro-keto person, I think strict keto diets are too extreme for the long term. On the other hand, it's evident that a high carbohydrate diet provides energy that is excessive and unsuited for modern, sedentary lifestyles. Most of us would be a lot less overweight if we simply ate fewer carbs (like <40% of total calories)