George Clooney's Reverse Diet?

Actor George Clooney gained 30 pounds for his role sin “Syriana” by eating a lot of pasta. What does this tell us? First, I suppose, is that George Clooney is dedicated to his profession. But beyond this it says that carbohydrates put on pounds.

If you have extra weight that you want to take off, then you may have already driven yourself crazy looking for the perfect diet. There’s the South Beach Diet, Atkins Diet, Weight Watchers, Blood Type Diet and Paleolithic Diet. Where do you start?

This article contains information from a few respected sources in the natural health care industry. They all speak about carbohydrates and they are all quick to recognize that this is a complex issue that deserves a wholistic approach.

Start with these three facts in mind:

1. Carbohydrates are sugars that the body can convert to fat if they are not used up.
2. Eating more calories than you can metabolize will result in weight gain
3. Exercise burns fat

Certainly, we need some carbohydrates. And not all carbohydrates are the same. Some are contained in very good foods such as fruits and green vegetables. But others are in bread, pasta, cookies, cakes, pies and soft drinks. Carbohydrates, especially those in man-made foods, seem to disturb the healthy balance of hormones in the body. Insulin levels, used to control blood sugar, becomes destabilized with man-made carbohydrates. This leads to weight gain.

The best advice is to avoid fads and read books such as Life Without Bread to get some idea of the role of carbohydrates in weight gain. A diet of pasta, desserts, potatoes and sodas, especially combined with body type, age and lack of exercise, can result in overweight conditions.

Medical News Today reports:

Scientists say that low carbohydrate diets, like the Atkins and South Beach Diets, may actually be the best option for men who want to slim. New research, published [2004] in the Open Access journal, Nutrition & Metabolism, shows that over 70% of men lost more weight and fat on a low carbohydrate diet, despite eating more calories.

Jeff Volek and colleagues, from the University of Connecticut, also show for the first time that a low carbohydrate diet is much more effective in losing fat from the stomach and chest. Upper body fat carries “a greater health risk than fat stored in other regions of the body,” say the authors. They found that fat loss in men was three-times greater in the trunk area, when they were on a low-carbohydrate regime compared to the low-fat diet. Nearly all participants in the study (12 of 15 men and 12 of 13 women) lost more fat on their upper body on the low- carbohydrate diet.

Fifteen overweight or obese men, and thirteen women, were randomly assigned to a very low carbohydrate diet or a low fat diet. After fifty days, they were switched to the other diet. 11 of the 15 men did better on the low carbohydrate diet, six lost greater than 10 lbs more on the low carbohydrate diet, and one subject lost almost 25 pounds more. Similar results were found for women although the results were less dramatic.

Dr Joseph Mercola, author of The No Grain Diet, was reviewed by the Weston A Price organization:

Mercola is careful to explain that quality high-carbohydrate foods such as whole grains and potatoes are not necessarily bad for everyone. However, individuals who need to lose weight should avoid them completely at first, and then consume them very sparingly in what he calls the Sustain Phase (which is lifelong). The three-phase diet plan begins with a three-day Start-Up Phase in which grains are completely eliminated, followed by a Stabilize Phase in which exercise, supplements (including supplements to reduce cravings) and positive life-style changes are added.

Mercola recognizes that permanent weight loss can only occur when the patient undergoes some permanent emotional and life-style changes, in addition to new eating habits. (westonaprice.org)

Dr. Cowan  goes on to say that a detox diet may also be in order, as well as increased exercise and/or fat-splitting enzymes.

Essentially speaking, losing weight is a complex issue. Overdoing the low-carb diet isn’t the answer. But certainly, processed foods that are carbohydrate-heavy tend to lead to weight gain.

Sources:

Atkins and South Beach Diets Best Option for Men to Slim, 13 Nov 2004