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USDA ignoring the science on low-carb diets

unsettledscience.substack.com

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Re: USDA ignoring the science on low-carb diets

#121

Post by mreiner »

Interesting reports of individuals turning their life upside down. Just don't understand how they account for confounders and seem to make carbs responsible for everything that went wrong before their transition. But since sometimes it's those individual reports that get people to take action, I don't judge, happy for everyone taking charge of their health.

There are many factors driving weigth loss or gain, the macronutrients per se seem to be irrelevant in the long term though: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19246357/

There are health risks involved in low/no carb diets and the article mentions none of those.

Re: USDA ignoring the science on low-carb diets

#122

Post by mft_ »

thelittleone wrote: post #32

Even without the science... for me personally at 47 and a life long sugar addict (used to eat tablespoons of white sugar from pantry), a low carb (keto) diet has been a complete game changer. I kept my weight in check by doing 6 days of exercise a week, but I was on an energetic roller coaster. 3 months in, no sugar, no cravings (I crave oils sometimes) and damn I just feel well in a way I haven't for long before I c…

How does keto work for you doing exercise? Do you have a routine or adaptation that works for you?

I ask because I’ve tried keto a couple of times and usually gave up within a few weeks because it was incompatible with (energetic) cycling. The difference with huge - I was crawling up hills that usually I’d barely notice.

I assume it’s because I’m very carb-adapted and/or my level of exercise intensity is too high for fat-burning anyway, but I’ve not found much about this online. (And here and there, I’ve found mention, even on the most vehemently anti-carb websites, of athletes needing supplemental carbs to exercise efficiently.)

Re: USDA ignoring the science on low-carb diets

#123

Post by fsflover »

darzu wrote: post #21
mlindner wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Organic food itself is a fraud as it doesn't actually mean anything. If anything they should just ban the label entirely.

Citations needed. I worked on an organic vineyard for a summer and I can tell you it took a lot of work to get that label. Non-organic vineyards in our area had barren earth or gravel under the stalks as they used weedkillers regularly. In contrast, we practiced “turf flipping” where we would, with clever machine and hard work, turn the soil over to smother weeds. The soil was alive and rich with the longest earthwor…

>> Organic food itself is a fraud as it doesn't actually mean anything.

> Citations needed.

Here you go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_food#Health_and_safety

Quote for you:

There is little scientific evidence of benefit or harm to human health from a diet high in organic food, and conducting any sort of rigorous experiment on the subject is very difficult.

Re: USDA ignoring the science on low-carb diets

#124

Post by Semaphor »

mft_ wrote: post #122
thelittleone wrote: post #32

Even without the science... for me personally at 47 and a life long sugar addict (used to eat tablespoons of white sugar from pantry), a low carb (keto) diet has been a complete game changer. I kept my weight in check by doing 6 days of exercise a week, but I was on an energetic roller coaster. 3 months in, no sugar, no cravings (I crave oils sometimes) and damn I just feel well in a way I haven't for long before I c…

How does keto work for you doing exercise? Do you have a routine or adaptation that works for you? I ask because I’ve tried keto a couple of times and usually gave up within a few weeks because it was incompatible with (energetic) cycling. The difference with huge - I was crawling up hills that usually I’d barely notice. I assume it’s because I’m very carb-adapted and/or my level of exercise intensity is too high for…

No first-hand experience, but maybe the Ketogains [0] subreddit will have relevant information?

[0]: https://old.reddit.com/r/ketogains/

Re: USDA ignoring the science on low-carb diets

#125

Post by odiroot »

Bilal_io wrote: post #62
eru wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps remove the government from these recommendations altogether? Don't they have more important things to do?

> Don't they have more important things to do? Like caring about the well being of the citizens?

They would be banning sugary drinks altogether, if they actually cared.

Re: USDA ignoring the science on low-carb diets

#126

Post by triyambakam »

acje wrote: post #112

In the western world the default is a high-carb diet. Moving away from that i probably beneficial to most people. My personal journey has been from a rather normal western diet towards more vegetarian, but i still don't mind a little bit of bacon on top. The effect was OK, but not spectacular. Now in my mid-40 (25ish BMI) I started walking 2-3 times weekly about two years ago and have advanced to running about as oft…

Carb is too broad of a term. Though it generally seems to mean "processed wheat with added refined sugar and oils".

Yeah, processed foods aren't healthy. But fruits and vegetables are, and they have carbs (mostly simple, i.e. sugars)

Re: USDA ignoring the science on low-carb diets

#127

Post by eldenwrong »

Bilal_io wrote: post #62
eru wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps remove the government from these recommendations altogether? Don't they have more important things to do?

> Don't they have more important things to do? Like caring about the well being of the citizens?

No post body was provided.

Re: USDA ignoring the science on low-carb diets

#128

Post by eldenwrong »

xkbarkar wrote: post #107
diffeomorphism wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, "ignore everything and do whatever you like" is terrible and dangerous advice.

I disagree. When it comes to your eating habits listen to your body and ignore well meant but oftesn outright dangerous comments like this. Especially from anyone that has a “miracle” cure just for you. I have never eaten breakfast, always hated eating before lunch. Having had this exact comment thrown in my face for 30 years. Turns out ignoring everything and doing whatever fit me was not only healthy but has strong…

Americans have been "listening" to their bodies for the past decades. Has it worked out for them?

This is terrible advice sir

Re: USDA ignoring the science on low-carb diets

#129

Post by doikor »

Varqu wrote: post #116
mtsr wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only meat diet has some very serious downsides, though. It’s very environmentally unfriendly and because of the high cost it’s available to a very few people. That makes it rather hard to recommend, regardless of potential health upsides.

Any health-related downsides?

Red meat consumption has been linked to colon cancers in some studies. I guess you could always limit yourself to chicken etc.

Re: USDA ignoring the science on low-carb diets

#130

Post by eldenwrong »

Broken_Hippo wrote: post #101
themitigating wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"The best treatment for cancer is the one that works for you" "The best way to change your oil is the one that works for your car" Come on.

The best way to change your oil is the one that works for your car" Which changes depending on your car, and standards have changed over time - in no small part because they wanted to sell more oil and filters (like selling diet food to folks) and you might not even need one if you have an electric and you might need more oil changes if you have a diesel engine. It doesn't mean that you should apply a one-size-fits-a…

Sorry but that doesn't come from feelings.
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