Fat is your friend!

Since being on this Way of Eating (WOE) I have read a lot of stuff about biology and the human body and how stuff works.

I think my mind is slowly coming out of the fog. Society's concept of nutrition and the biochemical processes of energy production in our bodies is incredibly wrong. Yes. Wrong.

It's not fat that makes you fat. It's carbs. I know it sounds like a load of BS and I myself was priding myself with banners like "I heart carbs" but it's the truth.

The techno-babble:

Basicly, carbs get broken down into glucose (single sugar molecules) and that stuff is one of the many things we need in our body. Our cells can burn it for energy. It's needed mostly in the brain but also in some organs and other places. Glucose gives fast energy, and we all know that. We learn that in school. That's why we are urged to eat loads and loads of it!

If only there wasn't the issue of all access glucose being converted into fat. Yes. Fat.

See where I'm going?

And that is why all the fat you eat additionally to your high carb diet, gets stored along-side the carb-made fat. That is why low fat diets work in the beginning.

Now, when talking about low carbing most people immediatly say that it is unhealthy.

But it's not. The opposite is the case. The sugar industry only wants us to believe that so they can sell more candy, and ultimately more diabetis and heart medication.

I know, I know, big stuff, hard to wrap your head around when growing up with "carbs being good". I know, because I grew up with that as well. Just like everyone else.

Now. What happens on low carb diets? We eat lots of protein and fat.

Protein is needed for your muscles, for many organs and processes in your body. Access protein gets converted to fat as well but it doesn't get stored unless there's reason to.
The most important process with protein, though, is that it gets converted to glycose. Obviously not as fast as carbs (especially pure sugar) get broken down, but we don't need that, it's actually what makes us fat to begin with. Now those protein-made glucose molecules go and feed your brain and do all the other vital stuff glucose is needed for. As you can see, your brain still gets fuel. This process of protein conversion stops once you have enough glycose for those vital functions. Protein does not get converted to just to my glycose for fuel.

Fat is the main fuel. Also in the process of converting protein to glycose which happens in your liver. Now because we don't have glycose being burnt but fat, every single thing we do burns fat. Yes. Of course the fat we eat, but also the fat we have stored

Ketones and Ketosis: In the process of burning fat for energy (called "ketosis" that's why low carb diets are also often called "ketogenic diet") ketones, the by-products are released. These little fellas are amazing! They are little racers who get places faster than the normal fat cells so they are especially good when you exercise. Best thing is, they don't get stored. So if you don't use them, they leave your body through urine or through your lungs when you exhale.


Convinced already? If not, let me give you a summary:

- carbs = sugar which turns into fat which gets stored on your person; makes your body not burn fat cause there's no need for it

- protein = needed for muscles, brain, all sorts of other important stuff in your body. I think protein is the most important one, but it does need fat to do its job

- fat = your body fuel, also don't undeestimate the amount of vitamins and minereals that are in the fats we eat. Also, ketones are a big advantage.


Now, people say you need fibre and stuff, and they're right. But what kind of fibre is in processed carbs such as cakes, noodles, regular bread? Next to none. On a low carb diet you get your fibre from the green veggies, such as dark lettuces, broccoli, spinach as well as nuts and seeds.

There. :)

Sorry that I felt like writing an essay but I've been researching so much about this lately, that I had to put it down.

It's a whole new world for me but it shouldn't be, because this is how we ate 200+ years ago before processed carbs, in the shape of flour, and starch in the shape of exotic fruit and veg (such as potato, yes, I said exotic :P) came into our diet.

Anyhoo. If any of you feel like I was making some sense up there and you want to know more here are some links:

A blog by a low carb advocating Doctor very informative. He explains all the difficult processes in your body in a way stupid people like me can understand as well! xD

Low Carb Web Community So much info, stuff like recipes, advice, support.

and lastly, the book that got first Angel, and then me started: The Idiot-Proof Diet

I'm in my second week off carbs and I feel very good. My body is slowly adapting and with each day I feel fresher and happier. Any "sugar" cravings I'm having can be killed with eating protein and most importantly, decaf coffee tastes just as good with soymilk and some mascarpone! <3

btw, did I mention there are some natural sugar-free sweeteners, like splenda and stevia? ;-)