Why Fat Is Not Fattening

[tex]

Hi All,

OK, this is way off topic, but I find it to be very interesting research. The research discussed below, verifies a concept that I have long held to be true. Consider the following quote from a recent blog by Dr. Briffa:

In the study in question [1], individuals were completely fasted for a total of 84 hours on once occasion. During fasting, insulin levels normally fall, and levels of fatty acids in the bloodstream rise. Levels of substances called ‘ketones’ also rise. Ketones are formed in the liver from fat, and can be used for energy and, in particular, to fuel the brain. Their production is a normal, healthy mechanism that allows the body to fuel itself when food is in short supply or if carbohydrate is quite several restricted in the diet. During the fasting phase of this study, as expected, levels of glucose and insulin fell, while levels of fatty acids and ketone bodies all rose. The rate of lipolysis (fat breakdown) also increased.

The really interesting part of this study came when the same individuals were ‘fasted’ on another occasion. The difference was that on this occasion individuals were ‘fed’ with an intravenous drip containing little else but fat. The calorific value of this fat matched the calorie needs of the individuals taking part in the study.
On this occasion, glucose and insulin levels fell, while fatty acid and ketone levels rose. Lipolysis also rose. The extent of these changes was the same as during complete fasting. In other words, feeding the body pure fat induced a metabolic state in the body that was, to all intents and purposes, the same as the state induced by fasting.

While infusing significant quantities of nothing but fat into the body, the body still readily gave up its fat. And it gave it up as readily as it did when eating nothing at all. This study provides some evidence at least that fat is not inherently fattening, and reminds us of the critical role that hormones, not mere caloric balance, have a key role to play in body fat management.

The red emphasis is mine, of course. Is that incredible, or what?

http://www.drbriffa.com/2011/03/18/why- ... fattening/

Tex

[MBombardier]

What I find incredible is that Dr. Briffa is finally getting around to talking about this after all the Adkins, Paleo, Sally Fallon/Mary Enig, and Weston Price publications over the last however many years.

Here is a link to the research behind Fallon's and Engi's book Eat Fat, Lose Fat -- http://www.eatfatlosefat.com/research.php.

[tex]

Well, actually, he's been promoting the concept that body fat comes from carbs, not fat in the diet, for as long as I've been aware of him and his writings, but this particular blog just struck me as an ideal illustration of why it's true.

He also published a book, (Waist Disposal), a year or so ago, which incorporates this, and other concepts, with diet recommendations for men, in particular.

Tex

[starfire]

I loved the title of the book.

What follows the title is: Waist Disposal: The Ultimate Fat Loss Manual for Men by John Briffa

Hey, what about us women who would like a waist also!! I went to his website and quickly read over what he had to say about the book. I didn't spot anything about women.

It must work for us too though, right.............

Love, Shirley

[MBombardier]

Good for Dr. Briffa! Obviously, I should have done a little research into his prior writing about fat in the diet. I wish I could talk my husband, who grazes on simple carbohydrates most of the time he is awake, to read the Waist Disposal book. He has the classic apple shape and smokes. He is in very good health otherwise, and discounts my concerns about his dropping dead with a massive heart attack one of these days.

Shirley, I have found Eat Fat, Lose Fat of great value.

[tex]

[quote=""Shirley"]It must work for us too though, right............. [/quote]

Well, yes, to some extent, but apparently not nearly as well as it works for men, according to his experience from recommending the diet to patients, and following their results, over the years. I bought the book, but gave it away after I read it, and due to my worsening CRS syndrome, at the moment, I can't recall the reasons why it wouldn't work as well for women.

Love,
Tex

P. S. Marliss - yep, one of his main points was to eat lots of protein and fiber, and lighten up on the carbs.

[starfire]

Well, I've ordered the book from Amazon that Marliss mentioned. Am I wrong in guessing that it's a lot like Atkins?

I have lost quite a bit of weight (from my highest number) but the middle area is tough.

Love, Shirley

[MBombardier]

Frankly, I've never read Adkins. I used to swear by the Zone diet, but then I discovered that the reason I was losing weight was because my thyroid had switched into hyper-drive and was burning out, which I know now is a characteristic of Hashimoto's.

What I like about Eat Fat, Lose Fat is that first Mary Enig and Sally Fallon totally debunk the fallacy that fat is bad for you. Then they talk about real foods from the world over to not only lose weight but regain health. And there are lots of recipes. Their recipe for kombucha is the one I use. I also have their other book, Nourishing Traditions.

[tex]

I have a hunch that virtually all diets that actually work, especially on a long-term basis, incorporate the basic philosophy of the Atkins diet, because the evidence clearly shows that the ingestion of carbs, more than any other type of food, results in the deposition of fat. If I understand him correctly, one of the most important points that Dr. Briffa makes, is that exercise is not the key to weight loss, (at least, not for optimal, sustainable, long-term results). In his view, exercise is definitely beneficial for overall health, muscle tone, stamina, feeling of well-being, longevity, etc., but by itself, exercise is not a very practical method for achieving weight reduction, nor is starving for calories, for that matter.

The source of the calories is much more important than the amount of calories, also. IOW, all calories are not created equally, and all methods by which calories are "burned", are not equivalent, either. If I recall his suggestions correctly, moderate activity, (such as walking) is more effective for sustainable weight control, than burning the same number of calories by means of short bursts of intense activity. Evidently, the metabolic process is modulated by the rate and duration of exercise, more than by the amount of exercise, per se.

Tex

[Deb]

His books, "Good Calories, Bad Calories" and "Why We Get Fat and What to Do about It" really explain the science behind this. GCBC has a lot of technical info while WWGTAWTDAT is in an easier to digest form.