Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Dieting As We Know It

The New York Times published the results today of an eight year study involving nearly 49,000 women ages 50 to 79 to see if diets low in fat reduced the risks of heart disease and cancer. (Go here to read it. You may have to create a password but it is free.)

Amazingly, the study results blew what we've believed out of the water. This is the largest study ever done and it showed a low-fat diet has no effect. The women had the same occurance of heart disease and cancer as women who did what they wanted. Though some experts disagree with the findings, the magnitude of this $415 million federal study will most likely be the final word in the low-fat dieting genre.

The sad part of this study, in my opinion, is the $415 million spent, and they wound up with no clearer answers than they had before they started—other than eat healthy and exercise, but we kind of already knew that, didn't we? Maybe they should do a study on people who eat smaller portions of the foods they like, keep a balance diet in all the food groups (including fats), and exercised regularly.

This just confirms to me that the right course is to listen to the bodies God designed for us. They can tell us when we're hungry and full, they can even tell us what we need or don't need. The problem isn't in the food, it's in how we handle it, individually and commercially.

Which brings me to another area of concern. Want to talk about genetically modified crops? Don't even get me started there.

My ears are open, let me know what you think.

9 comments:

Heather Diane Tipton said...

genetically modified crops... oooooh let's get you started!

Unknown said...

This sounds funny, but that sounds like the same results the vet came up with for our chronically chubby cat. He put her on kitten growth food with a high protein content, and she finally lost weight after continually gaining it on diet cat food.

Not saying you can necessarily extrapolate the results but, maybe Garfield should eat more lasagna. :)

Unknown said...

See? Eat what we want, when we want, but just don't be stupid about it. LOL That's always been my philosophy!

Now, about those genetically modified crops...

Ronie Kendig said...

Ya don't wanna know what I think...LOL...last night I ate a bowl of ice cream with caramel and chocolate sprinkles and bananas...it was comfort food. SIGH Haven't done that in a while.

GMC...wow, let's go there. :-D

Corina Bowen said...

Thats just what I was blogging about! "Whether therefore ye eat, drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the Glory of God!" 1Cor 10:31... (grins) and a pack of M & M's sure does put this chubby gal in a joyful mood...
Your right about just listening to our bodies... has worked so far on my "journey to fitness"!

Unknown said...

This is a pet peeve of mine as well. We fill our kids with sugar coated sugar and wonder why they're fat. It's okay to have a bowl of ice cream and the occasional Big Mac but not every day. I know people who live on fast food. They're destroying their bodies and blame everyone but themselves. I'm with ya on the genetically altered food. We're sucking the good out of everything we grow.

Lynetta said...

I'm with ya, girl! I am a reformed binger--diet food or no, I loved to scarf. Losing twenty-seven percent of my body weight took a LOT of effort, but the main thing has been teaching myself how to eat sensibly and get out from behind this desk once in awhile to exercise.

Camy Tang said...

I'm slightly depressed today. I feel fat. Fat fat fat fat fat fat fat. I've been counting calories and eating less carbs and less sugar and more veggies and less fat and where am I? Fat. I guess I need to increase my exercise, although I'm already sweating my butt off at PT 3 times a week. And what happens? I'm still fat fat fat fat fat.
Camy

Jeff said...

Hmmmm, let's see. NO fat, NO carbs, NO salt, No sugar . . .and . . . NO TASTE!!!
Gimme a pizza! lol