In view of the faddy diet threads springing up on Gransnet...

You are, of course, right jingl but lots of people (not specifically gransnetters) want virtually instant results. Unfortunately, losing excess weight and not regaining it, like almost anything worthwhile, takes time.

I agree absent and unfortunately weight loss will only be maintained if there is a permanent change in eating habits.
jingl just because something is promoted by the NHS doesn't mean it's right or evidence-based. The NHS Eatwell Plate recommends that nearly half people's food intake should consist of carbohydrate - mainly starchy foods like bread, pasta, potatoes and rice, and includes some sweet things too.
The problem is satiety - how full you feel.
Anyone trying to restrict calorie intake and adhering to the recommended levels of carbohydrate on the Eatwell plate would find themselves hungry most of the time and restricting calories very difficult indeed.

I think it's better to be guided by the NHS than crackpot diet instigators who may or may not have reliable science behind their ideas. Even if there is some science behind a weight loss plan, how many older people really fully understand the science? "Ketones" anyone?

And can the kidneys of slightly older (being polite here) people, which may well have slightly lower functioning ability, cope as well as those of younger people?

jane I think the eat well plate is guidance for an everyday meal plan, rather than weight loss. Good guidance too.

HI jing I read this article some time ago and also recommended it to my nephew who was doing a project on healthy eating for school. he was highly praised for finding some evidence based, recommended by professionals advice. We follow this regime and find it practical, satisfying and we lose weight or in DH's case maintain his ideal weight. I wouldn't agree that the other diets are faddy though- there also seems to be evidence in favour of the LCHF diet - its just doesn't suit my world.

The carbs recommended by the eat well plate are complex carbs to keep you fuller for longer and to provide valuable fibre. Again, digestive tracts are not so strong in older people.

My latest fad is to cut out Gluten - I happened to see Caroline Quentin explaining how she is a celiac sufferer - the symptoms and the cure. Well much of what she described I have been suffering from for years so I will give it a go nothing to loose imo

Hi Jing I have followed the NHS advice for a number of years now. Basically eating less of good quality foods and moving more. I have lost over three stones, OK it took time but I got there and feel healthier than I have in a long time.

There's nought wrong with my kidneys or digestive track and may I respectfully point out that the NHS has been offering the same advice for decades now yet obesity levels and type 2 diabetes continue to rise.

The eating regime that I'm on 'involves eating good, fresh ingredients, lots of veg, natural fats and a complete absence of sugary and processed food'.

Ditto, Anya

I don't really see how you can relate NHS nutritional advice to obesity- you can lead the horse to water etc etc. what the NHS does lack is a concerted, combined effort to support people who wish to lose weight and as I have said before until this is built into the GPs very lucrative incentive scheme in the way of additional payments it won't happen.

Spot on Anya.

jingl one of the problems I have with the NHS advice is that it does not distinguish between low-GI carbs (low glycaemic index) and high GI.
That's quite an important distinction, particularly for people with diabetes or those at risk of developing it.

jingle i'm sorry but having worked in the NHS for 15 years, I feel that I can comment that it is shot through with "crackpots" - there is no escape.

Best is to find what suits you as an individual.

jane as I said in my previous post, the carbs recommended are whole foods, therefore low GI.

Too much fat will clog the arteries. Moderation in all things.

I agree Grannyknot
If it suits you, has no bad health side effects (and it does appear from posts on the HFLC threads that it's benefited a number of GNs' health issues such as high cholesterol, then it's worth a try.
As that particular diet way of eating shows steady weight loss then it's certainly worth a go.

regarding complex carbs

jingl all it says about complex carbs is that there's more fibre in them. It doesn't explain about glycaemic index and why it's important.

It's getting ridiculous when people are resorting to buying "Nutritional Yeast" because they are missing out on B vits from grains.

If you have a diagnosis of coeliac disease, that's one thing. Otherwise be very careful.

It's the fact that they are whole foods that alters the GI. Like grapes are low GI but grape juice is high. Same for spuds with skin on. And wholewheat rice/pasta etc.

Try the two page diet book...

Page 1 - eat less
Page 2 - move more

The end.

Easier said than done though.

Fantastic! I'll go along with that one.

#spiritwillingfleshweak

whitewave You can have a blood test done by the GP to test for coeliac disease which could be a good idea. Your symptoms could be caused by something else so it would be wise to find out for sure.
If you do decide to have the blood test, you mustn't give up gluten beforehand as the results will not be conclusive.

Sticking to a gluten free diet is very difficult - better than it used to be, but everything has to be checked and some restaurants, cafes etc may proclaim their food is gluten free when it isn't totally.

jane. totally agree that NHS advice does not take enough notice of the GI index- and the reasons why it is so important.

Old potatoes in their skins still have a lot more starch in them than new potatoes, in their skins or not. Basmati rice is not whole grain, but has a much lowr GI than risotto. 'Normal' pasta, when washed in cold water after cooking and quickly re-heated has also got much lower GI than if not washed. With whole-foods, you get more fibre, but not necessarily low GI- if I understand this right. The key is low STARCH- as starch will turn into sugar and into fat if unused and when insulin is unbalanced.

Of course basmati is not whole grain. Only whole grain rice is.

No one is advocating a jacket potato as a meal in itself. Certainly not with butter and full fat cheese. But a smallish one as part of a meal is fine. You have to take the whole of the meal into consideration. Not just one item. (eat jacket spud with cabbage and chicken - low GI meal) not that there is any real need to go into GI indexes and the like. Commonsense will suffice.

We needs some (preferably complex) carbs for energy. Getting energy from fat is not the best way forward.