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

. No!!!!!

No! I didn't mean you started the threads merlot. I don't know who started them. Anyway, I'm not in charge of what's posted and what's not! just putting my views forward. Nothing personal.

I'll shut up.

It's just a diet......not a Moonie cult and I'm not expecting any followers.

And I didn't start either of the two threads on Low carb diets.

Why not just forget the F word and think high protein instead.

You don't have to read the thread. It's not directed at you. But, others might follow you. I am putting forward reasons why I think they shouldn't.

I wouldn't think there is anything with eating low carbs for losing weight, so long as you eat some. It's the high fat bit that is scary.

Why are we being lectured?

And?

Oh. My mum developed that after a lifetime on a low carb diet.

She was 96

all about atheroscolosis

We've decided not to grow any potatoes this year. They are always delicious but just toooooo tempting. We'll stick to lots of leafy vegetables, salad stuff and fruit.

Well we used to have five potato beds, but that has changed! Some of them are fruit beds and I have even managed to grab one for flowers this year....

And then there's calcification of the arteries Jane which (i think) is a different things due to either excess calcium in the blood stream or calcium which ought to find its way to bone repair but doesn't.

I don't think I can even name 32 vegetables Mamie

Of course it is common sense and not tables. Once you understand about whcih food contains more or less starch- you don't need to consult tables. But fact is fact, new potatoes contain less starch than the type normally used for baking, which are older. And of course a small baked pot is ok as part of your meal if that is what you choose. But low GI (eg low starch) and high fibre are not quite the same thing- although both help. For people who are pre-diabetic, it is the GI which is the most important- but wholefood and more fibre is of course good too. As you say, common sense ;)

I hope so!
I think that generally people do eat in moderation here. I used to think that nobody ate many vegetables but round here the supper is always soup. They eat small portions of meat or fish, not many carbs, salad and lots of smoked meats and cheese. They do eat sweet things, but small portions When we get invited out for lunch and dinner it goes on for ever, but the portions are not large. The amount of wine served is often (but not always) quite modest too.
I certainly don't see the obsession with cake and sugary snacks that seems to have overtaken the UK. Still quite rare to see people snacking in the street round here.
You certainly don't see as many obese people and in my observations it seems often to be associated with poverty.

You're not missing anything Mamie
The truth is that the development of coronary artery disease is far more complex than dietary fat = atheromatous plaques on the insides of your arteries.
Could the French paradox be due in some part to the therapeutic effect of red wine do you think?

After a year of the high-fat low-carb diet we have both seen a big drop in cholesterol levels. OH has been taken off statins and the figures have remained low. It is fair to say we don't overdo the fat, but we eat butter, cheese, fatty meat whenever we like. We eat masses of vegetables and salad and moderate amounts of fruit.
Of course we do live in the country that has the highest saturated fat consumption in Europe and the lowest deaths from coronary heart disease.
Anyone care to explain the so-called French paradox?
We have never eaten huge amounts and we get a lot of exercise - 32 vegetable beds anyone? The only difference is that since the beginning of last year we have cut out sugar (and we have never eaten much of that) and white carbs and have reduced portion size, because the food we eat now fills us up more.
Weight loss has been sustained and gentle over more than a year.
I am at a loss to see how anyone can think that this is anything other than a good thing.
Perhaps I am missing something?

[roast chicken] which, being interpreted, (in this instance) means, walking shoes on.

Yes Cari. Including a bit of cake and the odd golden syrup sarnie at weekends.

Anya I haven't a clue about cholesterol. I just keep 'low fat' in my head - for five days a week. You will feel better if you are losing weight (so long as you are overweight to start off with) but I say, do it safely.

PS I'm not on any medication myself

jingl I acceot that you are genuinely concerned about my arteries, which is kind of you. So I will have a cholesterol test in two weeks to check it is not rising.

That seems a sensible option, n'est-ce pas?

However I do have to add that when Mr Anya was pre-diabetic I put him on a very similar type of low carb diet with the blessing of his GP and after 6 weeks his blood glucose was back to normal. His BP and cholesterol are controlled by medication anyway so can't comment on how these were affected, apart from there was no rise in either.

Anya I can't say anything to that without seeming patronising, but please think of your arteries.

Btw if your innards are working as well now in your sixties as they were in your twenties, you have obviously discovered the elixir of youth. So you will be fine.