High Fat or Low Fat

[not2late]

Re: High Fat or Low Fat

Well, right - exactly. They are either stored, used to build muscle fiber (ideally), or burned as fuel.

Our bodies only store things that are in excess. So where do we get those excess amino acids to store? Granted there is some de novo amino acid synthesis in the liver, but not in the amount nor kind to support life.

Also what are those amino acids stored as?

Under the right conditions, and with a great deal of degrading, then rebuilding, they can be used in gluconeogenisis with the end result being glucose.

One of the "right" conditions is during starvation, when carb, fat and protein intake are lowered or when the body cannot properly metabolize them, as in the case of some genetic disorders.

Atkins really isn't classical starvation, because fat intake is increased to make up for the lowered carb intake. Therefore muscle will be generally preserved. So what happens to if someone decides to eat "more" protein than their body can use? As you said above, it's stored, but, what is it stored as?

To say that excess protein turns into glucose is a not usually accurate, and extremely oversimplified - it's a little like saying excess mud in your yard will turn into the framed chunk of the Berlin wall in someone's living room.

A better analogy would be sheep grow hair, which is shorn and spun into thread, which is used to make a coat. When you wear that wool coat, you aren't wearing the sheep itself, but you are wearing a part of it.

Bear in mind that while things are simplified to make sense to the widest possible audience, it's also very easy for them to be misinterpreted and for people to draw the wrong conclusion. If something sounds a little funny, question it.

I agree with you, you have to question it, but you have to have a good knowledge base to answer it too.

[roadshow]

Re: High Fat or Low Fat

I did the older Atkin's, where cheese was unlimited and full fat foods were encouraged. It worked for me doing that. I really do need to eat the fat, the butter and yes, even more cheese than 4 ounces, to keep me feeling satisfied.

[gingerschnapp]

Re: High Fat or Low Fat

Well, I don't know a thing about how protein is converted to glucose, but I have been doing a lot of reading because I had the very same question about high-fat v. low-fat before I decided start Atkins last week. After having done my reading, I am convinced that high-fat is the only way to go when eating a very low-carb diet.

There is a ton of information online about a VLCHF (very low-carb, high fat; 65% fat, 30% pro, 5% carb which happens to be the ratio for the induction phase) WOE and even a Yahoo group dedicated to the topic. I'm also reading a book by Gary Taubes called Good Calories, Bad Calories that takes a historical look at how we got ourselves into the low-fat, high-carb mess we're in. Very interesting, but not easy reading. It's not a diet book.

Having said all that, I'm still in the beginning of my weight loss, so everything I think I know is just now being put to the test. Good luck!

[Adena]

Re: High Fat or Low Fat

This thread is over my head... except it's clear I get to keep eating high fat. Just not barrels of it. Thank goodness.

[roadshow]

Re: High Fat or Low Fat

This thread is over my head... except it's clear I get to keep eating high fat. Just not barrels of it. Thank goodness.

Sounds to me like you nailed it right on the head.

[Sookie]

Re: High Fat or Low Fat

I did the older Atkin's, where cheese was unlimited and full fat foods were encouraged. It worked for me doing that. I really do need to eat the fat, the butter and yes, even more cheese than 4 ounces, to keep me feeling satisfied.

I just recently moved to OWL and signed onto fitday to monitor what I ate. I found that I have been eating a higher percentage of fat since going to OWl and I don't know whether it's due to that or the fact that I've increase my carbs but I'm losing weight faster than I ever did on induction.