DrugsRead

Summary of main points.

• Fat cells are similar to other cells, but contain a lipid or fat pool for storage of fats to be used as energy.

• The average human body has 30-50 billion fat cells, and obese people have up to 100 billion.

• Most increases in fat mass are associated with increases in fat cell size.

• Lipogenesis refers to the storage of fat in fat cells; lipolysis the breakdown of fat.

• Lipogenesis and lipolysis are controlled by a number of enzymes and hormones.

• There is a constant cycle of fat storage and breakdown at the fat cell level, but increases in lipolysis do not translate into increases in fat burning.

• The state of energy balance j| the major influence in the lipogenesis/lipolysis cycle.

A fat cell (adipocyte) is similar in form to many other types of body cells with the exception of its storage ‘depot’—a lipid (fat) pool, which can make up to 90 per cent of the cell. Otherwise, the adipocyte has a cell nucleus, with all the ‘head office’ functions and genetic materials of other cells, and the cytoplasm (the ‘jelly’) and mitochondria (the ‘powerhouse’) characteristic of skin, bone and other organ cells.

The average fat cell stores around 0.5 micrograms of fat in its lipid pool (a microgram is a millionth of a gram) and the average, non obese individual has between 30-50 billion of these fat cells throughout his/her body (in fact more on her than him, as you’ll see below). Doing the sums on this, you can see that the average person will be carrying around 15kg of fat as his/her ’spare tank’, or energy reserve.

*23\186\4*

Which foods will give you longer life and keep you younger longer? The macrobiotic diet outlined in this chapter will improve your health and increase your longevity. It is a predominantly lacto-vegetarian diet high in natural carbohydrates and low in animal proteins. The bulk of this diet consists of raw fruits and vegetables, whole grain products, milk and milk products, plus seeds, nuts, , honey and vegetable oils. Meat, fish and eggs should be excluded totally or used in moderation—fish and eggs used in preference to meat. Remember, the healthiest peoples in the world, known for their longevity, who live in Bulgaria, Russia and Hunza, eat very little meat; and a surprisingly high percentage of Russian and Bulgarian centenarians are vegetarians.

Here are a few other important longevity points to remember:

1. Get plenty of physical excercise, avoid mental and emotional stresses, and get sufficient sleep and relaxation.

Supplement your diet with such natural nutritional substances as brewer’s or food yeast, kelp, cod liver oil (in winter months) and rose hips and whey—all potent longevity foods.

Avoid: white sugar, white flour, coffee, tea, tobacco, salt, canned, preserved and irradiated, foods, processed cereals, ail refined and adulterated foods.

Make an effort to obtain organically grown foods, raised without chemical fertilizers and poisonous pesticides.

Soured milk in the form of yogurt, buttermilk or kefir are longevity foods because of their beneficial effect on the intestinal tract. Also other fermented lactic-acid foods, such as sauerkraut, | sour pickles, and sour-dough bread, are established macrobiotic | factors. Use them liberally.

It has been established that an active sex life is tied to overall good health and longevity. A healthy hormone-producing activity of the endocrine glands and the sex glands has a powerful influence on the health, and consequently is an important factor for potential longevity. An atrophied glandular system and diminished hormone” production bring about premature aging and senility. The following foods have been found to have a beneficial protective and stimulating effect on the normal functions of the glandular and reproductive systems:

wheat germ oil and wheat germ;

sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds;

honey—raw, unrefined, unhealed;

milk and cheese—raw, unpasteurized, unprocessed;

brewer’s yeast or food yeast.

Follow the macrobiotic diet outlined in this chapter and adhere to the advice in the above six points and you can assure yourself of, the best possible health throughout your life. At the same time, this macrobiotic program will prevent premature aging, give you longer life and keep you young longer. This program is in harmony with the recomendations by the most authoritative scientific forum: the International Society for Research on Nutrition and Vital Substances. And, if my own humble opinion is of any value to you, I can testify—after giving this rejuvenating macrobiotic system a 20-year try—that it definitely “works”!

*137\58\2*

If you have problems of hair loss you should first see that your general health is well taken care of. Various derangements in the functions of your vital organs must be corrected. The digestive system must be in good working condition, so that the nutrients from the foods you eat will be properly assimilated. Also, see that the glandular system, particularly the thyroid gland, is active and that the nervous system is working well. It is worthwhile to have a thorough physical check-up to be sure that there are no pathological conditions as an underlying cause for the hair loss.

From the point of view of hair loss and baldness, there are certain nutritive elements which have been found to have a direct relation to the health of the hair. These are as follows:

B-complex vitamins

Vitamin B is one of the most important vitamins for your hair.

It has been demonstrated that the two of the most important B-vitamins for hair growth are inositol and choline. The other B-vitamins, pantothenic acid, para-amino-benzolic acid and folic acid, have been also linked with hair loss, and particularly with the graying of the hair. Animal tests have shown that these vitamins can restore the natural Color to the hair. This has been also reported by many men using these vitamins.

Biotin, also known as vitamin H, is necessary for the normal metabolism of proteins and fats in the system. Biotin deficiency has been shown to cause fat dandruff which contributes to the loss of hair. It has been demonstrated in animal experiments that if biotin is totally removed from the diet, the animals lose their hair. When biotin is added again to their diet, the condition of their fur is soon improved.

In human beings, biotin deficiency has resulted in seborrhea, lack of appetite, skin disorders and inflammations. It is believed that the daily requirement of this vitamin is 150 to 300 micrograms.

Pantothenic acid deficiency in men has caused, among other things, chronic fatigue, increased tendency for infections and loss of hair. The daily requirement is 8-10 mg.

Niacin, or nicotinic acid, has a blood vessel dilating property; it is especially effective in widening the small peripheral blood capillaries. This is of vital importance for getting nutrition to the hair roots. The daily requirement is approximately 15 mg.

Vitamin B9, or folic acid, is extremely important for the health of the skin. Folic acid deficiency can cause serious skin disorders. Persons deficient in folic acid often become completely bald. When folic acid is introduced back into the diet, hair starts to grow normally.

Inositol is vital also for hair growth. It works together with pantothenic acid and choline and is involved in vital metabolic processes. A diet low in inositol can cause hair to fall out. Some authorities advise taking 3,000 mg. or half a teaspoon of inositol daily.

Deficiencies of vitamins B2 {riboflavin) and Be (pyridoxine) have also been shown to cause impaired hair growth.

As you can see, almost all vitamins from B-complex are involved in one way or another in the loss of hair and baldness.

How to take B-vitamins for hair growth

For your hair’s sake, do not rush to your nearest drug store and buy the pure, isolated B-vitamins mentioned above. There is danger involved in taking large doses of synthetic B-vitamins separately. Taking one B-vitamin separately may cause a deficiency of another B vitamin. For example, taking large amounts of niacin may cause a deficiency of thiamin (Bi). In fact it is known through animal tests that taking single synthetic B-vitamins may, result in the directly opposite effect than that hoped for—impaired health generally and weakened hair growth. Furthermore, the two of the B-vitamins which are vitally important for the health of your hair, folic acid and para-amino-benzoic acid, are now sold only on prescription in the United States.

The best way to assure that you get all the B-vitamins named above without the risk of overdosage or imbalance, is to take only a natural B-vitamin preparation, sold usually through health food stores. Practically all manufacturers of natural vitamins have a B-complex formula. Read the labels and select the formula with all the B-vitamins discussed in this chapter. See that the formula contains particularly large amounts of biotin, choline and inositol; also pantothenic acid, nicotinic acid, and folic acid. Take B-complex tablets as directed on the bottle. In addition, the following five food supplements contain B-complex vitamins in well-blended and biologically potent combination:

Brewer’s yeast (powder and tablets) —up to two tablespoons a day, or the equivalent in tablets.

Desiccated liver (powder or tablets) —five to ten tablets a day.

Lecithin (granules or liquid)—one to two tablespoons a day.

Wheat germ (raw) —two to three tablespoons a day.

Sunflower seeds (whole or meal) —two tablespoons a day. These food supplements are the richest known natural sources

of the B-complex vitamins. In addition, they are rich in other vital nutritional elements, such as enzymes, minerals, trace elements, and—last but not least—they are an excellent source of the complete proteins. Desiccated liver is also rich in iron and copper, the deficiency of which has been shown to cause anemia with resultant hair loss, as demonstrated by Swedish researcher Dr. S. Hard.2

That iron deficiency can cause hair loss has been also observed in St. George Hospital in London. Two women blood donors started to lose their hair. When they were given iron supplements, their hair condition returned to normal.

Vitamins and food supplements should be taken with foods, divided equally among three meals.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E has been shown to have hair-growth-promoting properties.

In experiments with rats, conducted by two Japanese researchers, it has been demonstrated that topical application of vitamin E made hair grow 2.4 times faster than normal.3 Vitamin E works by increasing the blood flow to the skin surface, causing a rise in skin temperature and an increase in blood volume. Vitamin E is also effective taken internally. It oxygenates the blood and stimulates the circulation. Wheat germ (rich in vitamins B and E) and wheat germ oil (the richest natural source of vitamin E) are used extensively in the fur-animal industry. Mink and fox growers have used these foods for years because they give a healthy, thick and luxuriant fur to their animals.

One tablespoon of wheat germ oil, two to three tablespoons of raw wheat germ, and/or 300 to 600 I.U. of vitamin E in capsule form, are the usually recommended doses.

Vitamin C and bioflavonoids

Vitamin C is such an universal wonder vitamin that it should be routinely prescribed in every condition of ill health. Vitamin C plays an important role in the health of all connective tissues. It is linked to the health and proper functioning of the adrenal glands. Bioflavonoids (or vitamin P) which always accompany vitamin C in its natural form are known to be essential for the healthy condition of the blood capillaries.

Health food stores usually stock organic forms of vitamin C with bioflavonoids from which you make your selection.

Vitamin F

Vitamin F, found in essential fatty acids, is considered by many European doctors to be a very important factor for a healthy scalp and good hair growth. The condition of the sebaceous glands, which are located in and around the hair follicles, is closely related to the health of the hair. The sebaceous glands produce an oily secretion, sebum, which lubricates the scalp and hair and moisturizes the skin. Vitamin F is considered essential for the healthy condition of the sebaceous glands.

The best sources of essential fatty acids are cold-pressed, unrefined vegetable oils, which may be purchased at most health food stores.

Vitamin A

Also vitamin A is universally acknowledged for its great beneficial effect on the health of the skin. Since many hair conditions are connected with excessive dandruff and dry, itchy, and flaky scalp, vitamin A can be of considerable benefit in such conditions.

The richest source of natural vitamin A is cod liver oil. One or two teaspoons of cod liver oil will supply you with good amounts of vitamins A, D and E, and with unsaturated fatty acids.

*112\58\2*

The arteries and veins refer changes affecting the whole system to the third lesser zone = Blood zone. In the observation of this zone special attention is given to light or dark colouring. A strong lightening of this zone over the entire iris indicates that the blood is heavily laden with uric acid; whereas a darkening, or several large usually somewhat obliterated weakness-signs, extending to the muscle zone, indicate general circulatory and muscle weakness. The patient feels tired, sleepy and inefficient (hypotonia).

Small dark point-like signs in the blood zone constitute a danger signal. They indicate that the state of the blood is not good. The protective function is lacking in that the leucocytes are no longer being adequately provided. In such a case, the patient should be warned before every proposed operation. Iris illustration 10 shows these dark spots distributed over the whole iris, as well as in the blood and muscle zones. The lymph glands are no longer able to function.

If the blood zone in the upper half of the iris is much lighter, while the lower half is dark, it indicates congestion of the head and ischaemia of the intestines. Reverse these signs in the iris, and there is ischaemia of the brain and hyperaemia of the abdomen.

In this chapter the condition of arteriosclerosis should be discussed, since in our civilised countries hardly anyone will escape its influence. It appears in all individuals sooner or

Jater—more or less pronounced, and shows itself by affecting those organs which the mode of life has most strongly stressed. In the iris it is shown by whitish-grey to whitish-yellow deposits, mainly in the skin zone. Often this becomes an arcus senilis, a characteristic arc around the entire iris obscuring the iris structure. The arcus senilis enables one to assess the biological age of the patient concerned.

In the alcoholic, the arteriosclerosis ring is particularly strongly indicated in the areas for liver and spleen. With mental workers, it is marked in the brain sector. Where there is C-N-S sclerosis we find a sharp white neurasthenic ring clearly indicated. Coronary sclerosis has been described above under heart signs.

*21\78\2*

CAUGHT OUT BY THE CRAMPS

Probably the worst thing to have to cope with at school is the sudden onset of the cramps. Most girls try to stay at home on really off days, providing they can predict when those will be. The trouble is, periods aren’t always predictable, especially when they first start. So there may be times when you are at school and the pain catches you out. If you have been practising relaxation and breathing, you’ll need somewhere quiet to lie down and cope. That’s easier said than done because so many school buildings, even new ones, aren’t equipped with rest rooms, beds and hot water bottles. I know one brand new school where girls who faint are laid out in the general office, with the office staff stepping over their bodies until they come round.

So what to do about it? I should start by finding yourself an ally on the staff — a housemistress perhaps, or a year head, or your form tutor or a subject teacher — somebody you like and know you can trust, who is sympathetic and knows how tricky period pain can be. Explain what you have been doing and see if she (or he) can help you. Don’t forget, lots of the women who teach suffer from period pain themselves. So most of them will be sympathetic and if they can help you, they will.

If you start your period with a fainting fit, it’s good sense to check whether you’re eating enough. If you haven’t had any breakfast, you are far more likely to faint during assembly or the first lesson. A lot of girls go without breakfast; in some schools it’s almost a crime to admit to swallowing anything more substantial than a cup of black coffee. The secret is to listen to your body. If you really need food, it will tell you. If you faint because you’re hungry, just the smell of that bacon sizzling will make your mouth water. You should go ahead and enjoy it. On the other hand, if you are one of those unlucky girls who start their periods by feeling sick and then fainting, you have a different problem. You certainly wouldn’t want to eat anything and it would be very silly to force yourself. You are probably better staying at home until the sickness and the feeling of faintness have passed and you can return to normal and go back to school again.

*65\177\2*

The doctor’s procedures

In a complete physical examination, the doctor uses a combination of his or her senses and knowledge of the body to check over your child, system by system. The doctor uses instruments to extend the senses. For example, the stethoscope magnifies sounds, and the otoscope (for examining the ears) and ophthalmoscope (for examining the eyes) have lights and magnifying lenses in them to extend the doctor’s vision.

In the process of an examination, the doctor will look at the child’s skin, ears, eyes, nose, bone structure, and body openings. He or she will feel the lymph nodes and other organs that can be felt through the skin. The doctor will tap body cavities and listen to the sounds that result. He or she will also listen to the sounds made by the heart, the lungs, and the digestive system. A blood pressure reading is an important part of the child’s examination from an early age.

The doctor’s senses are further extended by laboratory tests. Some of these tests are routine, such as vision and hearing tests, hemoglobin and haematocrit blood tests, and urinalysis. These tests are discussed elsewhere in this book. Other tests may be done if the doctor finds a possible problem.

Each physical examination your child has will vary, depending on the child’s age, stage of development, and state of health. During the first six months the doctor will be giving particular attention to the baby’s growth and development, including how well the baby is learning to move and control his or her muscles. The doctor will also check to be sure the hips are stable and listen for heart murmurs, which may be normal or may indicate heart problems. The doctor will take the pulse at the baby’s groin (the femoral pulses) to be sure that there is no obstruction to blood flow in the aorta (the main artery carrying blood to the lower part of the body). The baby’s developing language skills are also an important part of growth, and the doctor will ask about progress in that area.

After about six months, the child may begin to be afraid of the doctor. The child may just cry, or may be actively uncooperative. This will, of course, make the physical examination and conversation more difficult for the doctor, but a doctor who deals with children every day knows what to expect. You can help make the examination go more smoothly by trying to reassure or distract your child. If your efforts and the doctor’s fail, the doctor will get as much information as possible under the circumstances.

The parent’s role

Especially with younger children and babies, you will play an important role in the examination. Most of the time, the doctor will want you to be present. Your presence has two main purposes: you can learn about your child’s health; and you can comfort and reassure your child during the examination. An infant is often examined on the parent’s lap, and you may also be asked to help with measuring the child and taking his or her temperature.

If you have questions during the examination, be sure to ask them, even if you think they may sound silly, or feel that you ought to know the answers already. Part of the doctor’s job is answering your questions. The more you know about how to care for your child, the better off both you and the child will be. You will, after all, be responsible for carrying out the doctor’s instructions when your child is sick. The doctor needs you to be well informed.

*267/84/5*

Birthmarks are any unusual marks or blemishes present on an infant’s skin at birth. Almost 50 percent of all infants are born with red or salmon-colored marks on the mid-forehead, upper eyelids, upper lip, or back of the scalp and neck. These marks, which are sometimes quite extensive, fade and disappear during the first years of life.

Many black, Oriental, and Caucasian babies who are destined to become brunettes have smooth, blue-black marks on their backs and buttocks. These birthmarks are called “Mongolian spots.” They are often mistaken for large bruises. They gradually disappear and are almost always gone by adolescence.

One in ten babies develops one or more strawberry marks during the first month of life. These are usually not visible at birth, or they may look like slightly pale spots on the skin. As the child grows, the marks become brilliant red. They are often raised, and vary in size from 6 to 50 millimeters across. They may appear on any part of the body and increase in size for weeks or months. The strawberry marks then gradually fade and shrink. In almost all instances, they are gone by age five or six years.

Two uncommon but permanent birthmarks are port wine marks and pigmented moles. Both may be tiny or large and may appear anywhere on the skin. They grow in proportion to the growth of the child’s body. Port wine marks are smooth, flat, and purplish. Pigmented moles are brown to black, are often slightly raised, and may have dark hairs.

Signs and symptoms

Each type of birthmark is recognized by its typical appearance and behavior. Mongolian spots are often mistaken for bruises, until it becomes obvious that the spots are not fading, as bruises would fade.

Home care

In most cases, no treatment is necessary. Strawberry marks are made up of countless, closely packed capillaries (tiny blood vessels). They should be protected from scratching or rubbing, which can cause bleeding. If bleeding occurs, it can be controlled by pressing lightly with gauze directly on the bleeding point. If desired, port wine marks can be hidden by covering cosmetics when the child is older.

Precautions

• Strawberry marks occasionally become infected if the overlying skin is broken. If there is any discharge, odor, or redness of the skin surrounding a strawberry mark, call your doctor.

• Strawberry marks rarely require treatment; in almost all instances, it is best to allow them to disappear by themselves. In rare situations, they may cause anaemia or bleeding that requires correction.

Medical treatment

The doctor may decide to surgically remove some pigmented moles. Strawberry marks rarely require surgical removal, irradiation, or oral steroids. Port wine marks cannot be treated satisfactorily at present, but laser treatment is in the experimental stage and appears promising.

*21/84/5*

Low energy, low carbohydrate, low protein, low fat foods

These foods can be eaten without measurement to satisfy the appetite and add taste and variety to the diet.

It is thought some people may develop high blood pressure if they eat too much salt. The addition of salt should be avoided at the table and limited in cooking. Products with a high sodium (salt) content have been marked #.

Vegetables

Try to include as wide a variety as possible. Vegetables are important sources of vitamins, minerals and fibre.

Asparagus         Lettuce

Beans             (French or Runner) Marrows

Broccoli         Mushrooms

Brussels sprouts     Onions

Cabbage Peppers     (Capsicum)

Cauliflower         Peppers (Red/Green)

Celery             Parsley

Chinese         Cabbage Radish

Chokos         Silverbeet

Cucumber         Spinach

Egg Plant         Swede

Endive         Summer Squash

Garlic             Tomato

Kale             Turnip

Kohlrabi         Watercress

        Zucchini

Beverages

Water         Lo-cal/Diet Soft Drinks

Natural Mineral Water     Lo-cal/Low Joule Cordials

Soda Water     Clear Broth

Tea         Bonox

Coffee     Bovril

Flavourings & condiments

Bran – Natural or unprocessed Essences – e.g. Vanilla, lemon etc.

Fish Pastes Gelatin

Herbs – e.g. Mixed herbs, paprika, chives, mint, etc.

Junket tablets

Marmite

Meat Pastes Pepper

Promite

Salt

Soy Sauce

Spices – e.g. Cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.

Tomato paste (Varieties with no added salt are available)

Tomato Puree

Vegemite Vinegar

Worcestershire Sauce

Yeast

Dietary products:

Dietary products low in carbohydrate, protein, fat and energy include:

Low Joule or Low calorie Soft Drinks

Low Joule or Low calorie cordials

Low Joule or Low calorie jelly crystals

Low Joule or Low calorie salad dressing

Low Joule or Low calorie toppings – e.g. Weight Watchers

Low Joule pastilles or jubes – e.g. Skels or Sugrine

Sweeteners – e.g. Sweetex, Sucaryl, Sugarine, Hermesetas

Tomato Sauce – artificially sweetened – e.g. Rosella

Fruit Chutney – artificially sweetened

Pickles – artificially sweetened

Low calorie Jams – e.g. Weight Watchers

*106/54/5*

Maybe it’s because our first introduction to physical examinations was being groped and told to cough by a school nurse known as the Claw, but men have a problem going to the doctor. Women make about 130 million more visits to the doctor each year than men.

“Men believe that they’re bulletproof, and like most people, they’re afraid that the doctor will find something wrong with them,” Dr. Goldberg says. And that’s the kicker because having your doctor find something wrong with you often is a very good thing. “If a doctor catches the problem before you feel bad from it, that means that it’s usually early enough to cure it,” he says.

Preventive maintenance. It’s a term we all know but one we usually associate with our cars, not our bodies. Most guys wouldn’t wait until they heard that horrible grinding sound before getting their car’s brakes checked, Dr. Goldberg says. By then it’s a whole lot more expensive to fix than just replacing the pads. “Your body is the same way. Better to bring down high cholesterol than perform a double bypass,” Dr. Goldberg says.

If you want to help close the seven-year longevity lead that women have on us, you’re going to have to start practicing prevention and getting more in touch with your body. Here’s your action plan.

Search your tree. Lots of the top men-killing diseases run in families. Prostate cancer, colon cancer, heart disease, and testicular cancer are all deep-rooted conditions that, if caught early, are easily nipped in the bud, says Dr. Goldberg. “If you know your family history and get the appropriate tests, you can avoid or treat these conditions entirely,” he says.

Put yourself to the test. Thanks to the media, every man knows that women should do monthly breast self-examinations. But how many men know to check their own testicles? “Testicular cancer is the number one solid cancer in males younger than 35,” Dr. Goldberg says. “Every man who has reached puberty should examine his testicles once a month.” It’s best to check them in the shower, where the warm water relaxes the scrotum. Run your fingers around the circumference; you’re looking for lumps or hard spots. The testicle should feel like a hard-boiled egg without the shell, says Dr. Goldberg.

Dr. Goldberg recommends making a health appointment with yourself the first of every month (or a day that’s easy to remember, like when you pay the mortgage) to give yourself the following once-over.

• Check your skin for unusual growths, changes, or sores.

• Check your chest around the nipples for lumps; men can get breast cancer, too.

• Check the glands in your neck, armpits, and groin for swelling.

• Check your resting heart rate. Significant changes can signal the beginning of heart disease.

Check in with the doc. Find a physician whom you honestly like—a guy you trust and can talk to. And see him once a year. It’s the single best thing you can do for yourself, Dr. Goldberg says. “It’s not just a matter of keeping you alive longer. It’s keeping you healthy longer so that you can play sports, have sex, and enjoy life no matter what age you are.”

*16/36/5*

This is probably the most important thing you can do to reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Consuming too much carbohydrate can lead to Syndrome X, which promotes weight gain and can lead to type 2 diabetes. Diabetics have much higher rates of heart disease than the general population.

The sad fact is that when most people want to lower their cholesterol level, they think they must follow a low fat diet. The problem with this is, when you reduce the fat you are eating, you have to compensate for that by eating more of something else; and that something is usually carbohydrate.

Carbohydrate rich foods are the staple of many people’s diets. Bread, pasta, rice, cereals, potatoes, corn, and all foods containing grains are high in carbohydrate; sugar is the most concentrated form of carbohydrate. All of these carbohydrate foods are digested into sugar in our body. In order for the sugar to enter our cells and be used for energy, our pancreas must release the hormone insulin. Over time the cells of our body can become resistant to the action of insulin, therefore the carbohydrate we eat is turned into fat. Insulin therefore is a fat creating hormone, and in this way a low fat, high carbohydrate diet can give us cravings and make us gain weight. The liver converts excess carbohydrate we consume into triglycerides and bad LDL cholesterol.

Numerous studies have shown that low fat diets can raise our triglycerides. The American Heart Association states that “Triglyceride levels consistently increase in response to short-term consumption of a very low fat diet”. By “very low fat diet” they mean keeping fat intake to 15% of calories, protein to 15% of calories and carbohydrate to 70%. The American Heart Association goes on to say that the increase in triglycerides due to a very low fat diet is variable, but typically is 70%, and that high triglycerides are often accompanied by low levels of good HDL cholesterol. So there you have it, low fat diets are bad for your blood fats.

On the other hand, following a low carbohydrate diet can help you to lose weight, as well as get your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels down; numerous studies have shown this. If you base your diet on salads and vegetables, lean meat, fish, chicken, eggs, along with small amounts of raw nuts and seeds, legumes and good fats such as olive oil, you should be able to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

*19/53/5*