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Weight
Management - Highlights
by
Udo Erasmus |
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"Most
people with weight problems believe that eating
fats will make one gain weight. But the truth
is that most of the excess fat we carry on our
bodies does not come from excess fat consumption,
but rather from eating too many sweets and starches."
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The
body turns sugars and starches (including bananas and
fruit) above what we burn for energy,
into saturated and monounsaturated fats. Don't eat more
than your body can burn, or this behavior will make
you fat, insulin resistant, and more likely to generate
a clot in an artery. Sugars, starches, and fruit can
also increase triglycerides. |
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High
sugar (and starch) intake increase fat production
in the body. This leads to overweight, obesity,
insulin resistance, diabetes, bone mineral loss,
tooth decay, bad breath, increased cardiovascular
risk, increased cancer risk, constipation, varicose
veins, mood swings that accompany blood sugar
swings, food cravings, headaches, |
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jitters
and anxiety, and vision disturbances. It also increases
infections and inflammation. To prevent these problems
from occurring, people must limit their intake of carbohydrates
to the amount their body actually burns, which in turn
depends on their level of physical activity. More activity
burns more carbohydrates. |
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Since
I do not labor as intensely as my grandparents did,
I cannot eat the same heavy carbohydrate-based foods
that they ate.
They burned their food in tremendous physical activity.
I do not; therefore, I do not keep potatoes, breakfast
cereals, bread, or pasta in my house. Instead, I eat
greens, good fats, and protein. I obtain my carbohydrates
primarily from non-starchy green vegetables. Remember,
when people eat more sweets and starches (carbohydrates)
than they burn, the body is forced to turn the excess
into fat. This subsequently interferes with the functions
of essential fatty acids; substances found in unprocessed
fats, which the body can't make, but needs for health,
and must obtain from food. |
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Essential
fats help us keep slim. They act like hormones that
increase fat burning and decrease fat production in
the body.
They shift the body from carbohydrate burning mode to
fat burning mode. They turn up heat production (thermogenesis),
which keeps us warm in winter and increases fat burn-off
as heat. Only the essential fats, especially the missing
omega-3 (omega-3) accomplishes these functions. By comparison,
saturated fats and monounsaturated fats do not increase
fat burning and can lead to increased body fats. |
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