pasta makes you fat, not bacon
I read this article the other day, and it’s worth a share. There’s so much crappy information and conjecture going around at the moment on this topic and in the frustration some commentators are blurting defensive, misinformed stuff to their followers. Granted, though, it’s a damn confusing topic and the latest science not only goes against what nutritionists learned at uni howevermanyyearsago, it also goes against the simplistic thinking (calories in = calories out; eat fat = get fat) that we’ve all been exposed to (an equation that has suited the low-fat movement for years).
This explanation is very cleverly done, with the information sourced from Gary Taubes of “Is Sugar Toxic” and “Why we Get Fat“. Get informed!
Can the same be said of whole wheat varieties (pasta, flour, brown rice etc)?
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 1:53 pm
yep
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Thanks Lauren for answering.
Giving up sugar was pretty easy for me since I wasn’t much of a dessert person before IQS, it was more the incidental sugars I had to think about…BUT I love my basmati rice and am not willing to give that up, and yes I do enjoy my pasta and cous cous as well. Giving up sugar was one thing but sorry I’m not willing to give this up.
[Reply]
February 18th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Most of what I’ve read lately points towards rice being a ‘soft’ grain (as opposed to corn which is a ‘rough’ grain) and that a bit of rice here and there is OK. I tried going totally grain-free and found that I just had no energy (and not much will to go on) without the odd slice of GF toast – so now I limit gluten-free grains to 150 grams per day. I also found ‘diet’ noodles which are made from an Asian vegetable and are carb/grain-free – and taste and feel just like vermicelli.
I’d be interested in Sarah’s thoughts on grains – is it a case of anything being too much?
Sarah, can you please write an article this week which isn’t food related
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 7:02 pm
I hear you…it’s jsut been a bit of a month for it!!
[Reply]
February 17th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Sarah, just for the record, love the food posts. Just saying.
[Reply]
February 16th, 2012 at 11:18 am
Mel, it’s her blog…!
[Reply]
February 18th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Try another blog, perhaps?
[Reply]
do carbs really make us fat? or is just the general over consumption of all foods in general that is doing it?
[Reply]
I’m confused – I thought it was okay to eat carbs so long as you weren’t eating sugar? By the way I love your food articles.
[Reply]
Sarah, thank you for continuing to write about this stuff! It’s SO IMPORTANT for people to get their head around and I’m so grateful people like you are leading the charge in Australia. Mention food every day of the week, I don’t mind
Just wanted to add that for anyone NOT looking to lose weight, carbs are fine but stick to veggies (like potatoes) and white rice, cos you still need to avoid all those nasty unhealthy grains, ESPECIALLY THE WHOLE GRAINS.
For those who are confused, start by Googling the Paleo Diet, Mark’s Daily Apple, the Whole 30, etc.
Keep up the great work Sarah
[Reply]
Hi Sarah,
I’m feeling very confused by this as it seems to contradict the IQS message- maybe it’s just me. I thought that potatoes and corn and other carbs such as breads (without added sugars) were OK in moderation.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
I think there are two levels of message here.
Firstly – sugar (fructose) is the most dangerous type of carbohydrate for insulin resistance. IQS is about quitting sugar. IQS is not specifically about weight loss, but about an improvement to overall health.
Secondly – Weight gain and weight loss are more influenced by carbohydrate intake than fat intake. The point, is the refuting of the traditionally preached message on weight loss about overall calorie consumption and fat consumption.
Therefore, if one is doing IQS, then the point is to eliminate fructose.
If one is trying to lose weight, IQS is a good place to start, but long term fat loss will come about with the reduction/elimination of refined flours, alcohol, sugar and starches.
In my opinion … it is all about what you are actually trying to achieve! Adapt your diet to suit your needs as only you know what is best for your body.
Sarah’s “gentle” approach to these matters has made a world of difference to my attitude. I need to lose a lot of weight, and by just focusing on TWO things (eliminating sugar and alcohol) instead of eliminating everything all at once has allowed me to stick to this for the longest I have ever been able to stick to something in my life.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
Beautifully said ‘peckingbird’……..
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 7:04 pm
I couldn’t have said it any better…there are no RULES…just ideas and things to think about and apply. Mostly I want to highlight that the stuff we’ve been taught (ie from a food pyramid with carbs at the bottom) is just plain wrong. We just need to be more alive to things. Our grandparents didn’t have it too wrong. It doesn’t have to be too complicatied..
No sugar. No drinking this month. No carbs. That’s about it then isn’t it? There is nothing else to eat! There is a real potential to become the most boring person on earth following this stuff. I just can’t take it anymore..
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 11:22 am
Hi Jason, I’m sure you’re not the only person to jump to this conclusion. However I think if you give it a chance, you’ll realise that pasta and bread are actually the MOST BORING parts of any meal. It’s the meats, the juicy flavours from the fats, the dense nutrition from the veggies that make your meals satisfying. So I look at it that I get to eat just the exciting and tasty parts of a meal. In fact, since cutting out grains my meals have become about a thousand times more enjoyable.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 11:45 am
Not true. I live around the corner from Iggys Bread. Possibly the nicest bread in Oz. It’s the best part of the sandwich. I eat fresh pasta. Once again, possibly the nicest part of the dish. As for the sauces, aren’t they to be avoided because of the sugar content? Sorry Stef, your reply makes no sense to me.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Hi Jase, like I said, if you’re willing to give it a try, you might change your mind. Cut out grains for a week and see how you feel. If you don’t notice anything beneficial, what have you lost by trying? Not much.
If the bread was the best part of my sandwich, I’d be sorely disappointed. I too used to appreciate a lovely crusty fresh bread, but these days it tastes kind of like cardboard to me.
I didn’t mention sauces, but since you did, why don’t you try making some at home? Sugar never makes it into any sauces in my house. When I eat out, I don’t let my diet preferences get in the way of a good meal. Grains and dairy are at the top of my list to avoid, but how do I know what’s in the hollandaise sauce at my local cafe? I don’t stress the small stuff.
Anyway, obviously you’re not willing to try this out, I just wanted to reply to your post so that your point of view was discussed a little for the benefit of anyone else reading this.
February 15th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Oh Jason I miss Aussie bread lol.
February 15th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Warm damper with butter. Oh yeah just like that, nothing else needed. One day a week I just go the bread, it’s heaven.
February 15th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Hey, each to their own… but I don’t know that I agree about bread and pasta being the most boring bit of the meal. Sure, now I’m having gluten free pasta but I always have and I always will like it. Same goes for rice and not the brown stuff. I think this lots of protein/meat thing works for some people but not everyone. I’ve tried different approaches but I seem to work best with minimal meat. It does my head in trying to find a “diet” to fit into… paleo…vegan…blood type…gluten/grain-free??? In my case with my digestive issues it’s just not that clear cut. And don’t tell me it’s the grains….the Japanese have been eating rice since the year dot.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Sorry, I should have clarified. White rice is an exception for me. For some it’s a grey area but I’ve done my research and I eat it occasionally. I do find it has so be served with liberal fats and other flavours (good for curries etc) otherwise it is still kinda boring. But that’s just my personal experience of course.
February 15th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Steph, thanks for the suggestion but i’m quite aware of the effects of eliminating food groups. If your bread tastes like cardboard, you are buying shit bread. No bread should taste like cardboard. How do you know I’m not wiling to try things out? Indeed I have. I just don’t think there ever should be a headline of “sugar makes you fat” or, “pasta makes you fat”. I think that’s bullshit. The more you THINK something is doing you harm, well, it is. This is all nonsense. There is only one reason why we are fat, and this one reason will never change. The answer to a healthy weight is not WHAT we are eating.
February 15th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Totally AGREE with you Stephanie. I used to be so addicted to bread, pasta etc, thought they were my favourite foods till I cut the sugar and starches out and I now see that when your body gets used to it- they then just become FILLER, with very little flavour compared to the other foods I eat. yes I still binge in them occasionally when my body tells me it wants them, but afterwards I just think “that really wasn’t worth it and doesn’t taste as good as I remember!’
My body and tastes have naturally changed and adapted. I feel so much better physically and mentally for it, I now see that wheat causes me to become fatigued and depressed and sugar makes me a non stop eating machine who never feels satisfied.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Thanks Lauren for chiming in
I had the exact same experience as you. I totally agree bread, pasta and rice are just ‘fillers’ and life feels so much better eating REAL food.
February 15th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
No worries Jason, good luck to you.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Firstly, sourdough bread…yum! Though I can’t eat it often now. Secondly Stefani… you’ve researched white rice… and concluded it’s ok?? In many countries white rice has always has been eaten and continues to be eaten and be part of a very “healthy” diet. They do so not because they’ve done their research. It’s a staple. As I said before different things work for different people. One size just does not fit all.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Hi Rosie, yes I do lots of my own research before I decide to do something as drastic as changing my diet in this way. I’ve never been overweight and I had no serious medical ailments that I wanted a fix for, before embarking on this change. I agree with Jason in a sense about headlines such as ‘pasta makes you fat’ being over the top, because losing fat is nothing that interests me on a personal level. I’m just in general interested in good health.
As for white rice, actually humans haven’t always eaten it, we began eating it about 10,000 years ago. This sounds like a long time, but in the total span of human evolution, this is like yesterday. Human genetics haven’t adapted to the change yet (maybe they never will). White rice specifically is ok because the hull, husk and bran have been removed. This is where the gluten, lectins and what not reside. So yeah, I want to check stuff out before I accept it because it’s a ‘staple’. I want to know why it’s a ‘staple’. Maybe that’s just me. I like to do lots of reading.
On sourdough bread, you or anyone else reading this might want to check out the Weston A Price Foundation and Sally Fallon’s cook book ‘Nourishing Traditions’ – they have pretty interesting stuff on soaking and fermenting grains (which is how traditional sourdough bread is made) which apparently removes a lot of the gluten and other bad stuff.
Like a lot of people are saying, there’s lots of confusion and conflicting information out there. I think it’s important for anyone who’s considering a change in their diet to do lots of reading from multiple sources and learn how your body works, and how food works.
Then make your own conclusions.
February 15th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Ah Jason. You’re back. I’m not bored at all. Nor boring, I hope. Eating is my passion. I eat all day. I eat out. I cook. I cook for others. And I also talk about a lot of other things too…
[Reply]
February 18th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Hmmm, Jason, why, exactly, do you read this blog???
[Reply]
While I am not on feb fast I am definitely sugar and grain free and my life is far from boring! I just ate my way around Lombok a few weeks ago with little problem. What’s great and not so boring is enjoying good health. Thank you for sharing your findings with us Sarah…the closet nutritionist in me finds these posts really exciting.
[Reply]
“Carbs are killing you” is an extreme and unhelpful message.
Sure, it’s important to constantly reassess the nutritional status quo, but anthropomorphising certain foods – turning them into something with a personality that’s at war with our bodies – is not the smart way to go.
Similarly, “sugar is killing you” is a message that’s symptomatic of our black-and-white, all-or-nothing, unable-to-live-in-moderation society. Talking in terms of foods “killing” us is cult-like, slightly offensive – and should be discouraged.
For those people feeling confused about mixed food messages, you’re feeling that way simply because there are a million messages out there – and they don’t, and never will, fit neatly together. If you choose to rigidly follow one set of rules – ie no sugar – without question, you are ignoring the beautiful multiplicity of life (nothing is simple).
Above all, if you do nothing else in your life, think for yourself about what works best for you.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
Love this comment!
[Reply]
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:45 pm
I don’t know why anyone is so offended by statements like “sugar is killing you” or “pasta makes you fat”. I don’t know about you but as for me and pretty much everyone I know, there is no such thing as eating in moderation when it comes to sugar. It sends me completely out of control and I find myself literally obsessing over it. As far as I’m concerned, sugar is a drug and I am totally addicted. Sugar has no nutritional benefit anyways, so why defend it? There are things in life far more important than food and I want to live a long healthy life enjoying those things. Not drooling over something that will leave me feeling sluggish and hungry. Since I have eliminated sugar, I find that I am no longer focusing on food as my source of pleasure and it is so liberating!
[Reply]
I’m with you Jason. I’m out. I can’t take it any more either- the demonising of food groups, the selective science, even just the focus on food, food, food as the centre of the universe.
I have enjoyed reading your blog Sarah, and wish you all the best.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 11:54 am
I have to agree Rachel (and also with Celeste’s comments from a few days ago).
Paleo and low-carb just doesn’t work for me (and please no more recommendations for Nora’s book, mark’s daily apple etc from Paleo fanatics!)
I don’t fit the target audience of the blog anymore, but that’s ok. Judging from the responses that these posts attract, I imagine Sarah’s readership is growing quite rapidly with people who do eat Paleo and enjoy the food focus of the blog etc.
It just isn’t for me.
Sarah, I am genuinely glad that you’re writing what you love and have readers who are just as passionate. It’s your blog and you should write what you love…I just prefer blogs that have a different vibe and focus (but still have the great writing, wisdom and fun from the your old stuff…and that’s probably why I was still hanging around – because there aren’t many others like that!)
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
I guess when people discover something that works for them and makes total sense to them, they get really excited and have a very strong urge to tell their friends, their family, and anyone else who’ll listen.
Unfortunately it can come off like they are a bit crazy and fanatical!
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
I think Sarah has been brainwashed by the likes of Nora. This IQS/Paleo thing is becoming quite fanatical and cult like. Enjoy all food groups in moderation. And balance it with exercise.
[Reply]
February 18th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
That’s just not true for everyone. Anaphylaxsis is no fun.
There are exceptions to the ‘eat everything in moderation’ rule. That’s why those of us who are unlucky enough to be burdened with, or need to change our diets to overcome, a disorder, read Sarah’s blog. I’m not sure why some people do when it obviously irritates them???
[Reply]
February 19th, 2012 at 10:20 pm
Telling a sugar addict to eat sugar in moderation is like telling a crack addict that it’s okay to pick up that crack pipe, but balance it out with some veggies and wholegrains as well. Seriously. Some people CAN’T do certain things in moderation, which is why programs like IQS get so much attention – they work for those of us who’ve realised our minds or bodies or both just don’t do moderation. There’s never a one size fits all solution for people, sure, but for a lot of us, this blog, its writer and its wonderful ebook are our saviors. I’ve honestly never felt better.
If ‘enjoy all food groups in moderation, and balance it with exercise’ works for you, then bravo. Doesn’t mean it does for the rest of us.
[Reply]
Yep! I agree – please keep the nutrition posts flowing – they are great! I think this post is particularly relevant for people like me who need to lose some body fat. I know the low carb message but I don’t exactly have my head around why…so I end up bouncing back and forth between low carb, low fat, low calorie, giving up – I think they call it Yo Yo dieting
If I can just get my head around exactly why the low carb way of eating works I will be more likely to stick to it. Thanks very much for this one Sarah – its a big help!
[Reply]
Hi Sarah, I love this post, it makes it all so simple to understand. After the 8 weeks of quitting sugar (I’m at the middle of week 7) I will also ‘experiment’ with quitting corn, bread, pasta, potatoes, rice. I think carbs make me feel heavy and we all need to take note of the amount we are eating in our diet…also post everyday about food, I love it!! Keep up the good work
[Reply]
I enjoy the nutrition posts on this blog. I’ve learned a lot, especially about sugar, and I’m grateful for the information because I probably wouldn’t have sought it out on my own. One of the most valuable messages I’ve learned from this blog is the idea of ‘crowding out’ the bad stuff and I loved this idea because of it’s positive approach.
I can’t help feeling like this philosophy has been lost a little bit lately in favour of a focus on “quitting” – like alcohol, sugar, grains, and now carbs. I don’t think it’s intentional at all on Sarah’s part because I believe that she personally subscribes to a ‘positive’ approach, but it feels like somewhere along the line the posts started being all about quitting something. The comments have also become a little more harsh and, dare I say, dogmatic about certain diet approaches, which I believe was definitely not Sarah’s intention at all. The vibe I get from the comments on this, and other posts, is that the site needs some gentle steering back to its essence, and I wholeheartedly agree.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Personally I think (and this isn’t directed at your comment as such – I just found your comment interesting) that people here need to lighten up. There definitely does seem to be a negativity associated with ‘quitting’ – but I sense most of the negativity from the comments section comes from those making assumptions that everyone taking the IQS or paleo message on board is an dimwitted extremist and takes Sarah’s every word as gospel.
Like you, one of my favourite messages I’ve learnt has been about “crowding out”. I think we need to give each other more credit and not freak out that the ‘real messages’ are being lost on some.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
I really wish I could have edited this post because it came off as harsher than I’d intended! Just wanted to say that I liked the old philosophy of crowding out and I wish singed of the nutrition discussions were a little gentler at times.
[Reply]
Interesting this article doesn’t mention anything about exercise. And Sarah, whilst your IQS program is about cutting out the ‘poison’, what role does exercise play in it all?
Of course people who have a high carb diet will gain weight, yet if they exercise regularly will maintain a healthy weight. Same with all food groups. Isn’t it all about a balance btw eating and exercise?
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
I believe Sarah has posted about exercise here: http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/2011/03/caveman-exercise-a-why-and-how-rundown/
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
This was posted last March! But since this IQS program started, Sarah doesn’t talk about exercise, just food. Isn’t maintaining a healthy lifestyle all about a good mix of food & exercise? And todays article in particular makes no reference at all to exercise. It sends a bad message.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Sorry Sue, just trying to be helpful.
February 17th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
So Sarah’s been talking about food a lot? Big deal… this article and all those others are about just one aspect of weight loss and healthy living! She’s also not saying we should wear seatbelts – another way to increase your chances of living a long and healthy life, maybe it’s time for an article about that?!… The point of my sarcasm being that this article is not attempting to cover off every. single. thing. about. healthy. living… it’s just one article about one thing!
Whilst I’m on my rant… I’m also amazed at all the people on here commenting about how “oh, this doesn’t work for me, I’m going to dismiss it all and I’m also not going to read the blog anymore either”… come on people! First off – if you don’t want to read it then fine, but why the public announcement? And also – do we all only ever read about things that are directly to do with just us and what we agree with? And is it Sarah’s responsibility to write about everything in the world that relates to every person or should she just write about what she’s interested in on her own blog…?!
Ok I’m done ranting, I feel much better now.
[Reply]
February 20th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Amen. One of the downsides of being widely read, no doubt.
[Reply]
February 18th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
I’m not sure exercise actually helps you lose weight. I’ve tried it both ways. I’ve exercised every day of the week for months and lost no weight at all. And I’ve lost weight doing no exercise at all. Exercise DOES make you feel better – and probably that makes you more motivated to stick to a healthy diet. Exercise targets certain areas of the body and makes them LOOK better. But exercise in itself – unless you’re running a marathon every day, perhaps – won’t make you lose weight. Sensible eating; staying away from foods that you know don’t fit well with you; and having a positive attitude to food and exercise are probably the best things you can do.
[Reply]
As a nutrition scientist I’m becoming more and more astounded by the amount of misinformation that has been circulating on the internet at the moment.
A quick look at Taubes’ background shows that he has no medical, or biological science training. He is an advocate for the Atkins diet, which has already been shown to have detrimental effects on your health including ketosis (acidification of blood and production of acetone). And he also believes, in simple terms, that exercise doesn’t make you lose weight. Just these factors alone should be a red light.
Are our athletes at the AIS overweight and unhealthy? I’m pretty sure they eat a whole lot of carbs and do plenty of exercise, as prescribed by university trained Dieticians and physiologists.
People, stop looking for a quick fix. The recommendation of a balanced diet including all the food groups works. If you want to lose weight or avoid putting it on just don’t eat too much!
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Sacha (nutrition scientist), please check your facts! Using athletes at the AIS as an example has no validity at all. These guys work out for most of the day. Since going low carb/ paleo i have noticed a significant shift in my moods. Me depression and anxiety have cleared up and I am loving life again – not to mention I have lost 5kg off my 57kg frame. I feel clear, light and completely in the flow for the first time in years. Thank you Sarah for your inspirational blog.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Claire, I used the example of athletes to show that exercise and scientifically studied nutrition produces a healthy body, as opposed to Taubes claim that exercise does not reduce weight.
It’s great that you feel better on your diet but there could be a number of reasons why you feel better. Without knowing what your diet was beforehand it’s difficult to know. Did you cut out all carbs or just refined sugars? It’s possible that by cutting out carbs your overall calorie intake has dropped which has led to your weight loss. It’s also possible that your weight loss is due to water loss. If you have substituted vegetables for the other carbs your vitamin intake would have gone up which would make you feel better as well.
It’s also possible you have an intolerance to some grains, but this does not mean having to cut out all grains.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Hi Sacha, could you please show where Taubes claims that “excercise does not reduce weight” ? Have you read his books?
February 15th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Sorry forget that, I googled and found a heap of info. Interesting stuff!
February 15th, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Sascha I agree with you, there is no scientific credibility behind this article.
[Reply]
February 18th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Again, why read this blog???
Most of us are here because we want to hear about how others are making the best of their particular issue. If you don’t have an AI, Coeliac, IBS, then thank your lucky stars and get on with your life – but please have the grace to stop posting your luckier-than-thou opinions.
[Reply]
I agree with what most commenters here are saying. It’s time for me to stop reading this blog. Quitting everything that ‘makes you fat’ – sugar, carbs, alcohol – is quite an unsustainable lifestlye for a lot of people. I eat a very balanced diet, with little in the way of processed food. My sugar intake is low anyway, but reading this blog helped me to realise the hidden sugars in ‘healthy’ foods like low fat yoghurt, and low salt sauces. So for that I thank you Sarah – I have used this new knowledge to overhaul those things from my pantry and fridge, but I still enjoy fruit, and would never want to give it up. I adore bread, and although I don’t eat it every day I do find myself sometimes desperately craving it, particularly on a day that I’ve done a lot of excercise (I’m currently training for a marathon).
I am one of those people who loves eating, and is always thing about my next meal. I’m lucky in that I’ve never had a weight problem, but I really enjoy cooking healthy food, not only for the taste but also the way it makes me feel. I don’t have many spare hours to prepare a whole range of ‘sugar free sweet treats’ using expensive and uncommon ingredients. If I want a sweet treat I will eat half a mango with some natural yoghurt. Is that really going to make me fat? Rather than the sugar replacement recipes, I would much rather a focus on delicious healthy meals, using fresh, seasonal ingredients. I know it seems contradictory to say this, because now all her recipes exclude meat and dairy, but I love Scandi Foodie’s blog and her approach to cooking. She doesn’t preach about the way she’s chosen to eat, just presents beautiful food that can be enjoyed by vegans and non-vegans alike. There is no judgement towards those who do eat meat and dairy, just a simple acknowledgement that vegan works for her body. I always feel inspired to cook after I visit her site. It used to be the same here, with the Tuesday Eats section, but now not so much.
There are parts of this blog that I will certainly miss, but feeling guilty every time I slice a banana onto my homemade muesli in the morning is definitely not one of them. The scare campaigns are just getting too much. Maybe that daily banana and those oats are killing me, but they taste delicious and at least I know I’ll be happy until my early death, and not spend years depriving myself of things I enjoy.
Best of luck to you Sarah, although I’m sure you don’t need it. Your blog seems to be doing fantastically well, but it’s just not right for me anymore.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Love this comment
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Love this comment too.
It’s all about moderation, which includes fruit and good whole grains. I know so many people who are in their 40′s and 50′s who are the healthiest people I have ever met, who simply eat everything in moderation.
[Reply]
Sarah hasn’t suggested to quit carbs and the info-graphic she posted doesn’t say ‘cut out all carbs’
Regarding alcohol, Sarah is promoting Febfast, which is a fundraising activity for the month of February to raise awareness about teen drug and alcohol addiction.
I don’t believe she’s suggesting that we cut alcohol out of our diet completely.
So why are so many people up in arms about ‘quitting’ alcohol, carbs and sugar?
From what I can read, the only thing Sarah has told us to quit is sugar.
If you are too lazy to read the infographic or don’t understand the purpose of Febfast, don’t accuse Sarah of sending out mixed messages or telling you to ‘quit’ carbs or alcohol.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
You’re right Alan. Sarah doesn’t say to quit carbs. Instead, she has posted an article clearly titled ‘Carbs are Killing You’. Bit of an extreme scare tactic and completely inaccurate.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Sue, in Sarah’s defence, she also admitted it’s a confusing and complicated topic in the original post.
The title is definitely extreme and inaccurate but I believe it’s purpose it to capture the readers attention and to continue reading
It should really read ‘If you live a sedentary lifestyle and eat too much refined/processed carbohydrates, you increase your risk of dying’, but that just doesn’t have as much punch as ‘carbs will kill you’.
[Reply]
February 19th, 2012 at 10:28 pm
Sue, I’m pretty sure the title of this post is ‘pasta makes you fat, not bacon’.
The infographic wasn’t designed by Sarah, simply something she found online (I found it myself on Pinterest several weeks ago) so she can’t take credit or blame for the words ‘carbs are killing you’.
At the end of the day, it’s up to each and every one of us to do our own research, but why drown out views we don’t necessarily agree with? I for one welcome all of these posts. They’re interesting and they challenge convention. They make us think. What’s so wrong with that?
[Reply]
Hmm…the Italians have historically had one of the highest life expectancies on the planet…yes, over-consumption of certain carbs can lead to insulin spiking, etc. etc. and yes, Italians also eat fat…but this is getting a bit nuts. A sense of proportion/perspective seems to be getting lost in this “debate.”
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Totally agree with you Stephanie!
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
If you notice the trends, though, their instance of heart diseases and diabetes is rising along with the rest of the world. Also, they have some of the worst rates of celiac disease in the current generation children, somewhere between 25-30%, compared to 1% for the rest of the world. That’s really scary.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Hi Mia, I think we’ve kind of chatted about this before.
I do see your point though and know things are changing. I guess I’m just thinking that grains were not always the baddie. Things have changed but I just don’t see it as necessary to cut them all out.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
I guess it depends on your tolerance. I’m a celiac so of course complete avoidance of gluten is mandatory. And I am clearly biased in my grain hatred
But after a few years on a GF diet I reduced my dependence on ALL grains, even the gluten-free onces, and noticed a dramatic improvement in my health. Especially my polycystic ovarian syndrome, which was one of the worst cases my endocrinologist had ever seen.
For healthy people that can tolerate grains in moderation (not the ridiculous excess we see in the standard diet, but actual moderation) they are probably fine. But anyone with health problems might be wise to investigate cutting out certain things to see how their body reacts. I think we have reached the point where foods that once were tolerated are no longer as harmless as we think.
February 15th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Mia, you’ve every reason not to eat grains. You seem to have a number of health issues and I’m glad that elimating grains has helped you. While there are certain foods I’m intolerant to, gluten isn’t one of them. I so wish I could be one of the ones that says, yep I’ve given up gluten and I feel fantastic. Eating it or not or don’t really notice the difference. Maybe that’s why I tend to defend it.
February 15th, 2012 at 7:06 pm
Oh yeah, I’m a regular lab monkey full of health quirks. Which is why I think I can get pretty passionate (maybe TOO passionate..?) about healthy eating! If I can help someone else avoid health problems before they get them, then I really want to. It can be very easy to get carried away.
I think you have an excellent point, that no amount of science or studies should ever take the place of self experimentation. Trying what works & seeing what fits for the individual is where it’s at. xx
February 15th, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Okay, re. Italy. I’m Italian and most of my family lives in Trieste, Northern Italian city near Venice.
Yes, obesity has risen along with heart disease but it has nothing to do with the pasta and grains that people have been eating for centuries! It has to do with the rise in convenience food, sugar-laden snacks and the introduction of fast food. The first MacDonalds opened in the city about 3 years ago and is worryingly popular.
I can’t speak for all of Italy, but Triestian people eats lots of bread, pasta, rice, beans, lentils etc. However, it’s balanced with loads of vegetables, dairy and meat/poultry/eggs. Sugar hardly features except for special occasions. It doesn’t make sense to blame a rise in heart disease/obesity on the parts of the diet that people have been eating all along.
And where did you get the 25-30% celiac figure!? And how do you know that it’s caused by eating grains and pasta? Again, remember that these people have been eating this stuff for centuries. I would love to see the peer-reviewed research on this.
[Reply]
February 16th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
I think you make some really good points Katherine. My family is Italian too (maybe why I have a hard time convincing myself that grains aren’t supposed to be good for me). I definately think that convenience and fast foods have been a big problem. Sure the grains may be processed differently these days and maybe we do eat a bit too much of them. I think there is something to be said about traditional diets though. People ate what they had; what they grew or made themselves (including bread and pasta)and their health was much better for it. They didn’t have to do all this research about what might be good for them because they just ate what they had locally. Really, I do try to see both sides of this conversation but at the end of the day we just need to see what works for us individually.
February 16th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
PS after seeing today’s post I thought I’d add… I have IBS & leaky gut. While I do have a few intolerances (from mild to strong intolerances) to certain foods, I don’t have an intolerance to gluten or wheat. Though I have been gluten free for periods of time I can’t say that I’ve noticed alot of difference when I do eat it or when I don’t. What I do seem to have a problem with is bread with insoluable fibre such as in ryebread & spelt and other grainy bread.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I love it! I feel like you are my own personal reference guide right now!
[Reply]
Sorry, a bit off-topic but just wondering where Monday’s webinar disappeared to? Last week’s is up but this week’s isn’t on the Ustream channel??
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
Sarah said on FB that she had an issue with it and it didn’t record, she’s trying to get it back. Fingers crossed!
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Oh no! Hope she can get it back.
Thanks for the reply, Lauren
[Reply]
Glad to hear you’re promoting this, except the article starts out with a false statement about heart disease – “One of the most utterly surprising scientific findings of recent decades has got to be that fat isn’t so bad for you after all. (Apart from, you know, potentially bringing on serious heart conditions.)”
As anyone who has read Gary Taubes’ books or “Wheat Belly” by Dr. William Davis knows, your chance of heart disease DECREASES by eliminating carbs, especially wheat, from your diet. Fats – especially saturated animal fats and coconut oils are beneficial!
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Wheat belly us a great read and if I recall correctly Dr Davis is a preventative cardiologist.
[Reply]
Totally agree with all of the comments relating to the dangers of the reductionist approach to nutrition. Have a look at http://www.foodpolitics.com/
[Reply]
If Sarah looks the way she does because of what she is and isn’t consuming – then it is paying off because she looks great! I understand that not everyone has the same body type and different methods work for different people, but Sarah is fit and has clear skin. I would rather follow her principles than that of a movie star or a runway model.
Good on you Sarah.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Ummm, you don’t think Sarah needs to look good for her career? Remember she is also making money off everyone who quits sugar. So the better she looks, the more ebooks she sells.
[Reply]
February 18th, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Really not necessary, Lis.
[Reply]
How can I stop getting every comment sent to my email address? I thought I would just get replies to MY comment, but I’m getting every reply on here. Help!
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 6:22 pm
Wendy I think when you select ‘notify me of follow up comments’ you get comments on the whole post.
[Reply]
I’m all in with the IQS, but this for me is a little too far. Taking a broader view than just my own health, and looking at the global community we live in, I’d like to just make a few comments on some things that irk me a little – one being the tone of this post, and the other being the whole idea of Paleo. And yes, it is my choice to be here, that’s true, but I think this is my input on something that I feel strongly about and have a slightly different understanding about.
Firstly, I’d like to say how privileged you must be if you can even consider giving up on carbohydrates. If you can choose to oust rice from your diet, or if you have a choice of what sort of rice is in your diet, then you are almost certainly a member of a wealthy western country. Most of the world has no choice, all through Asia, Africa and the Middle East as well as in many of the poorer parts of Europe, rice or other carbohydrates are one of the mainstays of the diet. Strangely enough, another mainstay is NOT meat. Having lived in parts of Africa, one of the commonest forms of nutrient deficiency is protein of any sort. Also strangely enough, very few Africans that I’ve met living in Africa are overweight, and the few that are that I have met personally are relatively well-off. I’m making this point because I think this post is misleading in its premise that carbs make you fat. Eating too much food makes you fat. And for that there is no magic bullet.
The other thing I’m trying to say, and I’m possibly not saying it very well, is this. Food is not just a collection of vitamins and minerals and fibre, the well-being that food gives us (and I’m not talking about Mars Bars here) goes well beyond this and into the realms of social, traditional etc. The sharing of food is one of the fundamentals of human bonding and society. I have friends who say they cannot eat if they have to sit down and eat alone. But this blog to me is beginning to become like an analysis of everything we eat, and in the process, joy and the meaning of food and the sharing of food seems to have gone out the window. And I don’t mean the sharing of Mars Bars! I mean the sharing of a meal that is not a collection of powder additives or sugar substitutes or low-carb high protein etc. If you actually had joy in your food and trust in yourself and if you shared your food, what might change?
Which brings me to the thing I’ve really got a bee in my bonnet about. Paleo. Great if it works for you. But. Don’t quote all those statics about how much water it takes to raise a cow etc, I know all of them and I know how they can be manipulated to show that meat is as kind to the environment as lentils (which is in no way true, but I’m sure somebody will attempt to prove it…) Here goes. Many people in the world, because of the current global trade system, do not get enough to eat. In particular, they do not get enough protein. They don’t get enough protein because they can’t afford to buy it. In many cases they can’t afford to buy it because somebody already bought it and exported it. In the case I know about, Senegal, the last time I was there, one chicken cost almost $4. This is in a country where many people live on under a dollar a day, Fish, once bountiful, is equally expensive because the fish stocks have been fished out by people who export them to other countries. The staple diet in Senegal used to be fish and rice, but the fish part is often unaffordable when you need to provide a dinner for 10 or more people. Every time I go there, dinner is rice with a tiny bit of meat or chicken or fish, not enough. After a month or two there, I really do lose weight. i have never seen anybody starving there, but I have met an extraordinary number of people, adults and children, for whom just a bit more protein in their diet would maybe see them reach their full physical potential, who might not be perpetually exhausted or slightly stunted, who wouldn’t have such anaemia in their pregnancies etc. This is what malnutrition does.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, people for whom everything is on offer are now deciding that what is best for them is to eat resource-heavy meat and reject carbohydrates. Don’t believe that your choice of food doesn’t have a knock-on effect for people in developing countries, it totally does. Because of the way the global trade system now operates, what is fashionable in the west dictates to a large extent how the rest of the world eats. If you think this doesn’t matter, then I’m not quite sure how you swallow your dinner. People in developing countries do not have enough choice because people in developed countries have too much. It is that simple. You have a choice. So choose to eat lentils or chickpeas, and while you’re doing it, choose lentils or chickpeas that have been grown in a developing country, because they need the money and you have that choice. Today in CERES in Melbourne I saw a sign on one of the quinoa buckets saying that it was grown in Australia – and then there was a blurb about how it is native to Peru but until now there hasn’t been an Australian-grown quinoa and isn’t it great that there is. No, it’s not great, it’s stupid. Peru is a very poor country and quinoa is something that is both local and valuable to the world market. A Peruvian quinoa farmer doesn’t just decide to grow something else, or go on the dole if it doesn’t work out. But an Australian quinoa grower has that choice. Why should an Australian farmer take these opportunities away from a Peruvian farmer? And why would you support this? Ditto to Australian coffee and tea, Australian rice etc – all water-heavy, non-local, and better from other countries where they are local crops that use resources available to them (such as, respectively, East Timor/Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka/India/Vietnam and Bangladesh/Pakistan/Thailand).
I know most people don’t think like I do, but I really wish more people did. And this part of the blog is irking me because it really is becoming a sort of dietary version of What White People Like. You have so much choice laid out in front of you, and you are richer than any other generation ever, and yet it seems that so much of this choice and richness is going into a sort of food-protectionist perfectionist frenzy, whilst on the other side of the world, the choices are getting fewer and fewer. Remember that you are connected to the rest of humanity through food as much as through anything else, and that your choices have global impacts, and that food has a spiritual side, that sharing is wonderful and that it is good to care about people you never meet, and their livelihoods, and that ALL of this together with a healthy respect for the food you do put into your body is what makes a healthy human being.
If you read this far
Namaaste and be whole
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Queenie, I really like what you have written. I think similar to you: but I admit I often worry when buying things fron other countries. Quinoa, for example, isn’t a neccessity in my diet the way it is for the communities that farm it in Peru. As it becomes more and more popular (straight from the pages of stuff white people like) will those farmers continue to recieve a fair price for it? Or will it go the way of chocolate and coffee, or like the fish you mention in Senegal? And all the statistics in the world can’t prove that pigs are meant to live in the huge numbers we eat them in in Australia. The Pig Farmers Association of Australia even says this, and the system in place to meet demand turns to ‘factory farms’ to supply. The result is the pigs ( and the quality of their ” meat”) and the enviroment suffer. So bacon may indeed be ” healthier” than the pasta; but at what cost? And is thay the case for the “bacon” product widely available in Australia. Food and the politics of what to eat can indeed be complicated but i hope we never lose the idea of “breaking bread” and sharing a meal.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Lisa – It is so complicated because we are now so interconnected. I think we have an obligation to use our incredible buying power and choice as carefully as we can.
The more you eat staples such as Peruvian quinoa (not meat which requires intensive farming no matter what sort of meat it is, or fish which can so easily be over-exploited), the more you encourage farmers to remain on the land in developing countries. They leave the land because the staples they once grew (in Senegal’s case, peanuts and millet) now have no value (usually because another country, often China, is growing or providing them more cheaply, or because they now have no value on the world market as they have been superseded by another crop or product). These ex-farmers now need to find money to feed their families with so they move to the city and try to find work. In addition, these countries often start importing food because the local staples, now that the farmers have gone, no longer exist. So in Senegal’s case, the fish is exported and the rice is mostly imported and what they are left with is a mess and the vast majority of people unable to get adequate nutrition. Here’s a link to a very cute and simple version of what is happening in most developing countries hope it works!
http://vimeo.com/8812686
You can see a similar thing happening at the moment with the importation of cheap Chinese food into the Australian market and the monopoly of Coles/Woolworths over the price. Watch Australian farmers start to suffer.
In an ideal world, the sort of people who read this blog wouldn’t be encouraged to eat more meat and protein, but to search out grains and plant protein sources from small farmers who grow these foodstuffs in their countries of origin. By choosing to eat Peruvian-grown quinoa, which is a high-protein plant food, you are increasing the likelihood that the farmer who grew it will be able to keep control of his or her own livelihood, growing an indigenous crop on the land that best suits it (and vice-versa), and at the same time ensuring his own country’s food-bowl is just a little bit more secure. And even better would be to search out certified organic/biodynamic/FairTrade sources – ie for quinoa the best would be organic Peruvian-grown, because the higher price that these organic etc products command in the western market helps to ensure that the farmer is paid properly for his goods because of supply and demand economics.
At the same time as helping the Peruvian farmer, moves like this, to these sorts of products, ensure that the gene-pool for, say, Thai red rice or wild rice or black quinoa doesn’t die out, because that is what has happened with our wheat and that is why so many people are allergic to it…not because its a gluten thing that we only started to eat in the last 10,000 years (our guts are much stronger than just that), but because the type of wheat we’re eating, which is in everything from breads to pasta to sauces etc, is highly modified from the thousands of different kinds of wheats we first domesticated. We simply eat far too much of one thing.
Eat widely. Eat from country of origin – get your fresh food as locally as possible and your other food from where it originated. Don’t eat meat much. Be careful what sort of fish you’re eating. Avoid buying Chinese ANYTHING (this is my personal crusade because of the damage that Chinese everything is doing to the developing world and to their own people, not to mention the terrible standards of those products). Search out new grains and products. Stick two fingers up to Coles and Woolworths – even when living in a country town I managed to avoid these two – now that I’m back in the city it’s a no-brainer. And sit down and enjoy your beautiful food and give thanks for its abundance.
Thanks for reading!
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
Wow-do you have a blog? I think id rather start reading that!
February 15th, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Thank you Queenie
I would also be a fan if you had a blog! I live in Perth and it is amazing how many farmers markets and other supermarket alternatives we have! Ill join the two finger salute to Coles And woolies, with their cheap milk, tasteless tomatoes and year round berries!
February 16th, 2012 at 12:05 am
Gee, thankyou for the comments!
I just wanted to clarify my posts – I love this blog and I have been experimenting with IQS for almost a year now and it has totally changed my life for the better and that of my daughter – and never would have tried it without this blog and its recipes and the support of the community here.
I did have the beginnings of a blog which was attached to my business but I took it down because…well… some of my ideas are a bit…not very commercial!! That dichotomy that I think many people operate in – I have a commercial business and yet a lot of what I want to put across is non-consumption…or different consumption…I don’t really have a name for what I think about, but I’m sure there is one…. Also, blogging is an art which I have yet to master – my first post was about 3 A4 pages long – and it was entitled “How to Shop” (which you can probably now imagine)!!
I think we are all feeling our ways along in a world which is changing frighteningly quickly, we are looking for new ways but we are working in old systems. This is fascinating and terrifying. I don’t think the world has changed so much or so quickly as it has in the last 20 years since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. No wonder we’re at a loss!
I will again have a blog – it will be attached to my soon-to-be-new website, but it will not be about health and eating per se because that is not what I do. It will be about how I source the things I do and what I think and the people I meet and different ways to transact things. (I don’t come here to flog my business either – sometimes I say things on here that I might not say if I was being ‘professional! – but I have included my website in this reply if you want to see. My business stems from the sorts of things above, my focus is not food but clothing and fabric -although you won’t see it from the current website! The closest thing I have at present is my business facebook page)
As you can probably tell, I am deeply interested in the economic and global implications of what we do – and I’ve thought about it a LOT – and I’m always learning new stuff – and that’s one of the reasons I come on to this site!
And yes to the two-fingered salute!! If you must go Paleo – can you at least NOT get your stuff from ColesWorths!!
February 15th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Thank you for a wonderful post Queenie
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 6:54 pm
Very interesting, eloquent and thought provoking post, Queenie.
Thank you.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 8:40 pm
So interesting Queenie, thank you!
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 9:46 pm
Queenie I agree. In some countries people are starving, yet here we are discussing whether we should give up carbohydrates. Instead we should be very grateful for our privileged life and stop obsessing. Many people would change places with us, especially at the dinner table, in a heart beat.
[Reply]
February 16th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Hi Queenie,
It’s great to have this point of view discussed. I’ve always been passionate about the environment and in recent years became interested in how our food industry is affecting the land and local industries around the world. But I became overwhelmed with the choices available to me in the pursuit of ‘sustainability’. Buy local, buy organic, avoid Chinese, buy fair trade, buy fresh fish or canned… shopping became so complicated. Would love to read your ‘How to Shop’ post!!
My business is focussed on organic ‘Australian Made’ products but in my industry a lot of ingredients aren’t grown in Australia so are sourced from (preferably fair trade) overseas farmers. Then some of the brands import their packaging from Europe for example, or part of the product might be manufactured in China. So an ‘Australian Made’ product may actually be formed from bits and pieces from around the world. They can still have the kangaroo logo if a certain percentage of the product is from here. This kind of stuff complicates the issue even more! It’s frustrating.
On the Paleo thing, I have spent about 6 months reading into it all (and experimenting on myself). One of the things that has been an unexpected positive is the focus on eating locally and sustainably and supporting local farmers. Before the switch to Paleo, I was regularly at Coles and Woolies. Now I’m rarely in a supermarket at all. I buy free range meat and eggs from a local farmer who drives into Melbourne once a month. I don’t just buy muscle meat, but liver, bones and fat too. For Paleo there is a focus on using as much of the animal as possible. I am lucky to have a local green grocer walking distance from my house. For Christmas I bought everyone’s gifts from the local farmer’s market, lots of yummy foodie things. If it wasn’t for my curiosity about Paleo, I don’t think I would have bothered exploring all these local alternatives for food. I also wouldn’t be enjoying food as much as I do now, so the joy of food has come into it as well. I make my own ice cream. I make chicken soup from the carcass. I am trying so many old traditional recipes that our grandmothers would probably be familiar with. But no way would I have bothered if it hadn’t been for Paleo. So while the Paleo perceived focus on meat and fat might not be to everyone’s taste, please give it some credit for introducing people like me to the joy of food, home made cooking, local farming, tradition. I’m now exploring ideas like growing a few of my own veggies, who’d have thought?!
Lastly, after travelling through India and Morocco, I am of the firm belief that anyone who grows up in a Western country should at some point in their lives spend time in India or Africa. It changes your perception of life forever. Yep I’m wandering down a Paleo pathway right now, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that I’m being unsustainable or contributing to a negative impact on communities on the other side of the world. No doubt there will always be situations where I can improve on my ‘sustainability credentials’, and I would like to think I am always open to learning how doing something differently can make things better for the bigger picture.
[Reply]
February 16th, 2012 at 7:26 pm
Well said Queenie! Thank you. I just wanted to let you know that someone else agrees with your comments.
[Reply]
February 18th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Hi Guys, I’ve just cut and paste the last lot of comments because I don’t have time to read and digest (no pun intended) the content right now, but it certainly looks like you could – should – start a blog, Queenie. It is so hard to get everything right, isn’t it? You start thinking one thing and try and do that only to realise that you can’t get whatever it is you’ve decided to ‘consume’ via Fair Trade; or you go to your local organic shop and realise that the shelves are full of sugar-ladden crap masquerading as healthy food; or you try paleo only to find you have no energy even though you do feel better in other ways. I follow a few local ‘sustainability’ blogs and have been reading about boycotting the big chains – but how do I do that at work when we use a big stationery firm? And where do I then get toilet paper if not at a big supermarket chain? I don’t want to buy palm oil/sugar products as it is killing the orangutans, but how do I know I’m buying the right products when so many ‘natural’ cosmetics/shampoos have palm oil derivatives under the guise of another name……….
Anyway, I look forward to reading your comments – and, perhaps, your blog and will visit your website.
[Reply]
Thanks for sharing Sarah. No need for people to get upset about this information. Everyone is on their own journey, some are looking to optimise their health especially when confronted with chronic illness, digestive disorders etc. It would of been difficult for me to digest this many years ago before I realised I had a reason to care. It’s like reading Eckhart Tolle, are you ready.
[Reply]
February 15th, 2012 at 7:46 pm
Perfectly put Amy. Everyone take from the information what you will…if it resonates with you, wonderful, it’s another piece of the puzzle. If not, then keep following your life path to find what does resonate with you. Sarah is only sharing the pieces of the puzzle that are appearing on her path. That’s what blogging is about. Thanks Sarah
[Reply]
Thank you for the interesting read, it’s good info. Thinking about focusing on health and general well being (instead of weight) and that carbs are great for those of us with quick metabolisms who burn a great deal of energy and need the comforting effect on the nervous system…..keep that vata in check!!! Carbs are wonderful in the right context. Not to wage a war on for everyone
[Reply]
I have been wondering…
I wonder if this kind of information could promote eating disorders. I don’t mean this in a mean or malicious way but my experience of IQS has resulted in me being more preoccupied and obsessive about food…and i don’t know if that is healthy in itself. I have my own illness to battle so i get that aspect but the above post seems a little bit drastic….i prefer the gentle way….more gentle please! x
[Reply]
How can it be so black and white? I love my carbs (fruit, legumes and whole grains), I feel fantastic and I am definitely NOT “fat”! I’m all for learning about different dietary theories be it paleo or 80/10/10 and try to be curious instead of judgmental.
I’m enjoying your blog Sarah, I find it very thought provoking! I’d like to hear how you feel about different diets working for different people. If you truly believe that low-carb is the only way to stay slim, why am I (and countless others) not fat?!
[Reply]
March 26th, 2013 at 12:07 am
You might want to check my comment, below, outlining that people are so different some can eat a lot of carbs and sugar and be slim like you, but I’d say that you are the exception not the norm. Those who are overweight (the norm) need to eat less sugar and carbs because our bodies just don’t metabolize enough energy. Eating fat, protein, veggies is working for weight loss. It’s the keeping it up bit that people find hard, and that’s why diets that cut out fat and everything else don’t work. Small amounts of carbs and sugar (in fruit and the small amount Sarah suggests) should be okay for everyone once they’ve lost weight and their body has re-calibrated, but they will just never be able to eat as many carbs as you. I’m sure you will find once you get old and even your metabolism slows you get what other people have had all along.
[Reply]
I’ve just read through all the comments on this blog plus the comments everyone gave in response to Sarah’s request for feedback a fee posts ago. I’ve read pretty much everything on the site that Sarah has posted and she repeatedly says that her approach is gentle and moderate. I’ve read this to apply to pretty much everything on the site. Even with IQS you only really give up up sugar for a couple of weeks to detox – it’s then left up to each individual to choose whether & how much sugar to reintroduce to their diet. I agree paleo has been, and probably will continue to be, a hotly debated topic, not only here but in other forums as well. Surely though, as the discussion led by Queenie demonstrates, there is room for different perspectives. I am a sort of paleo but do eat some carbs including, as it happens black peruvian quinoa. I was considering switching to Aust quinoa but now won’t.
[Reply]
I’ve just read through all the comments on this blog plus the comments everyone gave in response to Sarah’s request for feedback a fee posts ago. I’ve read pretty much everything on the site that Sarah has posted and she repeatedly says that her approach is gentle and moderate. I’ve read this to apply to pretty much everything on the site. Even with IQS you only really give up up sugar for a couple of weeks to detox – it’s then left up to each individual to choose whether & how much sugar to reintroduce to their diet. I agree paleo has been, and probably will continue to be, a hotly debated topic, not only here but in other forums as well. Surely though, as the discussion led by Queenie demonstrates, there is room for different perspectives. I am a sort of paleo but do eat some carbs including, as it happens black peruvian quinoa. I was considering switching to Aust quinoa but now won’t.
[Reply]
The problem with an infographic, as visually pleasing as they may be, is that it oversimplifies a complicated topic. From the vast array of information I’ve been reading for the last two years (due to having my own digestive issues), I feel that the consensus regarding carbs will shift, as it did with calories, in that no two carbs are equal. With more research, experimentation & participation, more information on this will come to light.
But just like any health regime, it is not a ‘be all & end all’ approach. No one method works for everybody. That’s why there’s 1001 different diet methodologies out there.
[Reply]
Apologies for posting that twice. I am an IT dunce. Also didn’t know how to make the text box bigger! Anyway. I guess what I’m trying, not very well to say, is that part of the richness of this site, it’s extraordinary impact on individual lives, comes from the very different views people have to some of the posts and the honesty with which they share their reactions. In my view, the prior to the IQS project of the past weeks, this has been tempered by the variety of subjects Satah has posted on. So different people have been reacting to different issues ( or all agreeing). However over the past 7 weeks most of the posts have been IQS or related and this hasn’t provided enough variety to mitigate the differences between the different interest groups who follow Sarah’s posts. But it doesn’t mean that good outcomes can’t come from talking to each other respectfully.
[Reply]
Sugar is addictive, stuffs up your insulin sensitivity which makes you fat, is linked to metabolic syndrome, cardio vascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.
The GRAIN carbs: wheat, corn is a grain, cous cous, rice, pasta, rye, etc make you fat, they irritate the gut, cause systemic inflammation (which are ‘visible’ in the person as eczema, IBS, arthritis), are linked to depression and other mental illnesses.
The problem with grains is gluten and phytates ( which are in their structure), WHOLEGRAIN is WORSE as there is more ‘roughage’ the irritates the gut, therefore inflammation and so on.
Sweet potato is fine. The least worst are: pumpkin, potato no skin, white rice.
I am a Physiologist and a Nutritionist. This is not about rules etc, it is about getting the FACTS out to society, who have been taught WRONG, misleading, and incorrect information for decades and I still see it every Sunday in the newspapers health sections- just bullsh$t and wrong wrong wrong information! Ahhhh! When you have the facts you can choose to do whatever you want with them.
I believe every person has a right to an education and It is our right to be taught the TRUTH.
[Reply]
February 16th, 2012 at 8:00 am
Lauren….help!
I am totally on board with quitting sugar, everything about that just seems to make sense – in fact doing so has totally changed my life – but I really need to lose weight also.
I am now totally confused about carbs. For so long we have been told that wholegrain is the way to go but now it seems its not. It’s like the low fat/high fat thing all over again.
I have really reduced my carb intake anyway as I suspect I have gluten intolerance (no, really…but I won’t go into gory details). Am I still able to eat skinless potato and white rice and lose weight? Or do i need to cut it all out? And how do I know what to believe?
I guess I need to keep reading the evidence and make up my own mind…..
[Reply]
February 16th, 2012 at 10:59 am
It is confusing! But that is because our systems are complicated! But they are complicated for a reason- to manage a balance (homeostasis), to fight disease, to heal us and to keep your body in peak condition. It really is truly amazing what is going on every second!
I don’t like to use the term carbs because it gets very confusing…and this is why.
Grains are carbs
Vegetables are carbs
Fruit is carbs
Legumes are carbs
Sugars- all types are carbs
You CANNOT use a blanket statement about carbs because the fact is they are NOT created equal!
Quitting sugar is great in that if you have it out of your system for long enough you are able regain insulin sensitivity (VITAL), re-control your appetite and cravings, and loose the addiction. Added to that are the reductions it makes in your potential to become ill and overweight.
1-2 small pieces of fruit a day as your sugar intake is sufficient.
GRAINS are addictive too! The act on the receptors in your brain for opium and morphine. Grains, wheat, corn, tortillas, pasta however you ingest it, are addictive like sugar, not to mention bad for your system.
In regards to Gluten, I am also gluten intolerant (I suffered from IBS for mamy year), it really is bad for your system. Some people may be able to digest it better than others, but it’s still causing systemic inflammation and irritating your gut. An irritated gut means that you wont absorb all the great nutrients you are putting into your body, so it almost has a negative x 2 affect.
Legumes are the same.
Unfortunately MOST of the information in the newspaper, on TV, in magazines in incorrect, which makes it difficult to get the TRUTH. You have to dig a little and take it into your own hands a little. Which makes me really sad, that we actually have to find the facts for ourselves as many organisations are….corrupt and what we are taught is swayed…heavily!!!
While it is best to cut all grains, it is also vital to increase fats. You are trying to change the physiological methods in which your body “runs” of its fuel sources.
You need to swtith from carb to a beautiful FAT burning machine!
So avocado, coconut oil for cooking, coconut milk for curries etc.
To loose body fat you should try to keep your TOTAL carb intake to under 100g per day.
You can use fitday.com to put in what you eat to see where you currently are.
I would suggest cutting as much of the rice and potatoes as you can, because…
You must understand that VEGIES and FRUIT are your carbs!!!
I eat sweet potato, a little rice if I’m out for dinner etc. My partner is an athlete and he requires more “fuel” so he eats white rice and some potato, not at every meal, mostly dinner as it is after his training.
Regarding info, Sarah’s Blog, Robb Wolfs blog and books, Mark Sisson-Daily Apple blog and books are great places to start. Robb is a biochemist and as with Sarah and Mark they have NO reason than to get the facts out there, they have no backing by big companies or the government…unless Sarah is getting some under the table bonuses from the grain and sugar industry
Like me they have had enough of the bullsh#t!
Oh and one other thing! Lifting weights is VITAL for losing body fat! It truly is! You need to build some muscle to make you more sensitive to insulin, and as you will become a fuel burning machine, it also does amazing things for self esteem, confidence and happiness.
Hope that helped a little!
[Reply]
February 16th, 2012 at 11:19 am
One more thing!!!
Quality sleep is so so important for body fat loss.
And stress! If your stressed you have raised cortisol levels which means you are in “fight or flight” mode a lot (your body may be in this state with out you realising! Worry, anxiety, stress at work or home is the same to the body as “that bear is trying to eat me!”)
Fight or flight state tells the body release more insulin, cause i am in trouble. Increased insulin in the blood causes increase blood glucose, this causes a decrease in your insulin sensitivity and so your body releases more glucose..and the cycle continues.
Again it IS complicated…because our bodies are a beautiful, amazing, mind blowing, stunning functional thing!!! Don’t forget!
xx
February 16th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Lauren thankyou so much for your comprehensive answer.
Quitting sugar may be easy compared to this bit – might have to take a gently gently approach and work out how to feed the kids in a better way too with less reliance on potatoes and pasta (thats a tough one!) with their veggies and protein.
At least I know what direction to head in.
Thanks again.
February 16th, 2012 at 12:46 pm
So glad I could help!
It is about being gentle and taking it slowly. You have mastered the sugar, so next remove gluten from your diet (so still eat potatoes, pumpkin and rice). Then cut legumes. Its up to you what you decide about rice and potatoes now that you have the knowledge. At least know that you are making good choices.
Moderation of grains, sugar on a physiological level really isn’t that great, as you are still irritating the gut, causing inflammation and messing with your insulin etc…all of which have evolved to “look after you”.
You already have a new view and perspective on sugar, in a couple of months you will have a new outlook on grains.
I am half Italian so I understand the Pasta business!!! Occasionally when I want it, I have a big bowl of Bolognaise and eat it with Rice pasta. I don’t get the swollen bloat heavy full feeling after or the toilet issues! Best of both worlds! I also still eat some white rice if I’m out with my loved ones having Thai etc
Wow some people need to possibly chill out, this is sarahs blog, her thoughts and theories, if you don’t like them, each to their own, shes not forcing you to deny yourself carbs.
I personally believe in the whole sugar free approach, it makes you appreciated whole foods, natural foods alot more, definatly gets you off that addictive buzz of constantly wanting something sweet. Im an athlete so I still eat carbs though and have lost 2 kgs in the past month. Just really become alot leaner and stronger really which is great!
I like the idea of the paelo approach but don’t think I will get enough energy without eating some carbs (keep to things like kumera, quinoa, brown rice and on the odd occasion wholegrain bread or wraps) This works for me, I feel great and not deprived one bit!
Just do what works for you, appreciate other peoples comments and thoughts but at the end of the day, you choose what to put into your body so just do it!
[Reply]
Love the food posts by the way! Keep ‘em coming
[Reply]
I gave up sugar and salt intake during the 80s, and gluten last year. Giving up sugar for me was not putting two teaspoons of sugar in my tea, eating ice creams, soft drinks and other deserts. I have not been a great cook and my diet was pretty ordinary. In saying that, a renewed focus on these issues particularly on gluten, I have become much more creative with food and my cooking. What was once a boring task for me has now become an exciting daily experience. For those people who think quiting sugar and other foods will turn their life morbid or monk like, think again of the opportunity to learn about and experience the wonderful world of food.
[Reply]
I came across the book, the man, his wife and two clients on one of those 6.30pm programs this week. You know what? None of the four looked remotely healthy and I’m that’s not solely in reference to girth (though 3/4 looked like their BMI was in the dangerous range). The author’s skin didn’t look great. The couple tucking into fried bacon and scrambled eggs (with lashings of milk) in a (toxic) non-stick frypan looked like they were days away from a heart attack. None of them were good advertisements for the diet.
And the pseudoscience? “Cell membranes are made of cholesterol” so tuck into it? What about the the other components of the membrane such asgood sources of omega 3 fatty acids and phosopholipids (fish rather than bacon, nuts and seeds etc). Pasta versus bacon? Neither are health foods. Neither are a cornerstone of a good diet. Variety – in diet, exercise and television watching – really are the spice of life.
[Reply]
February 18th, 2012 at 8:54 am
Do you mean Gary Taubes when you say ‘the book, the man…..’ and are you able to reveal which 6.30 program it was?
I’d like to youtube it….
[Reply]
Hi Sarah
I know you are gluten free but with the above article does that also mean you are completely grain free? Do you believe that some rice or quinoa at times can be healthy or it is always a bad thing for you?
Love your posts thank you
[Reply]
I have a question… a very silly question but I just don’t know the answer! If you eat gluten free options, eg. gf pasta and breads etc… does this count as cutting out carbs? Or do gf products still have carbs in them? I think the answer would be yes but I’m a bit confused!
xx
Pastas and breads wreack havoc with my gut – and while I haven’t been diagnosed with an intolerance I know I feel better not having them. But I would also like to lose a few kilos and am wondering if I need to cut them out altogether rather than having some gf options!
Any help would be much appreciated.
PS. Sarah – I’ve been catching up on your blog today and have noticed a lot of negative comments. I just wish people would remember you are writing about your opinion only – if they don’t agree, that’s OK, but everyone’s allowed to write about what they believe in! Keep up the good work – I think your blog is amazing and am 3 months IQS because of you!
[Reply]
February 17th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Hey Mel! Gluten free grains still have carbs for sure. I find even gluten-free grains upset my stomach (indigestion, etc) if I have them too often. Once or twice a week seems fine, everyone has different levels of tolerance though. Yeast can be an issue too for those with stomach issues – sometimes gluten-free breads have a lot of yeast in them to make up for the lack of gluten, which can inflame intestinal candida amongst other things.
My personal opinion is that if people are not getting enough carbohydrate from eating just vegetables, then they aren’t eating enough vegetables! That’s just me though.
[Reply]
February 17th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Thanks for the reply Mia Bluegirl – much appreciated! And I love what you say about carbs from veges – but despite the fact that carbs make me feel ick, I have some strange obsession with them and find it hard to reduce them. (Although I was once like that with sugar so there’s a glimmer of hope)!
So I’m assuming you base your diet around plant based materials? Any tips or tricks about what you eat / don’t eat?
[Reply]
February 18th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
I eat really simply, cos its easier and I’m lazy! Salads, cooked veggies, free range eggs, fish and lots of kangaroo as I’m anemic. Maybe once a week I will cheat and have some homemade nachos or GF pizza, cos life is short. I actually can’t stomach pasta any more – from someone who used to live on bread and pasta and toast for every meal, that’s huge! Now it makes me really sleepy and bloated, even GF stuff. I like zucchini ribbons cooked up and served with pasta sauce instead, its yum. If I’m eating out I have sushi, white rice seems ok for me if its not too often or too huge a portion.
Given time you adjust to craving foods with great seasonings like chili and garlic, and dense carby food tastes like cardboard.
February 28th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Mel
I feel the same, like I’m addicted! Refined carbamazepine make me bloated but I still keep eating them. From my reading of Paleo websites and Primal Body Primal mind, you can get carb cravings if you have nutritional deficiencies or suffer from depression. So I’m going to go grain free for a month and see of the cravings subside like they did with sugar. It will be harder for me than giving up sugar though, I love my bread. Would be great if there was an ‘I Quit Grains’ plan. I’m going to try and use the same approach – crowding out, softly softly etc.
February 28th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
So glad to hear that someone feels the same as me K! Thanks for your post!
I often think to myself, remember how bad you feel at this exact moment… and then go and eat something that makes me feel bad the very next day!! I’ve been doing a lot of reading on primal / paleo sites too – esp. Mark’s Daily Apple and Wheat Belly and would love to give it up too… but I feel like I need to have a pretty solid plan in place because finding alternatives will no doubt take some discipline.
Keep in touch and let me know how you go! Best of luck!
xxx
THANK YOU!
I’ve wanted a nice diagram like these for a long time! It explains the idea of fat being good very well. Yay!:)
[Reply]
Someone needs to show this to the nutrionist that writes for the Sunday Age. Each week she scrutinises a celebrity’s eating habits and this week it was the Commando from the Biggest Loser. She criticises him for not eating grains and dairy as “where will he get his energy from”. Has she seen the guy? I wanted to freakin scream!!! I checked out her website and what does she get paid to endorse…low fat/high sugar products including a yoghurt with 12g of sugar per 100 g serving. PLEASE!!!! Wake the %$#@ up!
[Reply]
February 19th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
I agree with you Ms Jane. Funnily enough she was quoted in a Good Health Magazine last year, talking about fructose and its effects with IBS. Her limited (and the article’s) very simplistic ‘guide’ was both insulting and limited and made people like me with many a food intolerance feel like my symptoms could be ixed’ or reduced if I simply took out apples and pears and reduced my load of gas causing vegetables. I always remember that she is a nutritionist not a dietitian.
[Reply]
I have a very simple 2-part question… Why do older paleo advocates look puffy and carry spare tyres around? Why do high-carb advocates look slim and fit in their old age? Plenty of carb-eating fruit/veg raw and vego pushers look amazing, too.
This is unbalanced. Protein &/or Fat vs Carbs IS NOT science, it’s simplistic. Like the heinously misleading infographic. I’ll stick to carbs and no more IBS.
Look at Kris Carr. You don’t cure dis-ease without energy foods and EXERCISE. The western idea of “enough exercise” is ridiculous. Get moving.
[Reply]
And Paleo people are huge supplement pushers. The great diet? Give me a break. If there are so many nutrients missing… there’s PLENTY missing.
[Reply]
Hi Sarah,
I have just started your 8 week program so have just given up eating sugar. I am a sugar addict and once I start eating it, no matter what form it can from,the next day I wanted more and it became a vicious cycle. This of course led to weight gain (even though I do regular intense exercise) and enough was enough when I didn’t like how my clothes fit me anymore. Could you or someone else clarify for me if by cutting out sugar this also includes not eating brown rice or low gi breads? Also, what is your opinion of alcohol too?
Thanks and I am determined to make a healthy change for me as this is the only body I will ever get!!
[Reply]
Ok Sarah – not sure where to put this little ‘cry’ for help and support, but figured with others still taking on your IQS Challenge, this is a good a place as any. I have been going through an elimination diet to help work out which foods trigger my IBS. It is the very intense and rather bland Royal Prince Alfred Hopstial in NSW Diet Program. My problem is that I am now eating – and too much of – cashew butter. It tastes so yum and is the only nut I am allowed to eat. But ist has caused me to gain a little weight. So I am now embarking on a little challenge of my own IQCB – I Quit Cashew Butter! I started you IQS last Oct and I haven’t looked back – so I figure this one will be just as easy (I hope!) At least putting it on your blog makes it ‘real’ and with others knowing I will be more inclined to do it!!!
[Reply]
[...] Sugar (yes, including fruit) and processed carbohydrates are stored in your body as energy and make you fat. So there. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Or check out Sarah Wilson’s awesome pictorial explanation entitled Carbs Are Killing You. [...]
Hi Sarah,
Today is day one of my sugar detox. It is probably my 85th attempt. I have downloaded your book and I hope it will give me the necessary motivation. I am obsessed about giving it up but cant seem and it is making me very depressed but I will try again.
Bernadette
[Reply]
Hi Sarah! Love your cookbook but concerned that all the bacon I find has sugar listed as an ingredient – is this ok?? Thanks!
[Reply]
I’ve been “eating healthy” for two years to try to slim down again – whole groans, no added sugar etc but it really didn’t do anything until I cut out carbs and more hidden sugars. Now I’ve lost 7kg in 2 months and counting but avoiding the hidden sugars (thanks Sarah) and I feel great. The fact is some people can eat heaps of sugar and carbs and not be fat be jade of their metabolism. People are very different. I lived eating in “moderation” for years eating healthier food than everyone around me and I still put on weight.
Not being fat doesn’t equal healhty. Sarah’s pointing out many health reasons why sugar is bad. My partner who is a slim-eat-as-much-as-you-like person now has no sugar and is all the better for it. He doesn’t even want it even though he used to love chocolate (a block a day) and knows he wouldn’t put on weight even if he ate it. He’s also not missing the carbs like pasta and rice and still has plenty of energy because we eat plenty of food.
It’s also a bonus that we can’t eat processed things and therefore don’t get all the nasty additives in those foods, that surely helps.
[Reply]
We’re pleased to turn out to be visitor on this fantastic web site,
thanks for this unique info!
[Reply]