The "perfect diet"? World's largest study discovers how to keep the weight off for good

[Turborama]

Experts claim to have found the perfect diet for preventing weight gain

Losing weight is difficult enough but, as anyone who has ever been on a diet knows, keeping it off is even harder.
However, Danish researchers say they have come up with the perfect diet to lose weight and keep it off.

According to the world's largest diet study ever, the best way to lose weight is to stick to a high protein/low glycaemic index diet with more lean meats, low fat dairy products and beans and fewer refined carbohydrates such as white bread and rice. The researchers say that no calorie counting is needed; people should just eat until they feel full.

The experts from the University of Copenhagen reached their conclusions after comparing five different diets which are recommended for losing and maintaining a healthy weight.

Some 938 overweight adults from eight European countries were put on a strict 800 kcal/day diet for eight weeks, and their weigh loss recorded. The volunteers were then randomly assigned to one of five different low-fat diets, and tracked for six months to find out which diet was best at preventing weight gain.

Full article: http://uk.health.lifestyle.yahoo.net/High-protein-low-GI-diet-best-for-losing-weight-research-finds.htm

[femrap]

1. any diet that gives

you pate for a snack is OK with me.

But I think if I were to permanently lose weight, a limb would have to be removed.

[applegrove]

2. I tried the atkins diet and lost weight. Then I stopped but my addiction to fatty food was

raging. So I gained all the weight back. Yes I think I'll try this diet next. And I promise to stay away from fatty proteins.

[stopbush]

14. Is that the fault of the Atkins' diet?

You say you tried Atkins and lost weight, then went off it and gained weight. Solution: go back on it.

[applegrove]

19. No it was too restrictive and I was becoming obsessed with fatty proteins and food

in general. I was craving carbs in a bad way. I'd rather find a diet that will have me loose weight slowly but permanently. I lost some weight that way 2 1/2 years ago. But then I started eating badly and quit smoking and gained weight.

[JDPriestly]

33. Lean meats and beans and proteins plus vegetables and fruits.

In addition, you need some exercise. You can't go wrong. Once in a while you can eat carbs.

But remember, lean meats, cheese, yoghurt, beans, proteins, green and leafy vegetables, other vegetables in moderation, fruit (the fiber is good for you). Stay away from sugar in your drinks or fruit juices with sugar and no fiber.

Works most of the time in my experience. And you feel satisfied.

[WhiteTara]

43. just choose your fats with care

some are much better than others!

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I can make you thin

As a method it IS the way to go... period.

Oh yeah I got a few "forbidden foods" but that is due to diabetes and a bad gluten allergy... not because they are forbidden.

[Turborama]

4. Go on then

Pray tell, the curiosity is killing me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. I eat when I am hungry

I eat without distractions.

I stop when I am full

There is no forbidden foods. Yes I have chocolate, I got sugar and gluten free pie... and all that.

Oh I lost fifty pounds that came from a side effect of Avandia and I kept that weight off for oh now four, I think five years.

I'm not deprived.

Though when I got the gastroenteritis... that was not fun.

http://books.google.com/books?id=ebb7-674vWkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=i+can+make+you+thin&source=bl&ots=9ltXyK3tgY&sig=eCa6n2fxstyBLapCEYDRilGQPsA&hl=en&ei=eSzvTNaDE5DCsAPG5YDcCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

It is essentially validating that study.

Hell, I just had some vegies from lunch, with some squash and cheese for dinner. Nor did I stuff myself silly at the "feast."

[Turborama]

15. Thanks a lot!

For the link to the book and the heads up that cheese is still on the table (as it were). I can't live without cheese.

:hi:

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. At the moment I need to remember to take the lactaid

but I still eat cheese.
Only things forbidden are sugary snacks, due to the diabetes... or with measure... and bread, as well as a bunch of products that have the damn thing... no, not because I could not eat them... they just make me deadly ill....

So not worth it, at all.

I am just baking a LOT MORE.

But the usual list of forbidden fruit is there... just remember to ENJOY IT and eat slowly and STOP eating when you are full.

[tabasco]

5. The old ditty is true:

Beans, beans - the magical fruit,
The more you eat,
The more you toot,
The more you toot,
The better you feel!

[pipi_k]

7. And the last line....

"We should have beans at every meal!"

[Systematic Chaos]

8. But THEN, one actually goes to the NEJM website and looks up the study.

And, given that the Danes are among the world's most prolific dairy consumers -- and therefore among the world's most affected by osteoporosis, kidney stones, and general kidney disease, in addition to several cancers plus diabetes, it makes one wonder exactly who might have funded this study which recommends high levels of dairy/animal protein consumption.

Directly from the abstract, we can see the information about who funded this propaganda study:

Drs. Meinert Larsen and Astrup report that their department, the Department of Nutrition at the University of Copenhagen, has received research support from more than 100 food companies for this and other studies. Dr. Astrup reports serving as an executive board member of Obesity International Trading (United Kingdom), Beer Knowledge Institute (the Netherlands), Global Dairy Platform (United States), and Nordic Food Lab (Denmark); serving on the European Almond Advisory Board and on the boards of 7TM Pharma, NeuroSearch, Basic Research, Merck, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Jenny Craig, and Kraft; acting as a consultant or advisory board member for 7TM Pharma, NeuroSearch, Basic Research, Merck, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Pfizer, Vivus, Jenny Craig, Almond Board of California, and Kraft; and receiving lecture fees from the Almond Board of California, Arla, Campina, and Astellas Pharma. Dr. van Baak reports receiving lecture fees from Nutrition et Santé (Belgium), and Asociación General Fabricantes de Azúcar (Spain); she also reports that her institution, Maastricht University Medical Center, received research support from Top Institute Food and Nutrition (Wageningen, the Netherlands) and a commercial obesity treatment center, Center for Obesity Europe (Heerlen, the Netherlands). Dr. Pfeiffer reports serving as a board member or receiving consulting fees from Danone Medical Nutrition and also reports that his institution, the German Institute of Human Nutrition, receives grants from Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, the German Diabetes Foundation, Bayer, and Rettenmayer and Söhne. Dr. Jebb reports serving as a board member of Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Heinz, Kellogg's, Nestle, and the Almond Board of California (the fees for all board memberships are given to her institution, the Elsie Widdowson Laboratory), receiving consulting fees from Tanita UK, and receiving payment from Rosemary Conley Enterprises for the development of educational presentations, a magazine column, and interviews on nutrition and weight management; she also reports that her institution receives grant support from the World Cancer Research Fund, Tanita, WeightWatchers, Coca-Cola, and Sanofi-Aventis. Dr. Kunešová reports that her institution, the Institute of Endocrinology Obesity Management Center, has received support or research grants from Unilever, Institute Danone, Milcom–Dairy Research Institute of the Federation of the Food and Drink Industries of the Czech Republic, Novo Nordisk, Abbott Laboratories, Merck, Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer, and Schering-Plough (now Merck). Dr. Stender reports receiving consulting fees from Novartis and Kowa Research Institute and lecture fees from Merck, Pfizer, and Roche; he also reports that his department at the Gentofte University Hospital has received payment for participation in drug trials sponsored by Pfizer, Merck, Kowa Research Institute, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, Cyncron, Parexel, Sanofi-Aventis, AstraZeneca, Bayer, and Janssen-Cilag. Dr. Saris reports receiving consulting fees from Nutrition and Santé (Belgium), serving on the boards of Food for Health (Ireland), International Life Sciences Institute Research Foundation (Washington, DC), McDonalds (Oak Brook, IL), and the Institute for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research (Reading, UK), being a member of review panels for INRA (France), Genome (Canada), and NordForsk (Norway), and being a part-time employee of Corporate Scientist Nutrition at DSM (the Netherlands); he also reports that his institution, the Maastricht University Medical Center, receives research support from the Dutch Dairy Foundation and Novo Nordisk.

So, we've now established that this so-called "world's largest study" is pretty much unmitigated bullshit.

If you really want to know what represents the best diet, you would be far better served looking at the research of one T. Colin Campbell, namely The China Study. The evidence gathered from this 20-year, international meta-study is incontrovertible.

Mind you, I'm only going here because switching to a starchy, plant-based diet has saved me from extreme obesity and a certain early death. And all without calorie counting, any feelings of deprivation, and with only limited exercise (although my activity level is increasing).

I'm glad I decided that I didn't need any fast food corporations, dairy councils or processed food marketers to keep giving me feel-good news about decidedly bad habits.

My rant here is done. Go back to your Thanksgiving already in progress.

[Liquorice]

10. The China Study is the best book on nutrition I have ever read. nt

[Systematic Chaos]

13. Thank you for backing me up on that.

I'm also a big fan of Dr. John McDougall and his writings and lectures.

The best part of his website is that all the information you need to make the right food choices is right there on his website and you needn't spend one red cent to reap the benefits, although his books are among the best you will find anywhere.

www.drmcdougall.com

[Liquorice]

17. Yes I am also a big fan of McDougall and Dr. Esselstyn as well. I was very happy

to hear that Bill Clinton had changed to a plant-based diet to reverse his heart disease. I have been a vegetarian for years, but decided to become a vegan after I heard Clinton talking about The China Study and decided to read it for myself after he said it convinced him to completely change his diet. I wound up convinced as well and stopped eating all animal protein. It's really an incredible book.

Many people will never accept what McDougall, Campbell and others have to teach about diet and disease, but the research is irrefutable IMO.

[JDPriestly]

35. I eat lots of low-fat protein, meats (mostly poultry, red meat once

a week) but lots of dairy and incredible amounts of vegetables and fruits. So, I like a low-carb diet but I don't consider vegetables and fruits to be carbs. Am I wrong about that?

[johnaries]

24. The China Study has been debunked. For one thing, the book

has very little to do with the actual study itself. I read his "experiment", and he sinned. First of all, he gave the test mice a known carcinogen. Then, he caramelized the dairy protein before he added it to their food. Dairy actually has several anti-mutagenic properties, but they are destroyed by high heat - such as caramelizing. He stacked the deck. Then, he claims that none of the mice who didn't eat the caramelized protein got cancer - which is impossible since he previously gave them a known carcinogen.

As Schrodinger's Cat points out, an experiment is only as accurate as the researcher reporting the results.

[Liquorice]

25. No it hasn't. nt

[Systematic Chaos]

28. Does the direct correlation between animal protein intake in HUMANS...

...and incidence of cancer exist or not?

I believe that's the real issue here.

That, and the fact that the people from Denmark who got the funding for this sham of a study in the NEJM are also whores for just about every major fast food, processed food, and pharmaceutical corporation you can think of.

I trust Mr. Campbell's work far more than I do this study from a nation full of dairy consumers whose bones and kidneys are rotting out, mice or no mice.

[JDPriestly]

34. Maybe it depends on the person.

I gain weight just looking at carbs. But I can eat lots of dairy with no problem provided I don't eat the high-fat dairy (butter, high-fat cheeses, etc.).

I love potatoes but they put weight on me mercilessly so I do not eat them.

I don't like bread much, and it is a good thing because it puts pounds on me so quickly.

But I know that others like a high-carb diet and lose weight on it. So, it may be individual.

You can't go wrong with low-fat, low-carb in my opinion. And people who mostly eat vegetables, fruits and beans don't seem to gain weight or suffer from obesity.

[Systematic Chaos]

36. I'm not trying to pick on you, but I do have a question.

Exactly how do you have your potatoes? You want to make sure they're prepared with absolutely no added fat, or else you end up defeating the purpose. And trust me, I say this as someone who had a very hard time giving up my old-fashioned mashed potatoes, chock full of butter and milk. Now, I have them with a little soy milk and some kind of spice to make them less bland. The times I eat the most potatoes that way are the times my weight drops the fastest.

Another way they're good is cut into wedges and baked to a golden brown in the oven, with some sort of oil-free condiment as a dip.

Bread is also very calorie dense, so you are totally correct in minimizing your intake of it. Sprouted grain bread is great as an occasional treat, though.

[JDPriestly]

45. I don't eat potatoes except at social events when someone else cooks them

It's just a problem for me. I absolutely love potatoes, especially baked potatoes, but I really have no business eating them.

I eat a few noodles and occasionally a little Pita bread but not often. So, I pretty much avoid starchy carbs. I like beans (which are also carbs) and eat a little oatmeal just about every day.

I also eat rice maybe a couple of times a week. But I don't like it very much, so I don't have a problem with eating too much.

[Bigmack]

9. Serious question...

what's a k/cal?

I googled k/cal converted to cal.... 800 kcal is 800,000 calories? I don't think so.

You nutritionists... what am I doing wrong?

[Hippo_Tron]

11. When you hear the phrase 2000 calorie diet

The word "calorie" is actually a common way of saying kilocalorie or k/cal. One each food "calorie" in that 2000 calorie diet is actually 1000 energy calories or 1 kilocalorie.

[eppur_se_muova]

12. 1 Calory (nutritionist's "calory", or "big calory") = 1000 calories

SI uses kilocalories; Americans use Calories (no one else does).

[stopbush]

16. Isn't the problem for most people that they don't stop eating when they feel full?

First, you have to define what feeling full means. Does it mean full - as when your doctor is watching you eat - or full - as defined on Thanksgiving?

Next, you have to deal with people who eat not to live, but live to eat, or people who swallow their anxieties/guilt/grief/etc.

You know the saying: I can't decide if I'm hungry or just bored.

This is America, where you don't need money to buy things and you don't need to be hungry to eat.

There's a lot to get past to arrive at "just eat until you're full."

[KittyWampus]

21. the problem is eating refined carbs doesn't allow your body to feel full.

For many, many people the problem is not that they don't know what full feels like.

It's eating food that overrides normal chemical reactions and stresses out organs.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Since I follow this method I think I can answer it

I avoid getting so hungry that I will eat everything in sight.

As to how full... well I never get thanksgiving full.

I just pay attention and it is actually a skill. Once I feel a certain warmth at the center of my solar plexus I know that I am full. That is the point to stop.

I also chew all my food, carefully and slowly...

Hell today I did not gorge myself, haven't in years. We went on a cruise we did not gain weight.

We eat to live, not live to eat.

As I pointed up thread there are certain foods I avoid, not because they are bad, but because I cannot have them for medical reasons. Not because they are themselves bad.

As to all the rest, yes, the US has that problem and you need to deal at times with why you eat. And to some it IS an addiction.

[Systematic Chaos]

29. I suggest that the problem is many of our standard foods are just too calorie dense.

They are refined, processed and full of fat, which has 9 calories per gram as opposed to the 4 per gram found in protein and carbohydrates.

Assuming that, when you are very hungry, about one pound of food will fill you up and satisfy you for several hours, the choice between one pound of shit from McDonald's, or one pound of a no-added-fat potato and vegetable casserole graced with some of your favorite spices, will make a major difference in your energy level and weight control.

And the nice thing about the starch-based potato dish is that -- contrary to what all the pill pushers want you so desperately to believe -- you can go right back to that casserole dish and scoop out another serving (very likely a smaller one) when you feel hungry again, and it won't go to your waistline or make you sick.

I've dropped 170 lbs. and counting, while eating a starch-centered diet. And I'm doing this while barely existing above the poverty line and with a number of health issues I cannot see doctors for. But with every few pounds more I lose, I feel more and more like the way I did before my weight exploded out of control and I got very sick.

I'm so adamant about it not because I want to come off as yet another holier-than-thou vegan, but because I want to do everything I can to make people aware of this and hopefully help them, like the writings and website of Dr. McDougall have helped me.

[GoCubsGo]

40. It takes me a long, long time before I "feel full"

May I add that there are sometimes physiological issues, as well? Some of us have messed-up brains that don't recognize satiation the way they are supposed to. After eating portions that make a normal person feel "full", I'm still hungry. If I ate until I felt full all the time, I'd weigh 500 pounds. Thanks to proper education from nutritionists, doctors, etc., I know when to cut myself off, even though I'm not "full" afterward. There are a lot of people out there who don't. When I hear people say, "I can stop when I'm full", or "I only eat when I'm hungry", I say, "Must be nice." And, it must be nice to not have to go through life being told that you are some sort of weak, pathetic glutton who lacks the discipline and self-control to stop eating. If those assholes only knew...

[KittyWampus]

20. Freaking diet doesn't even mention vegetables? Leaving out refined carbs & little meat

and walking 3 miles a day got me to lose 25 pounds.

Without counting calories.

[flvegan]

22. Rubbish.

All I have to say about it.

[AndyTiedye]

26. Dance it Off

[L0oniX]

27. /¥\cDonalds owns you.

[BigBearJohn]

30. Thank you very much for posting this. It reminds me of the "Protein Power" diet that I'm on.

Thanks mucho.

[Obamanaut]

31. Eat less, move more. Don't use large dinner plates - use the smaller

salad plates instead, and only fill them one time.

Chew every morsel until it's gone, eat slowly and enjoy it.

"Eat less" includes eating only stuff that is good for the body. Lots of starchy foods, white breads, etc are not on the list of good stuff.

"Move more" includes parking at the far reaches of the parking lots and walking the rest of the way, stairs rather than elevators. Have you noticed that we have gotten so lazy that we take escalators to go downhill?

[eShirl]

32. They "discovered" this like Colombus "discovered" America. n/t

[Systematic Chaos]

37. The dairy industry, big pharma, and fast/processed food manufacturers PAID...

...for this "discovery."

See post #8 above.

It's disgusting. :(

[reggie the dog]

38. work out too

i eat like a pig, lots of cakes, but i work out 4 or 5 days a week too

[quaker bill]

39. This has been exactly right for me

I was diagnosed with type II diabetes roughly 18 months ago, put on low level meds and this diet with increased exercise. I have dropped 50 pounds, gotten off the medication, and have been testing free of the disease for 9 months. When I am bad and wander off the diet, the weight starts coming back on almost immediately, regardless of exercise level. When I notice the gain and "get the religion" about the diet again, the weight starts coming back off.

I have run the experiment. My exercise regimen is daily and consistent. On this diet or off this diet makes all the difference for me. While not mentioned, veggies and salads are a big part of the plan.

[SugarShack]

41. That's how I eat and it does work...and it does stay off.

Then once in a while...I do enjoy pizza, (make your own on thin crust) and chocolate cake!

[FLPanhandle]

42. Bloom County summed it up for me.

Exercise, exercise, exercise.

[lightningandsnow]

44. There is no one-size-fits-all healthy diet.

I know I feel best when I'm eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, moderate amounts of carbs, and no meat except for fish once in a while. I really should be limiting my dairy intake; I'm lactose intolerant, so I can eat dairy if I take lactase pills, but I try not to have tons of dairy.

Also, many people see major ethical issues with eating animal products. That's part of why I don't eat any meat other than fish. Personally, I'm okay with not being perfectly skinny but knowing I made the choices that I feel are best.

I do agree with eating when you're hungry and stopping when you're full, though. I tried a very low-calorie diet once - I was just hungry and miserable all the time.

[socialist_n_TN]

46. I think it's VERY individualistic based............

I've maintained the same weight for 30+ years or so, mostly from exercise. The older I got, the less the exercise worked by itself, so I stopped eating most meats 12 years or so ago and that did the trick along with the exercise. I'll eat seafood 3 or 4 times a week and turkey maybe once or twice a month and don't worry about the rest. Luckily I actually LIKE less refined processed foods and drink water most of the time because I like it.

[defendandprotect]

47. Anyone telling anyone to eat "animals" or "dairy" is pushing exploitation of animal-life .....

and a diet harmful to humans --

In fact, the United Nations has called for everyone to turn to a Vegetarian diet

for the sake of the planet!!

[Pavulon]

48. can you source that. mmm animls should stop tasting so good

I wonder why i evolved those pointy teeth and eyes in the front of my head. To eat and sneak up on lettuce?

fucking release smallpox back to reduce the herd population before I would give up chicken wings. (this is a joke, i do not have access to smallpox)