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As a biologist, I was fascinated with the weight loss and blood chemistry results I could influence with my diet, by reducing specific carbohydrates. Going way, way back to my undergrad days in environmental physiology, where I learned of how business have exploited our ability to digest this food source. I still wonder what role carbs played in “our” ability as a species to migrate great distances during adverse climatic conditions?

Cheers, Lawrence

Dr. Jay’s Reply:

I think that our ability to eat a variety of plant and animal foods gave us a survival advantage. Having said that, it appears that some foods were better than others for the long haul. It seems to me that fats were central to early diets and that, insofar as primitive technologies allowed, early man tried to collect and store fats, rather than carbs, for use during activities that involved travel and migration. The Inuit come to mind. Also the Sami who migrated with the reindeer herds and lived on reindeer meat and fat. The development of pemmican to fuel the fur trade in early North America is another example. Carb loading gives you burst energy but for jobs requiring stamina and endurance, I think fats might be better.

Should have said it has stayed below 6% since 2004 and was higher than 12% at dx. I guess the ‘less than’ and ‘greater than’ signs messed it up.

Congratulations on your perseverance and a job exceedingly well done, in a living community. It gives me great joy, and some hope! I’ve been waiting since the depths of 2004 for a resurgence in carbohydrate sense — the work you have done and have instigated (and the teams you have pulled together) is impressive! I am a fan.

I myself have been a nutritional heretic since 1998, when I could not deny the logic in what I was reading, and have the great cholesteral ratios to prove it…

Thanks again for the very public boost to what I firmly believe to be a healthful lifestyle.

Jude
Victoria, BC

Dr. Jay’s Reply:

Thanks for your supportive comments. It is interesting that there seem to be lots of people like you (and me) who have been following a low-carb diet for many years with good results but nobody has done the research to follow people over the long term. The lack of long term studies is still the primary criticism of low-carb.

I have been doing low carb, though not as strict as Atkins, since 2004, my A1c has stayed 12% at dx.

I highly recommend the website, Blood Sugar 101 (What they don’t tell you about diabetes) at:
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/ and her blog at:
http://diabetesupdate.blogspot.com/

Her articles on LADA and MODY may be helpful to the thin guy on insulin, whose name I don’t recall.
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/18382053.php
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14047009.php

I also recall mentioning that I use 2-3 dozen eggs per week. I often eat them for breakfast or lunch. I usually keep some deviled in the fridge to go with dinner. I also make meatloaf, substituting shredded parmesan for the bread crumbs, that I keep sliced in the freezer to nuke for breakfast when I don’t want eggs. Once in a while I have meat leftover from dinner at breakfast or make a protein shake.

If you get hungry or lack energy while on low carb you probably need more protein or fat, depending.

Dr. Jay’s Reply:

Thanks for your comment. The websites you have included look like they are recommending reducing carbs as the primary way to control blood sugar and minimize the need for insulin. This is consistent with what I have observed and what we found in the study. I like eggs, too. I often say that they must be the perfect food as they have everything you need to make a baby chicken. In terms of protein or fat, you have to make sure you aren’t eating too much protein and should try to increase the fat if you are getting hungry. Olive oil and the animal, dairy and marine fats and oils are the best.

Best

Ken Hoffman
Los Gatos, Ca
http://www.cartoonbank.com/CapContest/CaptionContest.aspx?id=107

Dr. Jay’s Reply:

Hey, thanks for the note and nice to hear from you. Good to see your intellect hasn’t been wasted, either (BTW – I am a cat person). I don’t know if there is a plan to make it available on the web or whether there is a broadcast planned for the US. The producer is talking to American broadcasters. She may also make the DVD available to purchase on her website (see link). I will post information here if anything developments on that front, as well.

I hope people watching make the connection that it isn’t just a traditional diet for First Nations, but for all of us. We evolved on various foods, depending on geography, but they all included meat and its fat, and certainly low to no sugar/starches.

Dr. Jay’s Reply:

The question of a link between a high-carb diet and addictive behaviour is an interesting one. When I quit carbs it felt like I was going through some kind of withdrawal. I didn’t have an alcohol problem but, although I still like a glass of wine with dinner, I have noticed that my tolerance for alcohol is quite low since I started avoiding carbs. Good luck with your fella, there.

I enjoyed watching your documentary the other night and was not at all surprised by the results your participants discovered as a result of their change in diet. As someone who was born with an inherent “primitive” metabolism, my obesity began in early childhood. I began my self-guided nutrition, exercise, and dieting programs in grade school. Along the way I have attempted to try to understand what was seemingly out of whack with my body. I have come to know that our understanding of endocrinology is in it’s infancy. Nevertheless, there are people out there, like yourself who are beginning to be enlightened on a practical scale. I couldn’t help but write you and ask if you were familiar with additional information that is out there about conforming to a low or controlled carb diet. There is often reference to Atkins whenever low carb talk comes up. I have many reservations about that particular program and have not found it helpful personally also. There are others out there that I think are doing amazing work yet don’t seem to be recognized. These individuals seem to be the only ones addressing important concepts like the FREQUENCY with which carbohydrates are eaten, and understanding theTIME FRAMES in which the body operates in regard to insulin release, and REGULATION of insulin production, in response to carbohydrate consumption etc. These are important because they do allow some carbohydrate consumption on a daily basis whilestill keeping one’s hormones in balance. As I have of course experienced very low carb diets myself I applaud your participants staying power as it is a hard thing to do. I just couldn’t help wondering if you were familiar with these concepts ? what you thought of them? I think it would be wonderful to see them implemented on a large scale also. I have used them and have been truly amazed how they have calmed my troubled hormonal waters, while still allowing carbohydrate consumption.

Dr. Jay’s Reply:

Thanks for you comments. I don’t claim to have any expertise with the techniques you describe. I do agree that there is more to this than just carbs, ie that the endocrinology of fat metabolism is complicated and there are probably a variety of approaches that will work better for some people than others. However, from what I’ve seen, I think carb-restriction works for most people if they are compliant. Sticking with it is the key and that is not always easy to do (see previous posts on this).

Dr. Jay’s Reply:

Thanks for your support. I don’t know what the marketing plan is for distribution beyond broadcast. If I learn of anything, I will post a comment here. You might also want to bookmark Mary Bissell’s website, Mystique Films (see link) and watch it for developments.