Why a super low calorie or crash diet isn't good for you

Many of the most popular diets at the moment make use of the process of 'Ketosis' or as it known in my textbooks 'beta oxidation'. You have probably heard of it, and lets not be mistaken ketosis will burn fat and you can potentially lose a lot of weight.

Beta oxidation is the process the body uses when its running out of sugar, a kind of rescue system for energy. The process converts your body's fat stores into 'ketones', a potent fuel source for the body and brain. These fat stores are incredibly precious to the body and the body would much rather lower your basal metabolic rate (BMR) and shut off 'non-essential' bodily functions before resorting to this ketosis phase. Your skin, hair, brain, hormones and energy levels are all effected, it can thwart your ability to heal wounds and even give you diarrhea.  

Restricting your calorie intake to lower than your BMR will leave you feeling tired, hungry and unable to concentrate. (Lets not get into the effects of lack of fibre these diets will entail either). 

don't do it. 

So what should you do?... well firstly keep your calorie intake above your BMR

See next nutrition post....

Nutrition 101: Dr Gregers annual nutrition summaries, How Not To Die

Dr Greger is an internationally recognized expert in the field of nutrition. He created the website and youtube channel Nutritionfacts.org and he wrote the New York Times bestseller 'How not to die'. Every year he gives a presentation summarizing the latest in nutrition research and current understanding of the effects of nutrition on medical diseases.
His talks are absolutely brilliant and eye-opening,  The common theme circles around the benefits of a plant-based diet and how it can reverse and be used in the prevention of many diseases. (heart disease and diabetes just to name a couple.)
I think physicians and future doctors everywhere should watch his videos.
Here are the videos for the annual talks below:

2012:

2013:

2014:

2015:

The perfect diet

"The perfect diet does not exist because you wont be happy on the perfect diet"

Said my flatmate this evening after a long discussion on diet.

I was trying to tell him about the benefits of a plant based diet, Having watched all Dr Gregers talks I posted previously. The problem is, having been a regular meat eater all my life and probably iced donuts number one fan in the world (so tasty), suddenly converting to near veganism is downright miserable. Nothing against my culinary skills, I'm becoming quite the stirfry and cauliflower rice expert actually. I just really miss bacon sandwiches and poached egg breakfasts. 

The benefits of a plant based diet are incredibly clear, almost to the point of a miracle cure. Reversing diabetes and reducing athersclerotic plaques to name a couple. Patients all over the western world would benefit hugely from this incredibly non-invasive and 'simple' change (its really not that simple though is it).

How can i expect my future patients to adopt the diet if i continue to munch on burgers and kebabs. Doctors are meant to role models, much like the smoking doctors of the 60's and 70's, how can you expect patients to stop smoking if you are puffing on one in front of them or posing for cigarette ads (see picture below). 

So anyway to the point, I'm all torn up about plant based diets and their medical applications. Huge numbers of patients could benefit, millions of pounds could be saved and the environment would benefit a huge amount as well. Shouldnt every patient have a plant based diet subscribed? 

Doctors own reluctance to try them themselves and lack of exposure to the evidence may be some of the reasons. 

How to halve an apple with your bare hands...

Haven't got a knife handy; use your hands!

(Not sure about the 'impressing girls part', I will have to give it a try. Next time you see me out, I will be carrying a bag Granny Smiths ready to make a move.)