Among the possible benefits of a very low-fat diet are that it is a mono-energy source diet, weight loss, appetite control reduced risk of diabetes and coronary heart disease. When our body receives mostly carbohydrates (sugars) it follows a simplified energy extraction process which is rapid and efficient and satisfies very well our metabolic energy needs. This helps in reducing and controlling hunger and appetite. Additionally, almost all fruits and vegetables are sources of carbohydrate energy allowing access to a large and tasty variety of foods. This gives such a diet sustainability as well as affordability…
Category: Energy
Energy
Benefits of a Very Low Carb ( Ketogenic Diet)…
Among the possible benefits of a very low carb ( ketogenic diet) are that it is a mono-energy source diet, weight loss, appetite control and visceral adiposity reduction. When our body receives very little carbohydrates (sugars) it starts to use lipids (fats) for energy. This process is called ketosis and it is a complex process that modifies several metabolic processes which have physiological effects on us. It is probable that this process exists to allow organisms to adjust to seasons and periods when carbohydrate-based nutriments are scarce such as in the winter or during drought. Because lipids (fats) are calorie dense foods having 9 calories instead of 4 calories per gram for carbohydrates they have less volume in our stomach and being non-water soluble they do not inflate as much. This helps reduce overall stomach size and ease appetite control…
LOW FAT DIET
“A low-fat diet is one that restricts fat, and often saturated fat and cholesterol as well. Low-fat diets are intended to reduce the occurrence of conditions such as heart disease and obesity. For weight loss, they perform similarly to a low-carbohydrate diet, since macronutrient composition does not determine weight loss success.[1] Fat provides nine calories per gram while carbohydrates and protein each provide four calories per gram. The Institute of Medicine recommends limiting fat intake to 35% of total calories to control saturated fat intake.[2]”* *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-fat_diet
KETOGENIC DIET
“The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate dietary therapy that in conventional medicine is used mainly to treat hard-to-control (refractory) epilepsy in children. The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. Normally carbohydrates in food are converted into glucose, which is then transported around the body and is important in fueling brain function. However, if only a little carbohydrate remains in the diet, the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies, the latter passing into the brain and replacing glucose as an energy source.”* *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketogenic_diet
ENERGY PROFILE OF FOODS
Foods have a Nutritional Profile. Meaning what nutriments the food provides. But foods also have an Energy Profile which describes the type of energy it provides in terms of calories. Our bodies can extract energy from different sources such as carbohydrates ( starches, sugars ), proteins, and fats. For practical purposes carbohydrtaes are the simplest and fastest energy source that our bodies extract and will be converted first. Then depending on certain factors our bodies will convert fats or proteins to energy. We are going to examine the Energy Profile of a number of natural and man-made foods to have a better understanding of how our bodies will extract energy from foods and how the type of food might affect our digestive and extractive processes…