I read and followed the Warrior Diet for a couple of months. I really don't have anything good or bad to say about it at all. I switched back to my regular eating patterns just out of habit I guess and fell away from it. The author, Ori trains SWAT, the military and was part of the Russian Special Ops. He knows his stuff. This article is a great bit about about carbs. The title really caught my attention. Low carb diets are not the way to go. In a recent interview with Tom Venuto, author of B/urn the F/at, Feed the Muscle, he was very specific about the importance of carb cycling. I've done that with great success and it's what I'm doing now. Carbs are good. We need carbs.
The Tom Venuto interview I did is at www.fitwisewell.com if you're
interested.
Rob
How to Shrivel Your Muscles, Stunt Your Growth, Get
Sick
Faster, Accelerate Aging, Deplete Your Sex Drive and
Sap
Your Energy - By Not Eating Enough Carbs
What's the Truth Behind the Hype?
The Top Ten Diet Fallacies -
Separating the Facts from Fashion and Fantasy
By Ori Hofmekler, author of The Warrior Diet
The Top Ten Diet Fallacies -
Separating the Facts from Fashion and Fantasy
By Ori Hofmekler, author of The Warrior Diet
Fashionable Diet Fallacy #5. CARBS are your
enemy
We are currently scapegoating Carbs as the culprit for the
ongoing obesity epidemic - and for the diseases we associate with
obesity.
ongoing obesity epidemic - and for the diseases we associate with
obesity.
Fashionable diet gurus have us believing that carbs are not
essential nutrients and therefore should be severely restricted
or even spared.
essential nutrients and therefore should be severely restricted
or even spared.
Low carb diet advocates argue that the hormone insulin
promotes
fat gain and should therefore be tightly controlled by
chronically restricting carbs. Given the current popularity of
low carb diets, it seems as if carbs are indeed the enemy. But
are they?
fat gain and should therefore be tightly controlled by
chronically restricting carbs. Given the current popularity of
low carb diets, it seems as if carbs are indeed the enemy. But
are they?
Nothing could be further from the truth…
Let's examine the assumption that carbs are not essential
nutrients. This assumption literally fails to recognize the two
most critical biological functions of carbs (besides being a
fuel):
nutrients. This assumption literally fails to recognize the two
most critical biological functions of carbs (besides being a
fuel):
1) The activation of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP)
2) The finalization of growth hormone (GH) and insulin like
growth factor (IGF1) actions, as well as the enhancement of androgens actions.
2) The finalization of growth hormone (GH) and insulin like
growth factor (IGF1) actions, as well as the enhancement of androgens actions.
The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is a critical process that
is
responsible for the synthesis of DNA, RNA and all energy
molecules including ATP and NADPH, needed for all metabolic
functions in particular, recuperation (healing of tissues)
immunity and growth.
responsible for the synthesis of DNA, RNA and all energy
molecules including ATP and NADPH, needed for all metabolic
functions in particular, recuperation (healing of tissues)
immunity and growth.
In addition, PPP is a precursor for another metabolic pathway
-
the uronic acid pathway - responsible for steroid hormones
transport, production of proteoglycans (essential for connective
tissue and cellular signaling) synthesis of spingolipids (lipids
that are necessary for neural protection) and over all
detoxification. The pentose phosphate pathway, which occurs
mostly in the liver, is derived from glucose (i.e. carb
metabolism).
the uronic acid pathway - responsible for steroid hormones
transport, production of proteoglycans (essential for connective
tissue and cellular signaling) synthesis of spingolipids (lipids
that are necessary for neural protection) and over all
detoxification. The pentose phosphate pathway, which occurs
mostly in the liver, is derived from glucose (i.e. carb
metabolism).
Now, here is the problem...
In times of a desperate need for energy, such as during
prolonged
starvation or due to chronic severe restriction of carbs, the PPP
would shut down its main function and instead switch into sheer
energy production. It is likely that energy demand is a top
priority for the body and therefore, in times of a desperate need
for energy, the body would suppress certain important metabolic
function (such as the PPP) to accelerate immediate energy
production. Note that 30% of glucose oxidation in the liver can
occur via the PPP.
starvation or due to chronic severe restriction of carbs, the PPP
would shut down its main function and instead switch into sheer
energy production. It is likely that energy demand is a top
priority for the body and therefore, in times of a desperate need
for energy, the body would suppress certain important metabolic
function (such as the PPP) to accelerate immediate energy
production. Note that 30% of glucose oxidation in the liver can
occur via the PPP.
One may argue that glucose can be synthesized from fat or
protein. Yes, but not enough!
protein. Yes, but not enough!
Since the synthesis of glucose from fat or protein
(gluconeogensis) is actually a very limited metabolic process
that occurs mostly in the liver, any severe restriction of carbs,
in particular for active individuals, may adversely suppress the
PPP critical functions; due to insufficient glucose supply during
an increased energy demand.
(gluconeogensis) is actually a very limited metabolic process
that occurs mostly in the liver, any severe restriction of carbs,
in particular for active individuals, may adversely suppress the
PPP critical functions; due to insufficient glucose supply during
an increased energy demand.
The PPP actions also decrease with age, a fact that may
contribute to the decline in steroid hormone production and the
typical muscle waste associated with aging.
contribute to the decline in steroid hormone production and the
typical muscle waste associated with aging.
In other words, dietary carbs are essential for the full
activation of the PPP and its critical functions.
activation of the PPP and its critical functions.
Severe chronic carb restriction (below 70g-100g for an
active
individual) may lead to an adverse suppression of PPP, with an
overall decline in sex hormones, compromised immunity, impaired
growth and accelerated aging.
individual) may lead to an adverse suppression of PPP, with an
overall decline in sex hormones, compromised immunity, impaired
growth and accelerated aging.
As noted, besides playing a vital role in the activation of
the
PPP actions, dietary carbs also help finalize the actions of the
most anabolic agents including growth hormone, IGF1 and the sex
steroid hormones.
PPP actions, dietary carbs also help finalize the actions of the
most anabolic agents including growth hormone, IGF1 and the sex
steroid hormones.
Studies at Stanford University in CA and Helsinki University
in
Finland revealed that insulin is a potent promoter of IGF1 and
the sex hormones action. Researchers found that insulin helps
finalize the anabolic actions of GH, IGHF1 and androgens by down
regulating certain proteins that suppress both IGF1 and androgens
action, in particular in the muscle tissue, (i.e. IGHFBP-1 and
SHBP, respectively).
Finland revealed that insulin is a potent promoter of IGF1 and
the sex hormones action. Researchers found that insulin helps
finalize the anabolic actions of GH, IGHF1 and androgens by down
regulating certain proteins that suppress both IGF1 and androgens
action, in particular in the muscle tissue, (i.e. IGHFBP-1 and
SHBP, respectively).
A recent study at the University of Texas, indeed, proved
that
post exercise carb supplementation together with essential amino
acids profoundly stimulates net muscle protein synthesis.
post exercise carb supplementation together with essential amino
acids profoundly stimulates net muscle protein synthesis.
Interestingly, simple carbs had a more profound effect on
enhancing anabolic actions after exercise than complex carbs.
Nonetheless, as a general rule, our body is better adapted to
utilize complex carbs than simple carbs. Again, it is when you
eat that makes what you eat matter.
enhancing anabolic actions after exercise than complex carbs.
Nonetheless, as a general rule, our body is better adapted to
utilize complex carbs than simple carbs. Again, it is when you
eat that makes what you eat matter.
In conclusion:
Dietary carbs biological functions go far beyond just sheer
energy production. Chronic carb restrictions may lead in the long
run to total metabolic decline with severe consequences for
survival (i.e. capacity to regenerate tissues and procreate.)
energy production. Chronic carb restrictions may lead in the long
run to total metabolic decline with severe consequences for
survival (i.e. capacity to regenerate tissues and procreate.)
Ignorance, not Carbs, is our true enemy.