Let us talk about calories.
A calorie is a unit of energy in food. Each type of food (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) has its own unit of energy.
• Protein contains 4 calories per gram
• Carbohydrates contain 4 calories per gram
• Fat contains 9 calories per gram
You can see that fat contains more than double the calories per weight. The assumption is that consuming fat, which contains more calories, will cause more weight gain. But what is rarely factored into this equation is the hormone piece of the puzzle.
Insulin is the most powerful “fat-making hormone.” It will convert food into fat easily.
It is triggered by:
• Sugar Carbohydrates (including grain carbs, fruit juice, and starchy carbs (potato, rice, and corn).
• Excess protein.
To understand this more, we need to look at the purpose of these foods.
1. Protein: Protein is needed to repair and replace many body structures (muscles, tendons, collagen, hair, nails, hormones, etc.). We continuously need protein to restore the body tissue. So our body needs a certain amount of protein, and this is why only excess protein is converted to fat. 3-4 ounces of protein is best.
Growth Hormone (GH) is the most powerful “fat-burning hormone.” It will trigger the fat-burning process. It is triggered by protein (small amounts).
2. Fat: Fat is needed to repair and replace many body structures (the outer walls of all cells, mini-structures inside our cells, our entire nervous system, our entire skin, our brain, and our hormones). Fats satisfy your hunger. The Ketogenic diet focuses primarily on fats to use as fuel. (In the video Dr. Berg discusses the Atkins Diet.)
As far as hormones are considered, fats are neutral, which means they do not trigger by any of the fat-storing hormones.
3. Carbs: Sugar carbs, including starches, and sweet fruits, refined grains like breads, pasta, cereal, crackers, biscuits, waffles, pancakes, muffins, juice, alcohol and the hidden sugars in yogurt. These will really lead to weight gain.
Vegetable carbs. Most non-sweet vegetables do not turn into sugars easily, which does not contribute to weight gain. They give you the nutrients to help proteins and fat to repair the cells.
When you age your hormones change, your metabolism changes. You have to be very strict about how many carbs you allow into your body. You can not do what you did when you were 18 when your metabolism and hormones were at their peak. The hormones decrease as you approach 50. This Ketogenic diet is also important for a slow metabolism.
Hormones are affected by food, by aging and they are influenced by metabolism.
The next time someone says everything in moderation, you can say, well not if you are getting older and not if you have a slow metabolism that does not work.
Regarding portion control – even a small amount of refined carbs and sugar can really block your ability to burn fat for a long period of time. So eating in moderation does not apply if you have problems with hormones.
This Post has been condensed from Dr. Berg’s video, Calorie Myth – Why Low Calories Does Not Equal Weight Loss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1Z9ObBmRxE
To learn more about how much protein to have in your diet, please read How Much Protein Is Too Much Protein In The Ketogenic Diet? https://2healthyhabits.wordpress.com/2021/03/12/how-much-protein-is-too-much-protein-in-the-ketogenic-diet/
Dr. Berg is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan, and is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media. He has taught students nutrition as an adjunct professor at Howard University.
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