Re: Food Pyramids- A Waste of Time?

W.M.McKee wrote:

Hello friends,

Food pyramids and dietary recommendations are a frequent topic of
discussion here on asd. I have been thinking about the value "food
pyramids" as tools, and pondering whether they are really very helpful
at all... For me, they do not mean very much, beyond suggesting the
obvious point that a healthy diet must be developed with a sense of
balance in mind. I have concluded that the exact point of optimal
balance varies from individual to individual, and for us diabetics, it
will change over time, with the progression of our disease.

The ADA official website has a significant amount of information that
can be beneficial to the discerning and aware reader seeking dietary
information. For instance, here is a link to a research report that
discusses the growing body of knowledge in support of a low carb diet
for diabetics... (quoted from a post I made on August 2, 2006)

[----Another study focused upon the effects of a low carb- high
protein
diet, starting with the premise, based upon previous research that,
"Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is important to maintaining good
health. A healthy diet is especially important for people with
diabetes. Past research suggests that a diet that includes 20% of
calories from carbohydrates, 30% of calories from protein, and 50%
from fat can improve the body's ability to handle glucose and
insulin."

The findings were simply "The low-carbohydrate diet appears to have no
harmful effects on the body. Blood tests show that participants did
not lose lean body mass (like muscle) while losing weight." ]

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-research/summaries/Nuttall-high-protein-diet.jsp

Note the glaring difference and conflict between older information
found elsewhere suggesting a greater optimal level of carb
consumption and the information in the current research section of the
ADA website... Again, it takes judgment and discernment to know what
is best for each individual.....

In short, some here have found their balance with relatively more
carbs, and as Kurt has noted in his post of early this morning, the
Joslin Center appears to recommend a diet of up to 40% in carbs, with
at least 20-35 grams of fiber, while limiting the things like
pasta,white bread, white potatoes and sugary cereals, all of which
would be high glycemic index value foods. Others have found their
healthy balance point more in line with the research article I have
cited above, again bearing in mind that not all carbs are the same in
the way they are digested and metabolized. Hi GI carbs, such as rice,
potatoes, pasta, cakes, pies, and anything sweetened with sugars,
break down into glucose much more quickly than the more complex carbs,
such as beans, greens, olives, avocadoes, artichokes, mushrooms,
peppers, etc., with the result that the high GI carbs tend to spike
the BG of many typical T2 diabetics.

Personally, as a T2 diabetic, I have benefitted from the lower carb
approach suggested by the research article cited above. Nevertheless,
I would urge all T2s to keep an eye on their meters through a process
of regular testing as advocated by Jennifer in the advice to newbies
on the asd website:
http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm

Finally, I would note that it seems to me that T1 diabetics, while
being more subject to extreme lows and extreme highs due to a host of
factors, do not have to worry so much about the effects of a few
grams, more or less, of carbs.... So I would urge anyone taking
dietary advice from a fellow diabetic to inquire if the advisor is a
T1, or a T2.... Also, some assessment of the intelligence level and
mental acumen of the person giving advice is frequently in order. Not
everyone here is playing with a full deck, I submit, and some are one
brick shy of a full load. Ha, etc.

Good luck,

Will, T2
-----------------------------

Hello Will,

The food pyramid may well be a waste of time for someone like yourself
who has hit upon a food plan which works, for you, day in and day out.


You may be interested, though, that in Gretchen Becker's book, The
First Year / Type 2 Diabetes, she mentions four different workable
approaches to diet. The first of these is presented as
"High-Carbohydrate-and-fibre diet follows the Food Pyramid." She
writes, "There are several reasons behind this diet. First, a high fat
intake may increase insulin resistance and a high carbohydrate intake
may reduce IR. So if IR is your main problem, this diet may help."

Whether this is validated by current and/or future research into
insulin resistance is (my opinion) in question and remains to be seen -
and please note - I personally do not follow such a plan. However, if
what she writes is true, and if food pyramid methodology is indeed a
viable means for control FOR SOME, then the implication is that
anyone's assertions about their own means for control as being
superior, more intelligent, or the only way to do it, are not quite as
unassailable as they might seem.

Additionally, no doubt you will recall a fairly recent discussion
during which it emerged that those here who consider themselves "low
carbers" displayed a remarkably wide variance in their tolerance of
carbohydrates (thus, presumably, also reflecting differences in their
carbs/fat/protein ratios accordingly). Please note, also, that the
carb recommendations of 5 - 11 portions per day currently on offer with
food pyramids would equate to (approx) 75g - 165g carbohydrates, which
may well represent a huge reduction in carb intake for obese and/or
newly diagnosed diabetics and may offer significant improvement,
relatively speaking, of glycaemic control.

Respectfully,

Amy

"Lascia dir le genti"....

(Dante)

.

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