It is becoming widely accepted that lifestyle changes have the biggest impact on improving our health and well-being, encouraging independent longevity and reducing the risk of chronic diseases that may cause us to suffer sickness in our declining years. Recent studies have shown that the relationship between insulin resistance, Type-2 Diabetes, obesity and consuming carbohydrates now indicates that cutting out carbs in the diet can reverse these conditions. It has long been known that a very low carbohydrate diet can effectively treat Epilepsy and it has been used widely with great success.
Emerging research is now also indicating that a very low carbohydrate diet may also be useful adjunctive therapy and help prevent some types of Cancer, Dementia, Heart Disease, non-alcoholic atty liver disease, Alzheimer’s and many other debilitating chronic diseases. These are exciting times. The research in favour of LCHF (low carb healthy fats) diets is resoundingly convincing and encourages further studies to support this.
You could ask yourself “So why doesn’t everyone eat a LCHF diet ?” The answer is that not everyone has a problem with carbs; certainly young people don’t and it may take 20 years to develop a problem with carbohydrates causing Insulin Resistance, by which time when it shows up in a HbA1c blood test, you are well on the way to Type 2 Diabetes. Carbohydrates in the diet are not essential, we can survive really well with none consumed. Protein and Fat are essential in the diet and our Liver can make the teaspoon of sugar required on a daily basis via Gluconeogenesis. Young people can grow and flourish on an LCHF diet; they don’t need to consume carbs and most would fare much better without the sugary drinks, lollies, biscuits, crackers, cakes that are common in the Western diet. Not to mention the poor-quality refined vegetable and seed oils that are also in these products which increase oxidative stress in the body and cause tissue damage and inflammation. LCHF includes HEALTHY FATS , such as copious amounts of Olive oil, avocado oils and other cold-pressed nut oils.