Safe And Permanent Weight Loss Cannot Be Achieved In The Fed State
|
Weight Loss Axiom Number Three
Insulin and Glucagon
These are the two major hormones that control energy metabolism in the human. They are much like yin andyang, hot and cold or happy and sad. In order to really enjoy the good days, we all have bad days. Extremes of eithertoo hot or too cold and soon everyone complains about the weather. Too much yin or too much yang and according to traditional Chinese Medicine, you are sick. Too much insulinand you are sick, hypertension, overweight, cancer, heart disease and stroke. Too much glucagon and you are toothin, emaciated and weak.
As we have mentioned previously, when man evolved there wouldbe times of famine, between times of feast. The biochemistry of this evolution allowed man to survive the periods of famineby using insulin to "store" energy. Some typical "fuel" reserves in a 70 kilogram man:
Organ ***************** Available energy (kcal)
************ glucose/glycogen ***** fat ***** protein
blood *********** 60 ************** 45 ********* 0
liver *********** 400 ************* 450 ******** 400
brain *********** 8 *************** 0 ********** 0
muscle ********** 1200 ************ 450 ******** 24000
adipose(fat) **** 80 ************** 135,000 **** 40
from Stryer Biochemistry 4th Edition page 771
Look at the chart and find the biggest number. The largestamount of available energy in an average 70 kilogramhuman is overwhelmingly stored in -fat. For the purpose ofthis discussion let's think of each of these numbers aboveas fuel tanks, for our energy needs. When we fill up ourcars with gasoline (our old Mercedes B100 biodiesel) we haveto have a fuel hose to get the fuel into our gas tank. Inorder to use that fuel in our gas tanks, we have to have afuel line leading from the gas tank to the motor in ourcar. Without these fuel lines, we could not utilize ourengine / car.
Enzymatic Induction
Human biochemistry is composed of many different enzyme systems.One such enzyme is phosphofructokinase that catalyzes the reaction of fructose 6-phosphate to fructose 1,6-bisphosphate.As with any biochemical reaction that is dependant on anenzyme system, the more it is used, the more developed itbecomes. If there is no need for an enzyme, then the levelsin the body will be very low. If there is much demand for an enzyme, then the body will synthesize more of it to meetthe demands.
Filling your tank with gas
The fuel line for the human body to fill its energy storagetanks, especially the largest energy storage tank fat, isinsulin. Insulin is the hose that energy (gasoline, biodiesel)flows from the storage tank (breakdown products of your recently ingested meals) into your gas tank for future use.Without this fuel line insulin, you will eventually go intoa coma (hyperosmolar) that if not treated, can result in lessthan optimal outcomes.
Using the gas in your tank
When we drive our cars, we use the energy stored in the fueltanks. In order for us to use that fuel, it must get fromthe storage tank to the motor. In the human, that fuel lineis glucagon. Remember, insulin stores energy, glucagonutilizes that stored energy. Just as insulin stimulates energy storage and the necessary enzyme systems, glucagonstimulates energy utilization and the necessary enzyme systems required to accomplish this.
Life in the Fed State
The problem today is that we have evolved from creatures thatdid not have consistent daily feedings to our "modern" fastfood insanity and the notion that now we need three "square"meals a day plus snacks. What happens to our energy metabolismwhen we start out putting insulin stimulating foods in ourstomach three times a day? When we eat, our biochemistryreacts by secreting insulin, so that we can store all thisenergy for future needs -most of it going into fat. Longbefore we have used any of this energy, we are having anothermeal -lunch. More gas in our tanks, -none used yet. Then comes dinner -more gas into our tank. Snacks -more gas in.We spend our whole day and most of the night in a "fed" orinsulin state.
Huge fuel tanks full of fat -everywhere
Because we never allow our body's insulin level to drop enoughso that the glucagon level will rise, we never get into a "glucagon" state. Our whole car is now filled mostly withgas. There is hardly any room for a driver in the front seat.Huge fuel tanks full of fat are everywhere we look. Yourcar is loaded with gas, but you can't drive around the blockbecause you haven't developed the enzymes of energy utilizationto establish a fuel line between all these gas tanks fullof fat and our motor, which is now also encased in fat.While insulin is the fuel line to fill our energy stores, glucagon is the fuel line to use this stored energy. Withoutproper stimulation of the glucagon system, our tanks justkeep filling up with fat. We never develop the necessaryenzymes to use all this energy. You don't have to travel toofar to see people totally encased in their stored energy.
Livin' la vida de glucagon
To break this cycle, we need to stop eating for at least a portion of the day, or at least every other day. I don't knowhow many of you have ever fasted for 24 hours or more, but the feeling is incredible. You get a lot more work done,you don't get lethargic after eating and you start to actuallyfeel thin. I don't recommend fasting more than 24 hoursand I am not actually recommending a 24 hour fast. What Iam recommending is that during some portion of every day orat least every other day, you refrain from eating anythingso that you can get into a glucagon state and begin to inducethe necessary enzymes to use all the energy the human bodycan store.
Summary
Like it or not, three meals a day plus snacks is just not healthy.
Copyright © John Mericle M.D. 2005 All Rights Reserved
To sign up for Dr. Mericle's Newsletter or visit the MericleDiet please click on the link below.
DrMericle.com is devoted to achieving optimal health and peak performance through diet and lifestyle change. Dr. Mericle brings together a unique blend of formal training in organic chemistry and biochemistry, medical education, 29 marathons, 3 Hawaii Ironman competitions and a lot of practical real life experience.
|
|
|
A Warning Of The Complications Of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach to make it smaller and reattaching the small intestine to bypass a portion responsible for the majority of calorie and nutrient absorption.The procedure is only available to the morbidly obese (more than 100 pounds overweight) who have been obese for more than 5 years and shown a serious effort to lose their ex...(related: Weight Loss)
The Secret To Reaching Your Ideal Weight
There are many books and internet articles written about weight control. However, if you already know the stuff you should be doing, you might want to skip past the next section of this article. For those of you who are starting at the beginning, here's some useful information:Energy is measured in units called calories or kilojoules. If you want to lose weight, then the total calories that your body absorbs through eating and drinking must be less than the calories that your body expends throughout the day. And of course, if you wish to gain weight, the opposite is true.You can also help your weight contro...(related: Weight Loss)
Maintaining Your Weight Loss Momentum Away On Vacation
Going away for your holidays will also bring with it a good supply of temptation on the food front, unless you are on a survival course, climbing a mountain or camping in the wilderness on limited rations. The chances are you will be at a hotel, and if you have chosen a good hotel, it is likely there will be good food, often as much as you want.So, how do you deal with your weight loss aims when you are on holiday away from home? Here are just a few ideas:Sample The Fresh Local FoodIf you are having ...(related: Weight Loss)
1-2-3, Weight Loss & Maintenance Has Become So Easy
Millions of people spend billions of dollars, hoping to achieve the same thing, effective weight management. For years, many people have struggled to maintai...(related: Weight Loss)
Why Does The Weight Come Back?
Before many Australians recently, a devastating story unfolded on a popular current affairs program.We watched with compassion as the fattest man in Australia told of his most recent, serious attempt to lose weight. Approximately 12 months earlier and weighing close to 300 kilos, he under went surgery and had his stomach stapled.I doubt there would have been one person watching not moved by this man's depression and plight. Despite undergoing the surgery, today he could barely get through each day, both physical...(related: Weight Loss)
Trying To Lose Weight? Dont!
Are you trying to lose weight?If you are, STOP!Funny thing to say coming from someone that wants to help you lose all the weight you want, right?Actually, there's a good reason.You see, you can't try to lose weight. Don't believe me?OK, let's use an example. Look around where you are sitting right now and find a small object. Perhaps a pen, envelope or book. Got it?Now, try to pick it up. Go ahead.Is it in your hand? If it is, well, then you didn't try, you actually picked it up. If it's not in your hand, you didn't.Simple, right?There's no middle ground in doing. You can't "try" to do anything, it's a fallacy. You either do it, or don't do it.The same appli...(related: Weight Loss)
Do Low Carbohydrate Diets Lead To Weight Loss Success?
So your neighbor, office mate, best friend, whoever just lost 10 pounds in only two weeks following the latest in high protein low carbohydrate diets. And now you're thinking you should give it a go -- have even started the search for high protein low carbohydrate recipes?True, high protein low carb diets seem to be leading many people to weight loss success. Trouble is, they seemed to do it 30 years ago, too. They were the rage in the early 70s, and look where many of us are today: growing fatter with each decade.The bottom line: Diets -- low carb diets or not -- simply don't work for th...(related: Weight Loss)
Coconut Oil Diets
Have you heard about coconut oil diets yet? People are adding coconut oil to their diets and are getting incredible resul...(related: Weight Loss)
The Best Weight Loss Advice Youll Ever Get
"Who are you to give me weight loss advice?" I hear you ask. "You have no dietary or medical qualifications, but you're going to give me the best advice I'm ever likely to hear?"Let me explain...I'm not here to offer you radical diet plans. You've probably heard of them all by now anyway: from low-carb to low-fat to low-calorie, there's probably even low-oxygen by now (That damn ...(related: Weight Loss)
Weight Loss Tips, Tricks, And Tactics - Part 1
I personal lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some tactics I used to lose the weight.Eat every three hours. This will keep your blood sugar stable. Try to eat real food at least three times a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. In between your food meals take a good meal replacement shake o...(related: Weight Loss)
site-map - Copyright © 2007 | Contact Webmaster - shukra1111 [AT] yahoo.com | All Rights Reserved | Weight Loss