low-fat vs. low-carb
Re: the debate over low-carb vs. low-fat/high-complex-carb for people
w/diabetes, there are tons of strong adherents in each camp, most holding
dogmatically to their position. Anyone wanting to argue for a particular
camp and easily cite tons of studies and science to support their position
(both in general and for diabetics specifically). My impression is that most
people who believe in low-fat in general also support/rationalize it for
diabetics, and those who believe in low-fat/high-complex-carb in general
also support/rationalize it for diabetics, and of course vegetarians/vegans
happen to arrive at the conclusion that a vegetarian/vegan diet’s best for
all diabetics, and conversely for anti-vegetarians/anti-vegans (big
coincidence).
I’m convinced that tons of people do well (and some do poorly) on each, and
tons do well on a balanced diet.
I met 1 and heard of a few other Type I (juvenile) diabetics who got off
insulin by maintaining a (vegan) raw foods diet; raw foodist Gabriel
Cousens, M.D. reportedly "got type 1s and 2s off insulin";
www.treeoflife.nu.
But that doesn’t mean such a diet’s good for the majority of diabetics.
I’m also convinced that Atkins/ketogenic and other
low-carb/high-saturated-fat diets often (but don’t always) get excellent
results (I think WestonaPrice.org cites 1 such study).
My guess is that it depends on the individual. One factor is one’s metabolic
type:
www.bloodph.com/news2002nov.html (diabetes article)
see also www.MetabolicTyping.com
If one doesn’t feel filled up by eating only low-fat foods (more common
among parasympathetic-dominants), then a low-fat diet probably isn’t
optimal. If one quickly gains weight from eating (animal food/)fat (more
common among sympathetic-dominants), then Atkins probably isn’t optimal.
And there are many other individual factors (e.g., blood type) beyond my
scope of knowledge.
Also, there are factors that tend to be (or should be, in my opinion) common
to both diets:
Consume whole, natural (raw) foods, low-starch vegetables (e.g., leafy
greens, salads), low-sugar fruit? (e.g., berries), sprouts, coconut & olive
oil?, and non-farm-raised fish
Avoid refined carbs, very-high-carb/high-glycemic food, omega 6,
HYDROGENATED OILS (MARGARINE); processed, refined, & other junk foods.