Alzheimers and “Severe Brain Degeneration” linked to excessive Carbohydrate Intake?

Today I read an interesting article on LiveScience.com titled “Obese People Have ‘Severe Brain Degeneration“. I couldn’t find the link to the actual UCLA study text (sorry – please let me know if you find it) it cites, but you’re likely to see many articles parroting the same basic info that the LiveScience.com one did. In fact, as of this writing, Google News reports that over 158 publications have published articles on this study so far today – with a helluva lot more coming I’m sure.

What really DOES surprise me is that no-one has really tried to draw any conclusions from this study…

How to cook perfect fried eggs – EVERY single time

Eggs – they are possibly one of the most perfect low-carb foods that there is. They’re a great source of protein, healthy fats, and low in carbohydrates – and they also happen to be delicious! imagine that! Now, I don’t know about you, but years ago (before my low-carb journey started) Fried Eggs were right up there with Pancakes in the category of “Things Ryan will always ‘eff up while cooking”, and if I didn’t destroy it – it never really tasted quite right (READ: it tasted like ass).

So, in honor of my early to mid 20s stupidity, today I’m going to spread my knowledge so none of you ever have to eat horribly cooked fried eggs again…

Wednesday Question: What is your favorite low-carb website / blog / forum?

Its Wednesday once again, and I’ve got a really quick and easy one for you. There is a lot of stuff on the ole’ interwebs… some good, some bad, & some just plain stupid..
What is YOUR favorite low-carb / health blog (or forum, website, or other online resource)?

Don’t be afraid to come up some obscure ones, I’m always looking for more good sites out there to add to my “daily reading list”….

Another Worthless Study and Pointless Anti-Fat Article from the New York Times

Ah, yes, here we go again. Bad science reigns at The New York times ‘Well Blog’ this week by Tara Parker-Pope (technically, it was from last week, but I just discovered it on Slashdot). Its sad that the NYT was also the original publication where Gary Taubes published his brilliant ‘What if its all been a Big Fat Lie’ article (which is the exact opposite of what this article is trying to say).

I guess that’s some fair and unbiased journalism – we give credibility to all kinds of information: right, wrong or otherwise!

Anyways… into the rat maze we go again…

Taking Time to Lose – Weight Loss and Patience

I think one of the biggest stumbling blocks that we all face is the concept of time versus results. While a low-carb diet is probably one of the fastest and easiest ways to lose weight, eventually you will find yourself in the “steady loss” territory. I define “steady loss”, as, well… just that. A time when you are still LOSING weight – but no where near the speed at which you were during the first month or so. I’m talking a pound or two a week.

What can you do when you hit a your “steady loss” territory?

Wednesday Question: What turned you on to low-carb living & where did you first go for info?

Admittedly, that is a really long question – ok, you got me, its actually 2 similar questions merged together, but (like any annoying news reporter) I needed to get a follow up question in there.

Let’s break it down using my own personal answers as an example…

Basically, where did you first hear of low-carb (or zero-carb, Primal Blueprint, Atkins, carnivore, whatever your preferred “flavor” of) dieting?

Top Misconceptions about Low-Carb Diets: Atkin’s Death

Ok, let me re-phrase that – the fact that Dr. Atkins is dead is NOT the misconception. So, I hope you didn’t open this up hoping for an Atkins conspiracy theory about him retiring to Lake Tahoe with Elvis and Tupac. I’m sorry to report that he has passed. Thankfully, he has a whole team and corporation carrying on his message (and selling lots of “Atkins” branded food products to boot).

The misconception that I’m “aiming at” here is this one: “Atkins died of a heart attack, induced by following his own diet!”

Yes, yes, it would have been a nutritionist’s wet dream for a headline, however it is quite untrue.

Superior Athletic Performance – NO Carbs Required

The whole “high-carb diet is needed for proper training & sports performance” myth is one of the biggest misconceptions out there about. I hear it so much, that I usually don’t even bother to discuss it with people anymore. They’ve been so brainwashed by the “experts”, that they can’t even fathom that it might not be the only way (or even the “right” way).

Lets face it, we live in a world of “sugar-fueled sports”. So it shouldn’t be any surprise that most so-called “Sports drinks” are LOADED with the stuff.

I’m sure that everyone from marathon runners to bodybuilders would not hesitate to tell you that sugar and carbs are a “necessary part” of their training and recovery routine. The funny thing is, they’re dead wrong.

Basics 1: Easy, Quick, and Safe Weight Loss

That’s right “Weight loss that’s Easy, Safe and QUICK! Call now and we’ll double your order! Woo!” Sounds pretty lame and cheesy, right? Yeah, I know, Tell me about it. We’ve all seen COUNTLESS commercials, billboards, magazine ads, pills, cremes, granola bars, cereals, etc, that all claim some sort of amazing weight loss and health results.

Well, Enough of all that. What they don’t want you to know is that your body has everything it needs to change – as long as you give it the right fuel. Imagine that! Gimmicky “Products” be damned…

Top Misconceptions about Low-Carb Diets: Kidneys

This is the first part of a post series on Low-Carb misconceptions (in no particular order) that I hear ALL the time. Think of it as a bunch of posts to take care of the “low hanging fruit” on the low-carb detractor list. Besides, its always great when faced with a ‘hater’ to have quick and accurate info to shoot them down with.

This misinformation comes from the fact that people with kidney disease are often dissuaded to go on low-carb diets simply because it requires more work FROM the kidneys and liver (and very “normal” work at that too – part of the regular protein metabolism process). I don’t know how that got turned around into BLAMING low-carb for kidney disease…