Lose weight by eating more fat it almost sounds too good to be true. But followers of the ketogenic food plan claim it not only works, it can revolutionise the way you eat.

Although the keto diet as its known has been hailed as being extremely effective for weight loss, its not without its share of controversy.

Those who subscribe to a keto-based food programme eat a diet thats significantly higher in fat this is offset by a major reduction in carbohydrates which is understood to put the body into a metabolic state called ketosis.

In essence, nutritional medical expert Fiona Tuck explained to Today TonightAdelaide, the body burns fat to use as fuel.

Right now the diet being touted as the hot new way to strip unwanted kilos with celebrities including Guy Sebastian crediting their success to following the high-fat food regime.

But is the diet a safe way to sustainable weight loss? Fiona Tuck breaks it down.

An extreme keto diet is made up of 75 per cent healthy fat, 20 per cent protein and just five per cent carbs, which means limited fruit and vegetables, she said.

While she said the food plan would work for quick weight loss, its not one she thinks is beneficial long term.

We have to be very careful not to take the body into an extreme case of acidosis (caused by an overproduction of acid in the blood) because that can actually be life threatening or fatal.

However Ms Tuck does believe the diet can be followed safely, if carb levels are increased to 50 or 100 grams.

She also advocates for following a dietary plan that includes a wide range of fresh foods.

You could not be getting enough of those brightly coloured fruits and vegetables which could put us at risk of nutritional deficiency, she warned.

For some the health benefits of following the keto diet have meant a surprising turn-around in how theyve been able to manage chronic health conditions.

As reported previously byDaily Mail Australia, Queensland woman Kim Fletcher claimed she lost 50 kilos by following the high fat food plan, and was able to put her auto immune condition into remission.

She explained that at the height of her illness, her weight had tipped 120 kilograms but a chance sighting of an article in a local paper on the benefits of the diet sparked her interest.

Fifteen months later, shes shed 50 kilos following a high fat, low carb food plan and said shes never felt better.

Ive gone from a size 22 to a size 10; Ive been able to even start shopping for new clothes, she said.

Its a long way from being bedridden and unable to leave the house.

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Ketogenic diet loved for fast results, but does it work? - Gears Of Biz

By Bunmi Sofola

THE lives of everyone watching their weight were recently thrown into disarray when a leading food expert claimed that far from making us thinner, diet products containing artificial sweeteners may actually be responsible for weight gain.

For many of us, low-fat versions of our favourite foods yoghurt, fizzy drinks, spreads,biscuits, crisps and cheesemake us feel we can safely indulge in a little of what we want without piling on the pounds, by swapping natural sugars (at 40 calories a gram) for sugar substitutes that have just two calories.

But although chemical sweeteners were once thought to be the holy grail for dieters and diabetics, opinion has started to turn against them. So have we been misled for years about the ability of sweeteners to help us reduce our waistlines? Yes,says Professor Susan Swithers, who analysed scientific data from the past five years to produce her findings. Consuming artificial sweeteners not only adds to weight gain but, over time, is generally responsible for an increase in bad health out comes, says the professor, who is based at Purdue University, Indiana, in the US.

Our research followed people of different ages and weights (many werent overweight at the start), and those who drank a lot of diet sodas and other artificially sweetened foods were found to suffer Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke more often, and they tended to be more overweight. But Gavin Partington, of the British Soft Drinks Association, argues that Professor Swithers findings run contrary to decades of scientific research. So, whos right? Heres what experts say you need to know.

What are artificial sweeteners?

Unlike naturally occurring sweeteners such as sucrose (sugar) and fructose (fruit sugar), artificial sweeteners are synthetically manufactured to be non-nutritiveso they contain few or no calories. Five artificial sweeteners are permitted for use in the UK; aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame potassium (known as acesulfame K), cyclamate and sucralose.

Will you pile on the pounds?

Several studies show consuming low-calories artificial sweeteners makes people more likely to pile on weight than reduce it, according to Joanna BIythman,Britains leading investigative food journalist and author of: What To Eat. Our

bodies are designed to process natural foods, so expect calories along with a sweet taste, she says. So rather than helping us consume less sugar overall, by interfering with our satisfaction signals, artificial sweeteners cause us to crave even more

sweet food. A US study showed that while people who drank one to two cans of full-sugar fizzy drinks a day increased their risk of becoming overweight or obese by nearly 33 per cent over seven to eight years, those who replaced them with

diet alternatives had a 65-per cent risk. When you eat normal sugar, your taste buds tell the brain sugar is on its way,

says personal trainer James Duigan, of Bodyism, the celebrity London gym. So when the body receives a low-calorie artificial sweetener instead of sugar and the calories dont reach the stomach, the body is confused! Some sweeteners are

even thought to change hormonal activity, which can cause you to hold on to fat and lead to weight gain. Telling people to drink diet sodas could backfire as a public health message, Professor Swithers says. (The message to limit sugar

intake needs to be expanded to limit intake of all sweeteners, not just natural sugars.)

Do they give you a sweeter tooth?

Saccharin can be between 200 and 700 times sweeter than sugar, says James Duigan. Consuming a lot makes fruit and other naturally sugary foods cease to seem sweet, causing you to develop an even sweeter tooth. A sweet taste also

increases your appetite. A US. study two years ago found non-calorific sweeteners encouraged animals to eat more calorie-rich, sweet-tasting food, making them gain weight.

Are they bad for you in other ways?

A popular nutritional therapist, Dr. Marilyn Glenville is the author of Fat Around The Middle, and a specialist in womens health. She has serious concerns about ourconsumption of artificial sweeteners, and particularly about aspartame, one

of the most widely used chemical sweeteners, which is deemed safe by the European Food Standards Agency. It is 180 times sweeter than sugar and can

lead to pinge eating and cravings. Its also been linked to mood swings and depression because it alters levels of the brain chemical serotonin, says Dr. Glenville. There are also concerns that aspartame might be addictivepeople

who drink three to four cans of diet soft drinks every day, or regularly chew sugar-free gum, may experience withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop.

She always advises patients to avoid food or drinks containing artificial sweeteners and to check the small print on ingredients even with non-diet foods. Independent

studies on lab animals have suggested artificial sweeteners can pose serious health problems, including neurological issues, memory impairment and decreased liver function. Aspartame is one of the most researched ingredients I can think of,

says nutritionist Ian Marber. (And while some schools of thought believe it is carcinogenic, there is no proof of that. However, it taxes the liver and increases blood fat levels, which can lead to heart disease, diabetes and stroke risk, as well as weight gain.) Some research has even linked the consumption of artificially sweetened food and drinks to migraines and premature birth.

Are natural sugars better for you?

Nutritionist Ian Marber says there is a widely held belief that naturally occurring sugars, like

honey or agave syrup, are healthier than white sugar. But that isnt necessarily the case, he says. Natural sugars are not harmless. I see people who wouldnt touch a can of Coke, cover their breakfast in organic agave syrup. Too much of any sweetener can make you gain weight).

Any healthier alternatives?

James Duigan believes xylitol and the plant-based sweetener stevia are the best options. His tip for anyone trying to cut back on the sweet stuff altogether?

Cinnamon. Its a wonder ingredient, he says. (It tastes great, reduces cravings for sweet stuff, and helps regulate your blood sugar levels. I stir it into my coffee

and eat it on yoghurtyou can add it to your breakfast porridge.)

Full-sugar or diet drinks?

JAMES DUIGANS advice is to steer clear of fizzy drinks completely. If you want a healthy drink to quench your thirst, you cant do better than a long, cool glass of water, he says.

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Watch it! Artificial sweeteners can make you fat - Vanguard

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Aug. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- What you eat, or don't eat, affects the mix of germs in your digestive tract, new research indicates.

Thousands of microbial species thrive in the human intestine, helping people digest fiber and make vitamins and other molecules. They also help strengthen the immune system and protect against potentially harmful bacteria, Stanford University School of Medicine researchers say.

The rise in farming some 15,000 years ago dramatically changed the human diet, the researchers noted. And in just the last 100 years, people have become increasingly sedentary and less likely to consume fiber-rich whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Antibiotics, cesarean sections and other lifestyle changes have also helped shift the composition of microbes in the human gut, the study authors added.

To see how "progress" may have affected microbial diversity, the researchers examined seasonal changes in the gut microbes of the Hadza in Tanzania -- one of the world's last remaining traditional hunter-gatherer populations.

The Hadza rely primarily on meat, berries, baobab (a fruit), tubers and honey. The researchers found their gut bacteria different and more diverse than the gut bacteria of those living in the cities of industrialized countries.

"The 100 to 200 Hadza sticking to this routine will possibly lose it in a decade or two, maybe sooner. Some are using cell phones now," senior study author Justin Sonnenburg said in a Stanford news release.

"We wanted to take advantage of this rapidly closing window to explore our vanishing microbiota," said Sonnenburg, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology.

Stool samples from the Hadza showed their mix of gut microbes changes with the seasons and their diet.

The significant modifications made to the human diet over the past 10,000 years could help explain the loss of diversity in the germs residing in the typical modern digestive tract, the study suggests.

"Surviving hunter-gatherer populations are the closest available proxy to a time machine we in the modern industrialized world can climb into to learn about the ways of our remote human ancestors," Sonnenburg said.

"Our own microbiota can change significantly from day to day, or even within hours, in response to what we've been eating," said Sonnenburg. "Fiber's all that's left at the very end of our digestive tract where these microbes live, so they've evolved to be very good at digesting it. The Hadza get 100 or more grams of fiber a day in their food, on average. We average 15 grams per day."

The findings were published Aug. 25 in the journal Science.

WebMD News from HealthDay

SOURCE: Stanford University School of Medicine, news release, Aug. 24, 2017

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Human Gut Germs Dictated by Diet - WebMD

Published 5:51pm, Saturday, August 26, 2017

Letter to the Editor: Plant-based diet, fewer children key to sustainable future

Dear former Vice President Al Gore:

At Friends of Animals, we laud Al Gore for his work on climate change, one of the most pressing issues of our time.

However, after seeing the An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, it would be more appropriately called the Inconvenient Half Truth.

In your efforts to give a voice to the truths of the climate movement that climate is changing due to human activity you focus on a shift to clean energy as the best way to solve the crisis, and thats not the whole truth.

For the climate movement to reach a tipping point, you have to address the fact that animal agriculture emits at least 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions measured in carbon dioxide. In the U.S. the primary greenhouse gases emitted by animal farms have 20 times and 300 times the global warming potential of CO2 startling when you consider that 115 million pigs and 33 million cows are slaughtered in the U.S. every year.

And what about human overpopulation? Humans are the most overpopulated animals on the planet. Period.

The carbon legacy and greenhouse gas impact of a child is almost 20 times more important than some of the environmentally sensitive practices people might employ their entire lives.

Friends of Animals is not anti-children; it is pro family planning and reducing the number of children we have voluntarily.

You address the powerful utility and mining lobbyists fighting against solar development and lament President Trumps decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement.

While those are obstacles to a sustainable future, there is nothing that can stop people from choosing a plant-based diet, having only one child, adopting a child or having no children at all. They are achievable call to actions. The government cant repress what people choose to put on their plates.

A combination of plant-based diets, smaller families and renewable energy is the trifecta of climate change to propel us into a sustainable future. And thats the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Priscilla Feral

President, Friends of Animals

Darien

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Letter to the Editor: Plant-based diet, fewer children key to sustainable future - New Haven Register

When you see the same ideas repeated over and over, they can start to sink in. Without ever fully connecting the dots, I started avoiding hummus and stocking up on coconut oil. My thinking (and eating habits) also got Paleo-washed in other ways. These are some examples of the ways the Paleo trendwhich emphasizes eating what our cavemen ancestors didinfluenced my perspective on nutrition:

These shifts snuck up on me gradually, though, and I rarely considered the drawbacks of these beliefs. If anything, I thought I was simply staying current with the latest and greatest nutritional wisdom. Even as I increased the number of skin-on chicken thighs and raw milk cheeses in my fridge, I was sure that my diet was far healthier than what most Americans were eating: I shunned fast food and highly-processed fare, and I lived by food activist and author Michael Pollans edict that you shouldnt eat anything your great grandmother wouldnt recognize. I ate a lot of farmers market vegetables cooked in plenty of butter. (Here are 7 things you should be buying at the farmers' market but aren't.)

But all the while, unbeknownst to me, my cholesterol was creeping up. Way up.

MORE: 12 Foods That Lower Cholesterol Naturally

I was shocked in May when my doctor brought up cholesterol-lowering medication after a blood test that showed my LDLthe bad cholesterolhad reached 187. She gave me six months to get my number down; if it hit 190, she'd put meon prescription medication.

This was right around the time the American Health Association issued a strongly-worded advisory about saturated fat, based on a review of the best and most up-to-date research. The gist was that saturated fat, in spite of recent media reports to the contrary, is still terrible for heart health.

After several years of headlines claiming that butter was back and that beef is a wholesome whole food, this warning was confusing, to say the least. Arguments discrediting the report cropped up all over the internet. (Buying 100% grass fed beef can be tricky. Here's your ultimate guide to avoiding the fake stuff.)

But with my own heart health on the line, I decided to fully embrace conventional wisdom and follow the AHA's advice. It seemed like the safest bet. I bid bye-bye to my stash of virgin coconut oil and grass-fed ghee and started following the tried, true, and unsexy advice about how to reduce cholesterol and improve heart health.

MORE: Surprise! These 6 Foods Are Great For Your Heart

Back to basicsOvernight, my diet went from vaguely Paleo-ish to mostly vegan. Though the AHA doesn't specifically recommend a vegan diet, I wanted to go as far as possible to cut saturated fat and cholesterol (translation: meat and dairy) from my diet.

For the next two months, I ate as many cholesterol-lowering foods as possible, including the very thingslike oats, whole grains, beans, fruit, and soythat have been sworn off by much of the low-carb crowd. (Here are 6 slow cooker oatmeal recipes that will make your mornings a breeze.)

I gave up eggs for breakfast, favoring almond butter or avocado on sprouted wheat toast, oatmeal, or tofu scrambles. I quit cheese, milk, cream, and yogurt cold turkey. And I have eaten virtually no meatonly the occasional piece of wild salmon. (That's less than the twice-a-week the AHA suggests we eat fish, but as much of the good stuff as my budget allows.)

Here's how to know if the fish you eat is sustainable:

This approach to eating might sound dreary to some, but I actually love this food. I grew up vegetarian, so Ive never had hang-ups about needing meat to be satisfied with a meal. Ive reunited with some of my all-time favorite stapleshummus, tofu, pasta. (Make crispy pan fried tofu with these easy directions.) Before my cholesterol diagnosis, in the sway of the low-carb cult, my relationship with these ingredients had grown complicated. Now I felt free to love them again.

MORE: The Beginners Guide To Going Vegetarian Without Getting Sick

Within a few weeks, I was feeling better. I had more energy, for one thing. During stricter stints on a Paleo-style plan, I would wonder why my arms seemed so heavy during yoga classes or why I didnt want to walk anywhere. Without enough carbs, I felt weak and drained. It was only when toast came back into my life that I made the connection.

The most surprising part of the whole experience for me was that I lost weight while eating a substantial amount of pasta, bread, and beans. I had come to believe that this was impossible; that carbs are the enemy of weight management. Within a week, my stomach wasnt bloated for the first time in ages and my skin looked bright and clear. I thought the infernal Whole30 cleanse had a monopoly on these kinds of results?

Im not a patient person, so I wasn't willing to wait six months for a new round of blood work to confirm what I was already feeling. I scheduled new tests after only 8 weeks, not expecting too much. I just thought a little movement in the right direction would be the encouragement I needed to stick with my new plan. (If you're over 50, make sure you schedule these 5 blood tests.)

When the results came in and I saw I had dropped my LDL by a shocking 35 points, I was as proud of anything as Id ever been in my life. After being told repeatedly by my doctor and others that the high cholesterol was likely genetic, I felt like I had some agency over my own health again.

MORE:Exactly What One Woman Ate To Get Off Her Cholesterol Meds

My HDLthats the good cholesterolwas up 11 points as well. At 152, my LDL remains in the borderline high range. Id like to get it under 129 so I can move into the near optimal territory. And at this point, I have the information and tools I need to do just that.

I know there are many paths to well being and many ways to put together a healthy diet. Certainly, weve all heard testimonials from the Paleo camp about positive health outcomes, and I have no reason to doubt these stories. But for me, it's clear that a plant-based diet is the foundation for good health.

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I Ditched The Paleo Diet And Lowered My Cholesterol 35 Points - Prevention.com