Unravelling the dieting myth.

With the unravelling of the Human Genome, scientists can now determine the uniqueness of your personal genes even down to the types of foods you should be eating. One day soon, it may be possible via a machine to read your DNA and determine the type of metabolism you have and prescribe the appropriate diet. In the meantime, we have to work it out for ourselves and are bombarded with books, magazines, adverts and TV programmes trying to convince us that their way is right!

Weight loss is science but it need not be too complicated; if input equals output weight remains the same but, if output is higher than input, and we exercise more, weight should be lost.   Most people have more input than output, hence their input is stored as fat for a rainy day. The only groups who require a higher input than output are children, pregnant women and athletes.   Most people still eat the same quantity of food that they did as children forgetting to take into account as their metabolism slows down, so does their calorie requirement.

Increase in body weight can be influenced by more than too much food and not enough exercise.   Research is now proving that its not only how much you eat, but when you eat and what you eat.  

Factors that can affect your weight gain include:

• Food allergies/intolerances . These need to be identified before starting a diet as they can cause an increase in weight as the body retains more fat and fluid to surround their toxic effects.  

• A deficiency in certain vitamins and minerals .   These help the enzymes and hormones function properly and deficiencies can prevent the body systems from working. The correct vitamins and minerals need to be provided in optimum amounts to create a healthy digestion.

• Insulin resistance . This is where the cells are saying no to insulin and not using the sugar, a precursor to type II diabetes. This needs assessing and the correct diet for this condition recommended.

• A toxic liver . This will slow down weight loss as the liver needs to detoxify the fat from the fat cells as they shrink. A healthy liver can help you loose weight.

• Dehydration . This will cause more sodium to be stored and thus more fluid will be retained.   Water is fundamental to health and disease prevention. Drink more!

• Eating late in the evening. Studies show that eating after 6 pm contributes to food being stored as fat.

• Yo-Yo dieting . This will slow down metabolism and you'll end up gaining more than you lose; this type of dieting is not sensible . Eat regularly and don't miss meals - particularly breakfast, which is required to kick-start the metabolism.   We need to put fuel into the fire and keep it constant especially after starving all night.

• Starchy carbohydrates . We have become carbohydrate junkies and eating too much - not burned off by exercise - will be stored as fat. Also, snacking on carbohydrates can cause too many shots of insulin, which will increase fat storage and reduce fat breakdown.   The more insulin we create in our bodies, the higher our risk of insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes in the long term.

• Alcohol . This is a high carbohydrate, easily absorbed, which affects insulin immediately.   If dieting is to be successful alcohol really does need to be avoided!

• Caffeine/nicotine . These stimulate adrenalin, which in turn stimulate insulin and have the same effect as a sugar fix.   Tea, coffee, coke, chocolate and cigarettes are all stimulants and need to be avoided.

• Low fibre diets . A diet of refined carbohydrates - white bread and rice - increase insulin and sugar absorption.   Think fibre and complex carbohydrates with a low Glycaemic index like porridge and whole grains.

• Saturated fats. Avoid high saturated fats Keep it lean!

• Hormones. Perimenopause the body naturally tries to gain weight to help boost oestrogen levels via the fat cells, if this is happening weight loss may be difficult. Get hormone levels checked and a recommended diet to help reduce this factor.

Dieting is not straight forward and that's why so many people fail. Once you get the correct way of eating for your personal metabolic requirements it has to be a lifestyle change.

If you are unable to lose weight check the list above or see a qualified nutritionist to advise you on where you may be going wrong.

Amanda Whitewood BSc (HONS) NT, Dip DT, RGN, MBANT

Absolute Nutrition