Fwd: Cutting Calories Via Any Diet Regulates Hormones

[Guest guest]

> Cutting Calories Via Any Diet Regulates Hormones

> Thu Jan 23, 6:22 PM ET

>

> By Alison McCook

>

> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women with a hormonal

> problem that can lead to

> irregular periods and infertility experience an

> improvement in their

> symptoms after a few months of dieting, regardless

> of whether they opt for a

> low or high protein diet, researchers reported

> Thursday.

>

>

>

> These findings suggest that for these women, what

> you eat is less important

> than how much you eat.

>

>

> " The diet type is much less important than the

> actual restriction in

> calories, " noted Dr. Sarah Berga of the University

> of Pittsburgh in

> Pennsylvania. Berga did not contribute to the

> current study, but she

> discussed the findings Thursday during a meeting of

> the American Medical

> Association here.

>

>

> For years, some experts have recommended that people

> seeking to slim down

> opt for a low-fat diet, which is usually high in

> carbohydrates, since foods

> that are low in fat tend to be rich in

> carbohydrates.

>

>

> However, accumulating evidence suggests that

> patients may also be able to

> shed pounds on a high protein diet, such as the

> Atkins Diet, which first

> gained popularity during the 1970s. Limited evidence

> suggests it may help

> people lose weight, but many experts remain

> concerned about the long-term

> health effects of the diet, since protein-rich foods

> often contains high

> levels of fat and cholesterol.

>

>

> All of the women in the current study were

> overweight and had polycystic

> ovary syndrome (PCOS). This disorder, which can

> affect between 5% and 10% of

> menstruating women, is characterized by fertility

> problems, obesity,

> increased facial and body hair and a high risk of

> diabetes.

>

>

> Researchers suspect that polycystic ovary syndrome

> is caused by an excess of

> male hormones in the body and by insulin resistance,

> a condition in which

> the body becomes less sensitive to insulin, and, in

> response, produces an

> excess of the key blood-sugar regulating hormone.

>

>

> Just as the cause of the syndrome eludes experts, so

> do effective means of

> treating it. Doctors can treat the condition with

> drugs or surgery, but

> patients often prefer to manage their disorder

> through weight loss, a

> healthy diet and exercise.

>

>

> In the current study, a group of Australian

> researchers led by L.J. Moran at

> the University of Adelaide and CSIRO Health Sciences

> and Nutrition assigned

> 45 overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome

> to either high or low

> protein diets.

>

>

> The researchers report their findings in the

> February issue of the Journal

> of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

>

>

> The high protein and low carbohydrate diet consisted

> of 30% protein and 40%

> carbohydrates, while the low-fat, high carbohydrate

> diet included only 15%

> protein. The women were expected to eat a

> calorie-restricted

> diet--approximately 1,400 calories per day--for 12

> weeks, then to spend

> another four weeks consuming enough calories to

> maintain, but not change,

> their body weight.

>

>

> Study participants were also asked to exercise at

> least three times a week.

>

>

> Only 14 women assigned to each diet were able to

> complete the entire

> program. Comparing the two groups, the authors

> discovered that both diets

> resulted in roughly the same amount of weight loss,

> and the same decrease in

> body fat and insulin levels.

>

>

> Almost half of all participants improved the

> regularity of their periods,

> the authors note, and three out of 20 women trying

> to conceive did so during

> the study period.

>

>

> None of the women reported any side effects from

> following the two diets.

>

>

> " There were really very few differences " between the

> results from the two

> diets, Berga said. " It's nice to know that a little

> bit of dietary

> restriction can help, " she added.

>

>

> SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &

> Metabolism 2003;88:812-819.

>

>

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

> Cutting Calories Via Any Diet Regulates Hormones

> Thu Jan 23, 6:22 PM ET

>

> By Alison McCook

>

> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women with a hormonal

> problem that can lead to

> irregular periods and infertility experience an

> improvement in their

> symptoms after a few months of dieting, regardless

> of whether they opt for a

> low or high protein diet, researchers reported

> Thursday.

>

>

>

> These findings suggest that for these women, what

> you eat is less important

> than how much you eat.

>

>

> " The diet type is much less important than the

> actual restriction in

> calories, " noted Dr. Sarah Berga of the University

> of Pittsburgh in

> Pennsylvania. Berga did not contribute to the

> current study, but she

> discussed the findings Thursday during a meeting of

> the American Medical

> Association here.

>

>

> For years, some experts have recommended that people

> seeking to slim down

> opt for a low-fat diet, which is usually high in

> carbohydrates, since foods

> that are low in fat tend to be rich in

> carbohydrates.

>

>

> However, accumulating evidence suggests that

> patients may also be able to

> shed pounds on a high protein diet, such as the

> Atkins Diet, which first

> gained popularity during the 1970s. Limited evidence

> suggests it may help

> people lose weight, but many experts remain

> concerned about the long-term

> health effects of the diet, since protein-rich foods

> often contains high

> levels of fat and cholesterol.

>

>

> All of the women in the current study were

> overweight and had polycystic

> ovary syndrome (PCOS). This disorder, which can

> affect between 5% and 10% of

> menstruating women, is characterized by fertility

> problems, obesity,

> increased facial and body hair and a high risk of

> diabetes.

>

>

> Researchers suspect that polycystic ovary syndrome

> is caused by an excess of

> male hormones in the body and by insulin resistance,

> a condition in which

> the body becomes less sensitive to insulin, and, in

> response, produces an

> excess of the key blood-sugar regulating hormone.

>

>

> Just as the cause of the syndrome eludes experts, so

> do effective means of

> treating it. Doctors can treat the condition with

> drugs or surgery, but

> patients often prefer to manage their disorder

> through weight loss, a

> healthy diet and exercise.

>

>

> In the current study, a group of Australian

> researchers led by L.J. Moran at

> the University of Adelaide and CSIRO Health Sciences

> and Nutrition assigned

> 45 overweight women with polycystic ovary syndrome

> to either high or low

> protein diets.

>

>

> The researchers report their findings in the

> February issue of the Journal

> of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

>

>

> The high protein and low carbohydrate diet consisted

> of 30% protein and 40%

> carbohydrates, while the low-fat, high carbohydrate

> diet included only 15%

> protein. The women were expected to eat a

> calorie-restricted

> diet--approximately 1,400 calories per day--for 12

> weeks, then to spend

> another four weeks consuming enough calories to

> maintain, but not change,

> their body weight.

>

>

> Study participants were also asked to exercise at

> least three times a week.

>

>

> Only 14 women assigned to each diet were able to

> complete the entire

> program. Comparing the two groups, the authors

> discovered that both diets

> resulted in roughly the same amount of weight loss,

> and the same decrease in

> body fat and insulin levels.

>

>

> Almost half of all participants improved the

> regularity of their periods,

> the authors note, and three out of 20 women trying

> to conceive did so during

> the study period.

>

>

> None of the women reported any side effects from

> following the two diets.

>

>

> " There were really very few differences " between the

> results from the two

> diets, Berga said. " It's nice to know that a little

> bit of dietary

> restriction can help, " she added.

>

>

> SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &

> Metabolism 2003;88:812-819.

>

>

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Allison, thanks for posting this article. It's a great example of medical

mindset that only allows for meat-centered diets. See more comments

below...

 

 

> Cutting Calories Via Any Diet Regulates Hormones

> Thu Jan 23, 6:22 PM ET

>

> By Alison McCook

>

> NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women with a hormonal

> problem that can lead to

> irregular periods and infertility experience an

-----clipped-----

 

>>...since foods that are

low in fat tend to be

rich in carbohydrates.<<

 

Quite misleading statement since " many foods " low in fat are also not " high

in carbohydrates. " This low-fat profile fits the bulk of the fruits and

vegetables, and simply inspecting a foods table will confirm its inaccuracy.

 

 

>>...protein-rich foods often

contains high levels of fat

and cholesterol.<<

 

Clearly, no veggie sources of protein were included for consideration.

 

>>...polycystic ovary syndrome

is caused by an excess of male

hormones in the body and by

insulin resistance,...<<

 

Both of these conditions are lessened by diet and non RX hormone

supplements.

 

>>...Just as the cause of the

syndrome eludes experts, so

do effective means of

treating it...<<

 

While somewhat accurate, there are many clues that seem to be overlooked. I

suggested a non invasive protocol last week dealing with many of the same

women's issues.

 

>>...The high protein and low

carbohydrate diet consisted of

30% protein and 40% carbohydrates...<<

 

Using my math, I get 30% fat. Interesting diet!!

 

>>...while the low-fat, high

carbohydrate diet included

only 15% protein...<<

 

Huh? If 30% before, I'll assume 15% as low fat in this one. That's a

whopping 70% carbos.

 

>>...The women were expected

to eat a calorie-restricted

diet--approximately 1,400

calories per day--for

12 weeks...<<

 

This is a good number for a CR Diet for women. This alone ought to have

produced some nice results.

 

>>...authors discovered that

both diets resulted in roughly

the same amount of weight loss,

and the same decrease in body

fat and insulin levels.<<

 

Duh?? A good literature search before beginning this study would have

refined their diet compositions so that meaningful results would have fallen

in their laps.

 

More wasted research money unless there was a hidden agenda behind this

study, which I'm not suggesting.

 

>>...half...improved the regularity of their periods...and three out of 20

women trying to conceive did so...<<

 

Again, this is the expected results on a CR Diet. Too bad they didn't know

about it before hand. If anyone on this list faces these conditions, I can

direct you to many resources to manage them.

 

>>...very few differences between

the results... " It's nice to know

that a little bit of dietary

restriction can help, " ...<<

 

I'll pass this along to my CR list. They'll get a chuckle from it.

 

It seems that the only scientifically reproducible method of " life

extension " is " calorie restriction. " The research is plentiful and well

focused on humans.

 

So...the real message here is " any diet that's low in calories " (i.e., a CR

Diet) will regulate your hormones. Is anyone surprised??

 

Dave

[Guest guest]

> >>...protein-rich foods often

>contains high levels of fat

>and cholesterol.<<

>

>Daveo: Clearly, no veggie sources of protein were included for consideration.

 

I've gotten so good at mental filtering I didn't even notice this :-)

 

> >>...authors discovered that

>both diets resulted in roughly

>the same amount of weight loss,

>and the same decrease in body

>fat and insulin levels.<<

>

>Duh?? A good literature search before beginning this study would have

>refined their diet compositions so that meaningful results would have fallen

>in their laps.

>

>More wasted research money unless there was a hidden agenda behind this

>study, which I'm not suggesting.

 

would you elaborate on this a little? I think you are implying

something I'm not getting at all.

 

> >>...very few differences between

>the results... " It's nice to know

>that a little bit of dietary

>restriction can help, " ...<<

>

>I'll pass this along to my CR list. They'll get a chuckle from it.

 

calorie restriction list? Is this different from a regular diet list?

(I really like calling it *slimming* :-))

 

>It seems that the only scientifically reproducible method of " life

>extension " is " calorie restriction. " The research is plentiful and well

>focused on humans.

>

>So...the real message here is " any diet that's low in calories " (i.e., a CR

>Diet) will regulate your hormones. Is anyone surprised??

 

well, yes. I would not have thought it would make much difference to

estrogen levels or any other hormone except insulin.

 

I'd be happy to hear more on this subject and also on " calorie restriction "

 

Susan

--

---------

Please visit my website:

http://members.cox.net/sbcogan

 

Also, check out an excerpt of " Jubilee, " which will be published in

the next few months:

http://members.cox.net/sbcogan/writing.html

[Guest guest]

Susan,

 

>>...authors discovered that

>both diets resulted in roughly

>the same amount of weight loss,

>and the same decrease in body

>fat and insulin levels.<<

>

>Duh?? A good literature search before beginning this study would have

>refined their diet compositions so that meaningful results would have

>fallen in their laps.

>

>More wasted research money unless there was a hidden agenda behind this

>study, which I'm not suggesting.

 

>>would you elaborate on this a little? I think you are implying

something I'm not getting at all.<<

 

 

No problem...the nature of this study seems taylor made for supporting a

calorie restriction diet, and there are abundant studies already in the

literature on this topic.

 

If these researchers were in fact clueless about their subject matter, then

even a cursory search would have indicated the results of their study before

they conducted it.

 

 

>>...very few differences between

>the results... " It's nice to know

>that a little bit of dietary

>restriction can help, " ...<<

>

>I'll pass this along to my CR list. They'll get a chuckle from it.

 

>>calorie restriction list? Is this different from a regular diet list? (I

really like calling it *slimming* :-))<<

 

 

It's another list at LISTS.CALORIERESTRICTION.ORG They have been doing

calorie restriction for a long time. Has nothing to do with this list.

 

 

>It seems that the only scientifically reproducible method of " life

>extension " is " calorie restriction. " The research is plentiful and

>well focused on humans.

>

>So...the real message here is " any diet that's low in calories " (i.e.,

>a CR Diet) will regulate your hormones. Is anyone surprised??

 

>>well, yes. I would not have thought it would make much difference to

estrogen levels or any other hormone except insulin.<<

 

 

Our food are the raw materials for our hormones, both man and women. Given

the same intakes, men and women just handle the raw materials differently.

I'll bet the body dynamics of diet and estrogen will surprise most women.

 

 

>>I'd be happy to hear more on this subject and also on " calorie

restriction " <<

 

 

Check out the list mentioned above for CR,

 

and click here highly focused info on diet and hormones.

http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-133.shtml

 

It's VERY long but worth the effort to sort thru it.

 

 

Dave