I have tried a variety of diets in my life and every time I have learned something new. Let's see... over the years I've followed recommendations by Covert Bailey (Fit or Fat), Dean Ornish (Real Food), The Zone, The Mediterranean Diet, Paleo (although that was VERY short lived), and now Dr. Gundry's Plant Paradox and Dr. Cole's Ketotarian. All of them were effective for me to some extent and it is interesting how much some of them have in common and, at the same time, how much they diverge from one another.
Anyway, the Internet Revolution changed the way information is disseminated to the masses regarding things like dietary recommendations. Just like the aforementioned books, there is useful information to be gained from internet sources. Now, there is a lot of crap out there, too. You really have to be careful to note the actual source of the information and if any of it is backed up with legitimate research.
As we began following the PP/Keto way, I have been digging around on the 'net quite a bit looking for explanations of some of the things we've experienced. One of the sources from which I have found a surprising amount of information is the Bulletproof Blog -- yes, that is the "Bulletproof Coffee" people. There are a lot of well-done Keto-oriented materials in the "Guides" section of the site, but you have to give them your email address. However, I have come across some really interesting tidbits just reading through the blog itself.
For example, I noticed a few days into the dietary change that my temper and general level of agitation had increased. That is just about flatly opposite of everything I have read regarding the benefits of PP/Keto. Any mention of "hangry" is with respect to how those feelings will go away once on these plans. However, I came across this golden nugget of information:
Or how about this little footnote regarding a somewhat moderated approach to Keto of interest to women:
Early on when we switched over, I noticed I was having a lot of trouble with my digestion. I felt as if I was not digesting anything. It was like my food was staying in my stomach and was not breaking down resulting in a lot of excess belching and feeling generally like I was suffering from mild GERD. Again, the only thing discussed in the books that I had was how my digestion was supposed to improve. Hmm...
Again, leave the answer to someone on the Bulletproof Blog:
Finally, and as you can tell by the very first recipe we have on this blog, we have a green smoothie every morning. It turns out that we should probably make this a much more occasional breakfast. You see, spinach and other "healthy" greens like kale in their raw forms contain oxalates (oxalic acid) which help plants defend themselves from predators. Interestingly, this is very similar to the thesis of the Plant Paradox, only the focus there is the lectin content of plants (which serves the exact same purpose for the plant). Oxalic acid happens to bind with calcium and, if enough is ingested, can cause a variety of mild to severe issues. There are some ways around this, and I will close this post with a link to an article, again on the Bulletproof Blog, that discusses the issue in depth as well as ways to mitigate problems.
Anyway, the Internet Revolution changed the way information is disseminated to the masses regarding things like dietary recommendations. Just like the aforementioned books, there is useful information to be gained from internet sources. Now, there is a lot of crap out there, too. You really have to be careful to note the actual source of the information and if any of it is backed up with legitimate research.
As we began following the PP/Keto way, I have been digging around on the 'net quite a bit looking for explanations of some of the things we've experienced. One of the sources from which I have found a surprising amount of information is the Bulletproof Blog -- yes, that is the "Bulletproof Coffee" people. There are a lot of well-done Keto-oriented materials in the "Guides" section of the site, but you have to give them your email address. However, I have come across some really interesting tidbits just reading through the blog itself.
For example, I noticed a few days into the dietary change that my temper and general level of agitation had increased. That is just about flatly opposite of everything I have read regarding the benefits of PP/Keto. Any mention of "hangry" is with respect to how those feelings will go away once on these plans. However, I came across this golden nugget of information:
Increased cortisol levels: The T3 hormonal change is closely connected to a third hormonal change – higher cortisol levels. A ketogenic diet tells your body that you’re in starvation mode. In an effort to increase energy levels on a carb-restricted diet, your body triggers the release of stress hormones, i.e. cortisol. If you experience irritability and insomnia, that’s a clue that your cortisol levels have jumped. Not to worry: as you adjust to utilizing fat and ketones as a new fuel source, your cortisol levels should fall to their old levels. --Julie Hand, Bulletproof BlogWhy the hell had nobody every mentioned that before? Well, now it makes sense. And she is right; my temper has been gradually returning to normal.
Or how about this little footnote regarding a somewhat moderated approach to Keto of interest to women:
Women often do best with this option – lower-carb can sometimes mess with your hormones. 100-150g [of net carbs every day] may work well for you if you’re working out a ton, too – some athletes find they burn out with fewer than 100g of carbs on workout days (although it’s certainly possible to rock your workouts while in ketosis). --Staff, Bulletproof BlogSeems kind of useful, no? If something was potentially going to screw with my hormones, I would at least want to be warned about it. Kudos to Bulletproof for putting that out there.
Early on when we switched over, I noticed I was having a lot of trouble with my digestion. I felt as if I was not digesting anything. It was like my food was staying in my stomach and was not breaking down resulting in a lot of excess belching and feeling generally like I was suffering from mild GERD. Again, the only thing discussed in the books that I had was how my digestion was supposed to improve. Hmm...
Again, leave the answer to someone on the Bulletproof Blog:
Did you just switch over to a higher-fat diet? If so, your body can take a couple weeks to start producing enough lipase, the enzyme you need to break down fat. Take lipase and betaine HCl to support your digestion for a week or two, until your body adjusts. --Spencer Brooks, Bulletproof BlogWell, Mr. Brooks, thank you. Interestingly, because I have had low stomach acid issues for the last few decades, I happened to have both of those on hand. Since I was expecting my digestive issues to go away as a result of eating this way, I hadn't even considered that an option. Of course, it resolved the issue.
Finally, and as you can tell by the very first recipe we have on this blog, we have a green smoothie every morning. It turns out that we should probably make this a much more occasional breakfast. You see, spinach and other "healthy" greens like kale in their raw forms contain oxalates (oxalic acid) which help plants defend themselves from predators. Interestingly, this is very similar to the thesis of the Plant Paradox, only the focus there is the lectin content of plants (which serves the exact same purpose for the plant). Oxalic acid happens to bind with calcium and, if enough is ingested, can cause a variety of mild to severe issues. There are some ways around this, and I will close this post with a link to an article, again on the Bulletproof Blog, that discusses the issue in depth as well as ways to mitigate problems.
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