Effects of a carbohydrate-restricted diet on emerging plasma markers for cardiovascular disease
Background:
Increasing evidence supports carbohydrate restricted diets (CRD) for weight loss and improvement in traditional markers for cardiovascular disease (CVD); less is known regarding emerging CVD risk factors. We previously reported that a weight loss intervention based on a CRD (% carbohydrate:fat:protein = 13:60:27) led to a mean weight loss of 7.5 kg and a 20% reduction of abdominal fat in 29 overweight men. This group showed reduction in plasma LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides and elevations in HDL-cholesterol as well as reductions in large and medium VLDL particles and increases in LDL particle size. In this study we report on the effect of this intervention with and without fiber supplementation on plasma homocysteine, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha).
Methods:
Twenty nine overweight men [body mass index (BMI) 25-35 kg/m2] aged 20-69 years consumed an ad libitum CRD (% carbohydrate:fat:protein = 13:60:27) including a standard multivitamin every other day for 12 wk. Subjects were matched by age and BMI and randomly assigned to consume 3 g/d of either a soluble fiber supplement (n = 14) or placebo (n =15).
Results:
There were no group or interaction (fiber x time) main effects, but significant time effects were observed for several variables. Energy intake was spontaneously reduced (-30.5%). This was accompanied by an increase in protein intake (96.2 29.8g/d to 107.3 29.7 g/d) and methionine intake (2.25 0.7g/d, to 2.71 0.78 g/d; P (more…)

Diet Preparation IV: Creating a Better Sleep Environment
Diet Preparation Part IVCreating a Better Sleep EnvironmentThis is Part IV of this series on Diet Preparation. In this article I am going to give you a few ideas on how to improve your sleep environment. We lose countless hours of good and effective sleep when… (more…)

What If Low-Carb Meant NO Carbs And All Meat?
In the three decade that the Atkins diet has been out there for all the world to see, can you believe that there are some people who STILL believe it is a diet that consists of ZERO carbs and… (more…)

How Do You Help Someone With A Weight Problem?
As a man who used to weigh over 400 pounds, I'd like to offer some advice about how people can help those friends and loved ones who are overweight or obese. There's a right way to “help” and a wrong… (more…)

Thyroid status influence on adiponectin, acylation stimulating protein (ASP) and complement C3 in hyperthyroid and hypothyroid subjects
Background:
Thyroid abnormalities (hyperthyroid and hypothyroid) are accompanied by changes in intermediary metabolism including alterations in body weight, insulin resistance and lipid profile. The aims of this study were to examine plasma ASP, its precursor C3 and adiponectin in hyperthyroid and hypothyroid subjects as compared to controls.
Methods:
A total of 99 subjects were recruited from endocrinology/out-patient clinics: 46 hyperthyroid subjects, 23 hypothyroid subjects and 30 control subjects. Subjects were evaluated for FT4, FT3, TSH, glucose, insulin, complete lipid profile and the adipokines: adiponectin, acylation stimulating protein (ASP) and complement C3.
Results:
Hyperthyroidism was associated with a 95% increase in adiponectin (p = 0.0002), a 47% decrease in C3 (p (more…)

Eat Healthy and Lose Weight
If you accept the analogy that our bodies are like an engine, then it follows that this engine will perform better if it receives the type of fuel that it was designed to run on. In years gone by, before artificially processed and manufactured foods, our bodies normally received the correct nutritional balance every day. (more…)