X-Message-Number: 28443 Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:01:01 -0700 (PDT) From: Doug Skrecky <> Subject: benefits of a low glycemic index diet [ Although not directly relevant to cryonics, this post may be of some interest to members of this list. The most important factor in cryonics for a subject may be when it is needed. Eventually fully reversible whole body cryopreservation (FRWBC - buzz word version) will become available, and cryonics will cease to be a highly speculative gamble, and instead become just another medically approved "operation". The difference with other operations, would be that FRWBC would appeal mostly to terminal patients, opposed to taking the standard 6 foot plunge into the nearest cemetary. The FRWBC date bears a close resemblance to Aubrey De Grey's escape velocity era where advances in life extension technologies exceed 1 year per year, so that lifespans then become open-ended, with no "set-in-stone" termination date. Although skeptics might argue this FRWBC date is slated for the distant future, others might argue with some technical justification, that this date may occur within current lifespans. In particular the FRWBC date may occur before De Grey's escape velocity era, and so this is of no small interest to life extensionists burdened with a lot of grey hair, or with birthdates set in the distant (>50 yrs) past.] [The take home message below is that a low-glycemic index diet is a lot healthier than a red meat based high protein diet. Adding red meat to a low GI diet actually reduces weight loss (>bp), and raises cholesterol. I would have expected a different result if lower quality plant based protein were added to a basic low GI diet. I've found that chronic ingestion of large amounts of low quality protein induces a mild anorectic effect. If anyone is interested, this can be verified by a personal test. Try eating a supper with red meat, and then the next day judge how hungry you are. Next, try eating a supper with a lot of low quality plant based protein. Try either mixed (non-soy) beans (take beano!), or wheat gluten dumplings (add some buckwheat). You may find you can easily fast all next day with very little effort. Such is the magic of low quality protein.] Comparison of 4 Diets of Varying Glycemic Load on Weight Loss and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Overweight and Obese Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:1466-1475. Background Despite the popularity of low-glycemic index (GI) and high-protein diets, to our knowledge no randomized, controlled trials have systematically compared their relative effects on weight loss and cardiovascular risk. Methods A total of 129 overweight or obese young adults (body mass index, 25 [calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters]) were assigned to 1 of 4 reduced-fat, high-fiber diets for 12 weeks. Diets 1 and 2 were high carbohydrate (55% of total energy intake), with high and low GIs, respectively; diets 3 and 4 were high protein (25% of total energy intake), with high and low GIs, respectively. The glycemic load was highest in diet 1 and lowest in diet 4. Changes in weight, body composition, and blood chemistry profile were studied. Results While all groups lost a similar mean SE percentage of weight (diet 1, -4.2% 0.6%; diet 2, -5.5% 0.5%; diet 3, -6.2% 0.4%; and diet 4, -4.8% 0.7%; P = .09), the proportion of subjects in each group who lost 5% or more of body weight varied significantly by diet (diet 1, 31%; diet 2, 56%; diet 3, 66%; and diet 4, 33%; P = .01). Women on diets 2 and 3 lost approximately 80% more fat mass (-4.5 0.5 [mean SE] kg and -4.6 0.5 kg) than those on diet 1 (-2.5 0.5 kg; P = .007). Mean SE low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol levels declined significantly in the diet 2 group (-6.6 3.9 mg/dL [-0.17 0.10 mmol/L]) but increased in the diet 3 group (+10.0 3.9 mg/dL [+0.26 0.10 mmol/L]; P = .02). Goals for energy distribution were not achieved exactly: both carbohydrate groups ate less fat, and the diet 2 group ate more fiber. Conclusion Both high-protein and low-GI regimens increase body fat loss, but cardiovascular risk reduction is optimized by a high-carbohydrate, low-GI diet Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=28443