The Unified Theory Of Nutrition Part 2

Part II -questions: what effects will this diet have on
...Thus, this reality has led me to Brink's Unifiedappetite? What effects will this diet have on
Theory of Nutrition which states:metabolic rate? What effects will this diet have on
"Total calories dictates how much weight a personmy lean body mass (LBM)? What effects will this
gains or loses;macro nutrient ratios dictates whatdiet have on hormones; both hormones that may
a person gains or loses"improve or impede my goals? What effects will
This seemingly simple statement allows people tothis diet have on (fill in the blank)?
understand the differences between the twoSimply asking, "how much weight will I lose?" is
schools of thought. For example, studies oftenthe wrong question which will lead to the wrong
find that two groups of people put on the sameanswer. To get the optimal effects from your
calorie intakes but very different ratios of carbs,next diet, whether looking to gain weight or lose
fats, and proteins will lose different amounts ofit, you must ask the right questions to get
bodyfat and or lean body mass (i.e., muscle, bone,meaningful answers.
etc.).Asking the right questions will also help you avoid
Some studies find for example people on a higherthe pitfalls of unscientific poorly thought out diets
protein lower carb diet lose approximately thewhich make promises they can't keep and go
same amount of weight as another group on aagainst what we know about human physiology
high carb lower protein diet, but the group on theand the very laws of physics!
higher protein diet lost more actual fat and lessBTW, both ebooks also cover supplements for
lean body mass (muscle). Or, some studies usingtheir respective goals along with exercise advice.
the same calorie intakes but different macroThere are of course many additional questions
nutrient intakes often find the higher protein dietthat can be asked and points that can be raised
may lose less actual weight than the higher carbas it applies to the above, but those are some of
lower protein diets, but the actual fat loss is higherthe key issues that come to mind. Bottom line
in the higher protein low carb diets. This effecthere is, if the diet you are following to either gain
has also been seen in some studies thator loss weight does not address those issues and
compared high fat/low carb vs. high carb/low fator questions, then you can count on being among
diets. The effect is usually amplified if exercise isthe millions of disappointed people who don't
involved as one might expect.receive the optimal results they had hoped for
Of course these effects are not found universallyand have made yet another nutrition "guru" laugh
in all studies that examine the issue, but the bulkall the way to the bank at your expense.
of the data is clear: diets containing differentAny diet that claims calories don't matter, forget
macro nutrient ratios do have different effects onit. Any diet that tells you they have a magic ratio
human physiology even when calorie intakes areof foods, ignore it. Any diet that tells you any one
identical (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11).food source is evil, it's a scam. Any diet that tells
Or, as the authors of one recent study thatyou it will work for all people all the time no
looked at the issue concluded:matter the circumstances, throw it out or give it
"Diets with identical energy contents can haveto someone you don't like!
different effects on leptin concentrations, energyArticle References:
expenditure, voluntary food intake, and nitrogen(1) Farnsworth E, Luscombe ND, Noakes M,
balance, suggesting that the physiologicWittert G, Argyiou E, Clifton PM. Effect of a
adaptations to energy restriction can be modifiedhigh-protein, energy-restricted diet on body
by dietary composition."(12)composition, glycemic control, and lipid
The point being, there are many studiesconcentrations in overweight and obese
confirming that the actual ratio of carbs, fats, andhyperinsulinemic men and women. Am J Clin Nutr.
proteins in a given diet can effect what is actually2003 Jul;78(1):31-9.
lost (i.e., fat, muscle, bone, and water) and that(2) Baba NH, Sawaya S, Torbay N, Habbal Z, Azar
total calories has the greatest effect on howS, Hashim SA. High protein vs high carbohydrate
much total weight is lost. Are you starting to seehypoenergetic diet for the treatment of obese
how my unified theory of nutrition combines thehyperinsulinemic subjects. Int J Obes Relat Metab
"calorie is a calorie" school with the "calories don'tDisord. 1999 Nov;23(11):1202-6.
matter" school to help people make decisions(3) Parker B, Noakes M, Luscombe N, Clifton P.
about nutrition?Effect of a high-protein, high-monounsaturated fat
Knowing this, it becomes much easier for peopleweight loss diet on glycemic control and lipid levels
to understand the seemingly conflicting diet andin type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2002
nutrition advice out there (of course this does notMar;25(3):425-30.
account for the down right unscientific and(4) Skov AR, Toubro S, Ronn B, Holm L, Astrup
dangerous nutrition advice people are subjected toA.Randomized trial on protein vs carbohydrate in
via bad books, TV, the 'net, and well meaningad libitum fat reduced diet for the treatment of
friends, but that's another article altogether).obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1999
Knowing the above information and keeping theMay;23(5):528-36.
Unified Theory of Nutrition in mind, leads us to(5) Piatti PM, Monti F, Fermo I, Baruffaldi L, Nasser
some important and potentially useful conclusions:R, Santambrogio G, Librenti MC, Galli-Kienle M,
An optimal diet designed to make a person losePontiroli AE, Pozza G. Hypocaloric high-protein diet
fat and retain as much LBM as possible is not theimproves glucose oxidation and spares lean body
same as a diet simply designed to lose weight.mass: comparison to hypocaloric
A nutrition program designed to create fat loss ishigh-carbohydrate diet. Metabolism. 1994
not simply a reduced calorie version of a nutritionDec;43(12):1481-7.
program designed to gain weight, and visa versa.(6) Layman DK, Boileau RA, Erickson DJ, Painter
Diets need to be designed with fat loss, NOT justJE, Shiue H, Sather C, Christou DD. A reduced
weight loss, as the goal, but total calories can't beratio of dietary carbohydrate to protein improves
ignored.body composition and blood lipid profiles during
This is why the diets I design for people-or writeweight loss in adult women. J Nutr. 2003
about-for gaining or losing weight are not simplyFeb;133(2):411-7.
higher or lower calorie versions of the same diet.(7) Golay A, Eigenheer C, Morel Y, Kujawski P,
In short: diets plans I design for gaining LBM startLehmann T, de Tonnac N. Weight-loss with low or
with total calories and build macro nutrient ratioshigh carbohydrate diet? Int J Obes Relat Metab
into the number of calories required. However,Disord. 1996 Dec;20(12):1067-72.
diets designed for fat loss (vs. weight loss!) start(8) Meckling KA, Gauthier M, Grubb R, Sanford J.
with the correct macro nutrient ratios thatEffects of a hypocaloric, low-carbohydrate diet on
depend on variables such as amount of LBM theweight loss, blood lipids, blood pressure, glucose
person carries vs. bodyfat percent , activitytolerance, and body composition in free-living
levels, etc., and figure out calories based on theoverweight women. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2002
proper macro nutrient ratios to achieve fat lossNov;80(11):1095-105.
with a minimum loss of LBM. The actual ratio of(9) Borkman M, Campbell LV, Chisholm DJ, Storlien
macro nutrients can be quite different for bothLH. Comparison of the effects on insulin sensitivity
diets and even for individuals.of high carbohydrate and high fat diets in normal
Diets that give the same macro nutrient ratio tosubjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1991
all people (e.g., 40/30/30, or 70,30,10, etc.)Feb;72(2):432-7.
regardless of total calories, goals, activity levels,(10) Brehm BJ, Seeley RJ, Daniels SR, D'Alessio
etc., will always be less than optimal. OptimalDA. A randomized trial comparing a very low
macro nutrient ratios can change with totalcarbohydrate diet and a calorie-restricted low fat
calories and other variables.diet on body weight and cardiovascular risk
Perhaps most important, the unified theoryfactors in healthy women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
explains why the focus on weight loss vs. fat loss2003 Apr;88(4):1617-23.
by the vast majority of people, including most(11) Garrow JS, Durrant M, Blaza S, Wilkins D,
medical professionals, and the media, will alwaysRoyston P, Sunkin S. The effect of meal
fail in the long run to deliver the results peoplefrequency and protein concentration on the
want.composition of the weight lost by obese subjects.
Finally, the Universal Theory makes it clear thatBr J Nutr. 1981 Jan;45(1):5-15.
the optimal diet for losing fat, or gaining muscle,(12) Agus MS, Swain JF, Larson CL, Eckert EA,
or what ever the goal, must account not only forLudwig DS. Dietary composition and physiologic
total calories, but macro nutrient ratios thatadaptations to energy restriction.Am J Clin Nutr.
optimize metabolic effects and answer the2000 Apr;71(4):901-7.