So where did the actual damage come from? Was it from the "high fat content"
of the meal, or the
overall structure of the meal itself, which was almost 1,000
calories? You can guess where my vote goes.
The Masai are a group of nomads in regions of Africa that have long puzzled the
"low-fat is the way to go" advocates. These people consume
massive
quantities of animal fat - yet heart disease is virtually unknown to them.
They are very active, walking long distances while hunting and gathering food. On
top of all this, they eat no vegetables whatsoever for long periods of time. Yet,
they are far more healthy than the average American - by a long shot.
Another example are the Inuit - Eskimos who consume large amounts of fish
fat, yet remain free of heart disease. They are not as active as the Masai.
Common sense time: if a high-fat meal was solely responsible for arterial damage,
then the Masai and Inuit would be dead - all of them but the most genetically
gifted. Instead, it is "we" who are dying off in mass numbers from heart
disease, despite the fact that our diets have lowered in fat over the past 25 years.
The heart disease numbers continue to climb.
Here's the takeaway: there is no one correct way to eat. Exercise after a
heavy meal is a very, very smart idea. Consume naturally occurring fats, balanced
with protein and vegetables. Go very light on the starches, especially if you're
consuming a higher-fat meal. When eating starch, be sure to consume protein and
veggies to slow the absorption of sugar.
And, finally, get off the fat phobia bandwagon.
Fat is absolutely necessary for life. The quantity may be open to debate, but the
reality is that carbohydrates of any kind can be done away with for years without
harming health (as shown in multiple studies, and examples like the Inuit and Masai).
Try that with fat or protein, and you'll die.
One more bit about these types of studies. The parent study that started this whole
"look what fat does to your arteries" was based on a meal of (I'm
not kidding) carrot cake and a milkshake.
Yeah. Fat is really the issue there.
Our diets have been moderate to high in fat for millions of years. They've
been moderate to high in carbs for only about 10,000. My take is to create balance
- which is found in spades in
Fit Over 40. However, if I
had to choose, I'd go with the long-term player. Natural fats, balanced with
a lot of omega 3 fatty acids, with tons of raw and partially cooked veggies, a small
amount of fruit, and ample quantities of lean protein. Very little dairy for my
tastes these days.
I'd love to see 'that' diet, as well as the "Fit Over 40
Lifestyle", tested in this fashion!