Simple advice to aid the loss of body fat.

In addition to the previous blog, that discussed three simple methods of reducing body fat by following certain principles, this short discussion aims to clarify some misconceptions about nutrition that has often been fuelled by the UK and US food marketing companies.

Breaking the Misconceptions!
Reliable research has shown that a major cause of obesity and weight gain over the last half-century is due to an increase in high-sugar and highly processed foods on the market, and not high-fat foods alone. High fat foods do add additional calories to the diet, but it is the highly processed foods that can cause the most damage.

'An increase in the level of Glucose availability in the blood has been shown to allow the liver to increase fatty acid formation.'

So called 'low-fat' foods including yoghurts, cereals and snacks are often loaded with sugar, or even worse, sweeteners, in order to make them taste better.
When the body absorbs sugar into the body, Insulin is released into the bloodstream in order to store the sugar as 'energy' in the cells.
However, an Insulin Spike doesn't allow the body to stay in a 'fat-burning' state, meaning that it won't use the stored fat molecules as energy as effectively.

If anything, research has shown that a high level of Insulin present in the blood actually INCREASES fat storage.

'The conversion of fatty acids into Triglycerides within the fat cells is rapidly enhanced by Insulin'.
In order to increase your fat-burning potential, you must try to maintain a level blood sugar level for as long as possible, and thus prevent large amounts of insulin being released.
Simple-Carbohydrates (such as white rice, pasta, bread etc) will increase your insulin levels, and take you out of your 'fat-burning state'.

This is why our toning and weight-loss diets are high in protein, with some complex carbohydrates and fats, yet low in simple and easily absorbed carbohydrate.

Method behind the madness.

The US and UK nutritional guidelines have been influenced in the past by inaccurate research, often performed by the food marketing companies themselves. Coincidence....?!?!

Other Key Factors for Weight Gain:

• Carbohydrate dominant diet causing regular high insulin levels
• Elevated levels of hunger and cravingsthrough nutrient deficient diet
• Hormonal disruption of oestrogen, Adrenaline or growth hormone
• Effects of stress on the hormonal system

These shall be addressed at a later stage.

Aaron Brandon-Tyrrell.

Revolution Senior Trainer.