Popcorn can help save your life
<div class="IPBDescription">realy...</div><a href="http://www.usaweekend.com/thinksmart/index.html" target="_blank">Popcorn can help save your life</a>
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Lots of studies say eating whole grains -- including popcorn -- may help save you from heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Now, the Iowa Women's Health Study finds that women over age 55 who eat the most whole grains are 35% less apt to die of an array of inflammatory diseases. That includes infections, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
How much? In the study, those who ate at least 11 servings of whole grains a week received the most protection against inflammatory diseases (excluding cancer and heart disease).
What qualifies? Whole-wheat kernels (wheat berries), wild rice, brown rice, popcorn, bulgur wheat, oats and oatmeal, barley, buckwheat, kasha, cracked wheat, quinoa, and various whole-grain cereals (check labels)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
But.... why women and not men?
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Lots of studies say eating whole grains -- including popcorn -- may help save you from heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Now, the Iowa Women's Health Study finds that women over age 55 who eat the most whole grains are 35% less apt to die of an array of inflammatory diseases. That includes infections, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
How much? In the study, those who ate at least 11 servings of whole grains a week received the most protection against inflammatory diseases (excluding cancer and heart disease).
What qualifies? Whole-wheat kernels (wheat berries), wild rice, brown rice, popcorn, bulgur wheat, oats and oatmeal, barley, buckwheat, kasha, cracked wheat, quinoa, and various whole-grain cereals (check labels)<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
But.... why women and not men?
Comments
Besides: popcorn usually comes heavily salted, and salt is proven to contribute to hightened blood pressure.
Carbohydrates are bad, especially simple carbohydrates like sugars, because they are faster to send your insulin levels up. Higher insulin means more inflammation and cells converting glucagon into fat for storage.
Atkins diet is a bit extreme though. According to my molecular biologist the ideal uptake of carbohydrates, proteins and (mostly unsaturated) fats should be 40-30-30, respectively. Sugar and white bread it's best to avoid as much as possible, to avoid unnecessary inflammation.
"Carbs" are not unhealthy. Geeze.
Besides: popcorn usually comes heavily salted, and salt is proven to contribute to hightened blood pressure.
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<!--quoteo(post=1643409:date=Aug 12 2007, 11:59 AM:name=tjosan)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tjosan @ Aug 12 2007, 11:59 AM) [snapback]1643409[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Carbs are not unhealthy.
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The average American consumes excessive carbs or improper carbs - this is what's unhealthy.
I've tried the Atkins Diet before, and although it's good for some rapid weightloss, it's utterly boring and actually unhealthy. 10 days ago I started the South Beach Diet, and once I got past day 4 and my body adjusted to the total lack of processed carbohydrates it became a breeze. Week 3 will see the introduction of some fruits and other carbs into my diet, which is exciting.
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
Popcorn is now a womans food, you eat it, your a woman
<img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
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I'm pretty sure movie theaters across the world would disagree with you...
I'm pretty sure movie theaters across the world would disagree with you...
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Social outings for women who rely on the support of disgusting humans.
But, but aren't there lots of deadly carbs in those? I think I'll stick with fatty, greasy, healthfully carb-free meat, thankyouverymuch.
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My dear forumites, was I the only person able to detect the blatant sarcasm in lolfighter's post?
<!--quoteo(post=1643401:date=Aug 12 2007, 10:53 PM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lolfighter @ Aug 12 2007, 10:53 PM) [snapback]1643401[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
I'll stick with <b>fatty, greasy,</b> healthfully carb-free meat
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That kind of gave it away, didn't it?
My dear forumites, was I the only person able to detect the blatant sarcasm in lolfighter's post?
That kind of gave it away, didn't it?
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I did. We seem to be in the minority. Such is the general paranoia about "carbs". Moving back to the topic- I quite enjoy popcorn, although i consider it a great shame it is only served salted at movie theatres here. I much prefer it lightly buttered or even tossed with a little icing sugar. Much easier on the lips after eating a big bucket of it <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
My dear forumites, was I the only person able to detect the blatant sarcasm in lolfighter's post?
That kind of gave it away, didn't it?
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Of course not... most of us have learned to tune it out. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
Popcorn FTW!
My dear forumites, was I the only person able to detect the blatant sarcasm in lolfighter's post?
That kind of gave it away, didn't it?
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You fear fat more than simple carbohydrates if you are ignorant of cell biology. I still maintain that 40-30-30 is a good way to proportion the amount of carbohydrates-fats-proteins to each other, numbers I got from a Proffessor of Molecular Biology at the Norwegian University of NTNU. Her reasoning for being careful with getting high levels of insulin has to do with it's effect on the inflammation of cells, and is not based on some populistic diet (in fact weight is one but not the main reason to keep even insulin levels) but on scientific research.
Excessive amounts of anything is bad (duh). Simple carbohydrates that turn into blood sugars and ATP fast will amount to to much oxidation of cells. Longer chained carbohydrates that come with a lot of fibers to slow down digestion has a much better effect, and it should come with reasonable amounts of proteins and fats. Actually, monocarbohydrates as sugar we if wise enough would avoid altogether, unless we need high amounts of energy fast.
Tjosan, not only is carbohydrates in excessive amounts dangerous, so is oxygen in the smallest amounts, as it damages the cells of our body. For both those reasons we should maintain a balanced diet and if possible eat fatty fish and greens and vegetables to get some anti-oxidants to keep our working cells healthy.
But the benefits of dropping all the processed carbs and increasing my intake of fresh veggies (and now, in Phase 2, I get some fresh fruits) has gone far beyond my significant weight loss. My digestive tract is in MUCH better shape, I am off the Nexium, I don't feel as sluggish as I used to (my insulin levels are more stabilized), AND my fingernails have returned to their rock-hardness.
I can walk into and out of my favorite pizza parlor and not bat an eyelash, and THAT says a lot.
If anyone's interested in this diet, know that it's one miserable SOB for the first 4 days. Once your body conditions itself it's downhill though.
I am totally impressed with the South Beach Diet. At my two week weighin I had dropped 15 lbs, which surpassed their maximum goal of 13.
But the benefits of dropping all the processed carbs and increasing my intake of fresh veggies (and now, in Phase 2, I get some fresh fruits) has gone far beyond my significant weight loss. My digestive tract is in MUCH better shape, I am off the Nexium, I don't feel as sluggish as I used to (my insulin levels are more stabilized), AND my fingernails have returned to their rock-hardness.
I can walk into and out of my favorite pizza parlor and not bat an eyelash, and THAT says a lot.
If anyone's interested in this diet, know that it's one miserable SOB for the first 4 days. Once your body conditions itself it's downhill though.
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Congratulations, you can't enjoy delicious foods?
I've never understood the desire to be extremely lazy and still want to lose weight; I've also never understood why people would purposelly avoid one of the most glorious things about the material existence: food.
Coincidentally, I did the same thing with the 15 pounds by simply running 30 minutes or so each day; which is kind of strange because it required drinking more water, eating more and having more muscle mass.
Much like the diet, running is also really annoying for a few days, and then you get used to it and it can be fun or relaxing (the good ol' 'tired after exercising' feeling)...so, you could just take 3-4 hours out of your week for a run and a shower every few days (which can potentially be an added social benefit if you do it with a spouse/friend/dog/etc.), or you could completely change your social and eating habits to appease your vanity and sloth...hmmm.
(I recommend doing it outside, somewhere where the scenery constantly changes...treadmills are lame)
Also, yay popcorn; boo too much salt and too much butter.
I've never understood the desire to be extremely lazy and still want to lose weight; I've also never understood why people would purposelly avoid one of the most glorious things about the material existence: food.
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I, on the other hand, never understood the desire to lose weight to begin with. The diet industry is such a scam. Only in today's society could we be sold fattening foods, sold the idea that being fat is worse than death, sold images of people who you 'should' aspire to look like and feel crappy if you don't, sold diet plans and gym memberships and personal trainers and therapy if we fail, all at the same time. Truth of the matter is, fat isn't inherently ugly, nor is it inherently unhealthy. It increases the chance of heart disease in some people and it doesn't in others. Stress caused by thinking you're too fat and ugly is just as bad a risk factor. If you don't have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, you don't have any reason to worry about your weight as far as I'm concerned.
Congratulations, you can't enjoy delicious foods?
I've never understood the desire to be extremely lazy and still want to lose weight; I've also never understood why people would purposelly avoid one of the most glorious things about the material existence: food.
Coincidentally, I did the same thing with the 15 pounds by simply running 30 minutes or so each day; which is kind of strange because it required drinking more water, eating more and having more muscle mass.
Much like the diet, running is also really annoying for a few days, and then you get used to it and it can be fun or relaxing (the good ol' 'tired after exercising' feeling)...so, you could just take 3-4 hours out of your week for a run and a shower every few days (which can potentially be an added social benefit if you do it with a spouse/friend/dog/etc.), or you could completely change your social and eating habits to appease your vanity and sloth...hmmm.
(I recommend doing it outside, somewhere where the scenery constantly changes...treadmills are lame)
Also, yay popcorn; boo too much salt and too much butter.
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I had delicious sirloin steak last night, with a salad on the side (Ranch dressing) and some fresh buttered asparagus. The night before I had grilled chicken breasts marinated in chipotle pepper marinade with some buttered broccoli. I honestly don't miss the processed carbs, or the potatoes / rice / bread etc. Oh yeah, I get to eat eggs too!
Diet and exercise is the best method to drop weight. I'm hardly lazy myself and infact, could probably school you and anyone else interested in the benefits of running, especially distance (I have run 7 marathons). Unfortunately, knee surgery (non-running-related) sidelined me in '01, and the rest is history. Once I drop some more weight I'll be back out there running 6 milers in triple digit heat, and 10 to 12 on the weekend.
Oh yeah, drink copious amounts of water, until your urine is clear and volumous - this ensures proper hydration, especially in this wicked summer heat. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
Simple carbohydrates in excessive amounts being bad isn't even disputed. But then again, evolution being the main (and only) discourse of thought amoung Biologists doesn't make a difference in certain anti-intellectual circles of society.
I understand hearing that sugary soda drinks like Coke is bad for you might be hard to deal with, but the fact of life is that you (unless you are really really lucky) have to work hard for your health.
My father, a physician, talks a lot about the difference between his old weak 50-year old patients and the strong healthy same aged ones. Those who remain virile and strong have usually been training hard several times a week and have been watching what they were eating. I don't know what kind of life you imagine yourself in, Lolfighter, but you are certainly shaping it the way you eat and live today.
I always leave these establishments feeling rather good about my health. Relatively speaking I'd like to think I've worked very hard to be in this shape (although the afore-mentioned knee surgery sidelined my running career, resulting in weight gain).
You fear fat more than simple carbohydrates if you are ignorant of cell biology. I still maintain that 40-30-30 is a good way to proportion the amount of carbohydrates-fats-proteins to each other, numbers I got from a Proffessor of Molecular Biology at the Norwegian University of NTNU. Her reasoning for being careful with getting high levels of insulin has to do with it's effect on the inflammation of cells, and is not based on some populistic diet (in fact weight is one but not the main reason to keep even insulin levels) but on scientific research.
Excessive amounts of anything is bad (duh). Simple carbohydrates that turn into blood sugars and ATP fast will amount to to much oxidation of cells. Longer chained carbohydrates that come with a lot of fibers to slow down digestion has a much better effect, and it should come with reasonable amounts of proteins and fats. Actually, monocarbohydrates as sugar we if wise enough would avoid altogether, unless we need high amounts of energy fast.
Tjosan, not only is carbohydrates in excessive amounts dangerous, so is oxygen in the smallest amounts, as it damages the cells of our body. For both those reasons we should maintain a balanced diet and if possible eat fatty fish and greens and vegetables to get some anti-oxidants to keep our working cells healthy.
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Doesn't cells renew up to a certain age anyway?
There's a difference between arguing that "carbs" are dangerous, and arguing for a balanced diet.
Kassinger - you don't need to explain cell biology to me thank you.
So I'll repeat:
"Carbs" are not unhealthy. Geeze.
Edit:
Actually I'll expand a bit. Most all of the reactions pertaining to releasing energy from digested food stuffs create free oxygen radicals, or some waste or another that might be dangerous. Saying "carbs" are unhealthy because breaking them down for energy causes disturbances in the system is denying the fact that the system is highly dynamic to start with. We need crap, so we get crap, and by getting crap we get crap we dont need and so we need to get rid of the unwanted crap. Right.
Yes, eating a ######load of sugar isn't optimal, but it isn't very dangerous at the end of the day either. Disregarding essencial nutrients (certain vitamins and amino acids, as well as trace amounts of inorganic substances) all you really need to bother with when it comes to your diet is net energy gain or loss.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->There's a difference between arguing that "carbs" are dangerous, and arguing for a balanced diet. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe I wasn't presenting my arguments clear enough, but the whole point of what I have been saying is to argue for a healthier amount of consumption of carbohydrates, and preferably avoiding sugars and the shortest-chained carbohydrates at all. I've repeatedly mentioned the 40-30-30 ratio between carbohydrates proteins and fat, and I hope that fits your idea of a balanced diet. Excessive amounts of energy in a short period of time (usually associated with to many carbohydrates or a big concentrated meal) leads to more free radicals than the same amount of energy uptake spread over time, because of the effects high insulin peaks has. If you only worry about your net energy gain and loss, it might take care of your weight, but you would still suffer some unnecessary inflammation and a higher risk of diabetes 2 than a more balanced diet would give you.
Maybe the benefits of avoiding excessive amounts came off as scare-mongering, and for that I'm sorry. Maybe the issue is something that most people would like to dismiss in the first place, as it might mean changing some habits in your life. Fact is that it's beneficial to keep a healthy diet. What a lot of painkillers like aspirin do in the first place is to combat inflammation.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Doesn't cells renew up to a certain age anyway?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Mitoses (non-sexual cell division) doesn't do any repair to the cells itself. However, healthy cells will usually divide to replace worn out ones. The number of times a cell can divide itself is limited, though.
<!--quoteo(post=1643977:date=Aug 16 2007, 03:42 AM:name=Depot)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Depot @ Aug 16 2007, 03:42 AM) [snapback]1643977[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Although "eating a ######load of sugar isn't optimal, but it isn't very dangerous at the end of the day either" may be true, how often do you think this happens only once? It's the cumulative effect that is harmful, duh.
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Yes exactly. Most stuff is innocent in small amounts. Smoking one lone cigar or cigarette won
t do you much harm. Unfortunately people still smoke and eat to much. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
I have to say again, since I gave up "processed" carbs 15 days ago and started eating healthy, I feel much better. My insulin level seems to remain relatively stable, whereas before it was like a roller coaster. Of course, dropping 15lbs. didn't hurt either. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />