In Reuters Health yesterday was the following headline: "Revenge of the high-carb diet-ha! it works to!" It discussed a study appearing in the Archives of Internal Medicine showing that a high-carb diet resulted in more weight and fat loss than a lower carb diet. No doubt the U.S.D.A. and others will cite this study often. However, when pulling the abstract, this is what they were comparing: 45% C 14% P 41% F vs. 63% C 19% P 18% F If you look closely, you will see that both dietary protocols contain a protein-carb ratio of 30-31%, so the insulin response based on the protein-carb ratio has changed little. The higher carb diet also contained an average of 26g of fiber per 1000kcal vs. 7g , which also gives the high-carb diet the appearance of being more effective since fiber slows the insulin response. It would be interesting to see that same high-carb diet put up against a Zone p/c ratio of over 50%, coupled with at least 25g fiber that one likely achieves from eat mostly fruits and vegetables. Considering that the above participants were still consuming an average of 2500 calories/day, I don't think it would be close. Pariticipants on the higher-carb diet lost an average of 0.6 pounds/wk over 12 weeks (7lbs). This increased to 1.0lb/wk with 4/wk 45 min aerobic exercise. Its pretty evident that none of the three groups were controlling insulin very well. Nicholas P. Hays [i:3c60b42102]"Effects of an ad libitum low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet on body weight, body composition, and fat distribution in older men and women."[/i:3c60b42102]Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 164, No.2, Jan 26, 2004

[quote="Scott] Its pretty evident that none of the three groups were controlling insulin very well.[/quote] Maybe everyone's insulin control is different. :lol: :lol: :lol: 25% or so, (1 in 4 or so) are insulin resistant. 25% or so are not affected by insulin response & the rest = 50% of individuals insulin varies in many ways. Therefore, you cannot surmise the insulin response of any particular individual by the food that individual injests. Take coffee for an example. Just because a person drinks coffee, you cannot know whether or not the coffee will affect the person one way or another. :idea: :D Moreover, if I eat rice, you have no way of telling or knowing how the rice will affect my insulin. Rice may not affect my insulin any more than broccoli would. Motto: "Assume Nothing :!:

[quote:ecbbeaa0c9]Maybe everyone's insulin control is different. :lol: 25% or so, (1 in 4 or so) are insulin resistant. 25% or so are not affected by insulin response & the rest = 50% of individuals insulin varies in many ways. Therefore, you cannot surmise the insulin response of any particular individual by the food that individual injests. [/quote:ecbbeaa0c9] I don't recall every surmising that, Rich. The point was that a protein-carb ratio of greater than 50% has consistently outperformed lower p/c ratios. [quote:ecbbeaa0c9]Take coffee for an example. Just because a person drinks coffee, you cannot know whether or not the coffee will affect the person one way or another. :idea: :D [/quote:ecbbeaa0c9] Absolutely. It also depends on what else an individual is doing for insulin control. Exercise can offset the effects of caffeine just as it can offset a higher glycemic load. Fish oil has been shown to reduce insulin resistance--thus that alone could be offsetting the effects of caffeine breakdown to where you may not notice it having an effect. [quote:ecbbeaa0c9]Moreover, if I eat rice, you have no way of telling or knowing how the rice will affect my insulin. Rice may not affect my insulin any more than broccoli would. [/quote:ecbbeaa0c9] Well, yes if you are in the lucky 25% than I guess you can eat all the rice you want. Without knowing someone personally, I can only go by what they tell me and what the studies show. If someone is doing everything by the book and still cannot lose body fat yet still drinks 6cups of coffee/day which has been shown to contribute to insulin resistance, what would you suggest they do? [quote:ecbbeaa0c9]Motto: "Assume Nothing :!:[/quote:ecbbeaa0c9] I don't. That's why my wife is sick of the stacks upon stacks of journal articles and abstracts I have collected over the past five years looking for anything that might not be accurate in the Zone recommendations. Haven't found it yet. :wink: I guess I can't assume then that you were the original creator of the peanut butter cups?