Blog Archives
Why protein is so important when dieting
There is a secret weapon of fat loss that doesn’t always get the airtime it deserves. It is a macronutrient that has been shrouded in considerable controversy over the years for the part it supposedly plays in kidney damage if eaten in large quantities. We are talking protein, animal protein to be more specific. Plant-based protein, like beans and legumes, are difficult to incorporate into a low carb diet due to their relatively high carb content so fall out of the scope of this article. Beef, chicken, lamb, fish, pork and eggs; some experts say don’t eat too much, while others believe that these foods are a vital key factor for health and sustainable weight loss.
How to assess your risk for heart disease
I get asked this question a lot and while I am not a doctor, I can share with you what I have learned over the years. You can take this info and discuss it with your doctor, especially if they are wanting you to take a statin medication for high cholesterol. I encourage you to do your own research too.
Did you know that 75% of the cholesterol in your body is made by your liver? Think about that for a moment. Would your intelligently-designed body manufacture so much cholesterol if it was bad for you? Your body and brain need cholesterol to function properly. We would not survive without it. Cholesterol is important for manufacturing hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone and cortisol. Cholesterol helps the liver create bile, which enables us to digest food, especially fats. It improves memory and boosts serotonin, the chemical that makes us feel happy. It is also quite normal for cholesterol levels to go up as we age. It shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing. Read the rest of this entry
Banting Basics: The what and why
I thought a good way to kick off the year was to review the basic principles of Banting and give a short explanation as to why they are important. Here are the ‘rules of the game’. Play by them and you will taste victory. Let these 10 principles guide you towards control over your cravings, improved general health, more energy and effective fat loss.
Weight loss and optimal health takes consistent effort and most importantly it requires us to take responsibility over our food choices – and yes we also need to exercise a degree of willpower and restraint. Taking responsibility is often the biggest hurdle one needs to conquer before progress can be made. Excuses just lead us further away from our goals and the truth is, no-one can do it for you. These principles should help you to get things on track.
Are you eating too much fat?
Fat is a critically important element of an LCHF diet. When carbs are restricted and protein is moderated, the remainder of one’s calories must come from healthy fats. Fat is required for energy and is what makes us feel satisfied after meals. Eating a low carb diet full of healthy fats keeps insulin levels low, which enables the release of stored fat to be burned for fuel. The result? We slim down and feel full of energy. Yes, fat is very important, but does that mean we can eat as much of it as we like, and does the type of fat we choose to eat make any difference to our weight loss efforts?
Tips for achieving your weight loss goals
You feel rather proud of yourself when you stand on the scale and assess the progress you have made. Wow, 5 kilos lost in a month – fantastic! Then your colleague brings a delicious chocolate cake to the office. Ten minutes later, while you wipe the crumbs off your top lip, you think to yourself, “What just happened?” One cheat leads to another and before you know it you are sliding down the slippery slope back into old habits and your track suit pants with the elasticized waist. Why is it that our motivation levels ebb and flow like the ocean? What mistakes are we making that lead to poor choices and what can we do to ensure it doesn’t negatively impact on the achievement of our goals? Read the rest of this entry
Weight loss plateaus and what to do about them
You have lost a significant amount of weight and feel wonderful. Others have noticed and their compliments have really boosted your self-confidence. The fat has just melted away revealing collar bones that had long been forgotten. You visualise effortlessly reaching your goal for the first time ever. It almost seems too good to be true. Until one day the weight loss stops, dead in its tracks like a stubborn donkey with a bad attitude. You realise something has to change, because what worked before is not working now. You have hit the dreaded plateau, but please don’t panic. There are solutions to this frustrating yet very normal phenomenon. It will require patience, perseverance, and an experimental approach. Most importantly you will need to be brutally honest with yourself about your eating habits and lifestyle.
My review of the Low Carb Creed
Over the December holidays I was able to finish reading the newly released book The Low Carb Creed by Sally-Ann Creed, Merle Westcott and Janita Bold. What a fantastic read. The content is comprehensive and easy to understand. Everything you need to know about eating the low-carb, healthy fat way is contained within the fresh-looking white and green foil cover. Read the rest of this entry
Getting healthy is very doable
When I chat to people about healthy eating it always surprises me how stubbornly they hold onto outdated dietary myths, such as choosing to eat margarine over butter because butter is going to clog their arteries. I can understand how this happens though. The internet and print media is full of contradictory advice. When I read that eggs should be avoided due to their high cholesterol content, or that whole grains are essential for fibre, I just want to explode with frustration. This post is for people who want to start improving their health by making more informed choices. I will outline some easy steps to take that can have dramatic benefits for your health, and will bust some myths at the same time. Read the rest of this entry
I was doing keto wrong
What I want to share with you in this post is very important if you are trying to follow a very low carb, high fat diet. Ketogenic diets are becoming very popular due to the fantastic weight loss and health improvement results people are experiencing. They really do work very well, but only if you do it properly. If you don’t you can damage your metabolism, adrenals, thyroid and upset your hormones. It happened to me so I am speaking from first-hand experience. You need to know what you are doing and you need to KEEP doing it. What was my mistake? I wasn’t eating enough fat or enough calories (and I wasn’t properly keto-adapted). Everything changed for me when I was privileged enough to spend time with US expert Keto Coach, Stephanie Person, when she visited South Africa in May. Read the rest of this entry
Banting Basics to get you started
The volume of nutrition information on the internet can become very overwhelming. Therefore I am a big proponent of keeping things simple for people. My goal has always been to help people understand which foods will give them health and vitality, and which foods do the opposite. At the end of the day, health should be the most important reason for adopting a nutritious diet. Weight loss is an added BONUS. Are you tired of getting sick, feeling bloated, suffering from allergies and being tired a lot of the time? Fed up with the muffin top that results when you squeeze that spare tyre into your skinny jeans? This post will give you very important information to help you change your situation for the better. I promise you, I have kept it super simple. No nutrition experience required….
Primal Perks 