Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/169/20/1873

Just read about this study in a blog ad it basically says that put on the same number of calories (1500) both sets of Obese adults lost an average of 30 pounds but the low fat SAD group reported elevated mood longer than the low carb group.

I have found this to be the complete opposite in my experience. I was always depressed on SAD and the one time I lost (and gained back in 3 years) weight the low fat/low calorie way I was depressed or hypomanic. In fact I was diagnosed with type 2 bipolar at one point but I have no such issues on a paleo VLC diet. Now I'm wondering if putting those Adults on such a low calorie and presumably high protein/low fat diet was what was depressing them. 1500 seems awful low for an obese individual. Any of you science people able to tear this apart?

flag	asked May 23 2011 at 17:55 Aughra 11.5k●2●13●39

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I'm not adverse to the idea that there is such thing as too little carbohydrate for mental health. I am adverse to the idea that a low fat diet is in any way optimal for mental health. The thing about diet studies is also that micronutrition varies depending on macronutrition in general. Could it be that low fat got more magnesium? That could explain differences right there. – Stabby Jul 12 2011 at 22:55

Simibee · Answer 1 · 2011-05-23 18:09:46Z UTC

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Regardless of the fat content of their diet, obese adults losing weight are automatically on a high fat diet: their own body fat!

answered May 23 2011 at 18:09

Simibee
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Good point. But what do you think the difference is between the two diets that caused the mood schism? I keep wondering if they're counting mood "spikes" from carbohydrates an overall elavation – Aughra May 23 2011 at 18:22

baconbitch · Answer 2 · 2011-05-23 18:35:40Z UTC

I'm skimming it now and already there are areas that send up red flags. A lot of these people left the study but there was no reason mentioned as to why. There are several people in the study taking anti-depressants. No mention of the kinds of foods, frequency of eating, time of day/night that they ate, sleep, exercise.

I wonder how controlled the group environment was. There is an email address to the primary researcher. Perhaps you could contact him.

I'm not obese but moving from a low-fat grain-rich diet to a high-fat no grain diet has relieved me of hypomania and beginning to relieve me of severe depression.

Darnit - can someone on this board to a really great study of paleo folks? I'd throw in some time to help on it.

The Loon · Answer 3 · 2011-07-12 22:45:25Z UTC

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This study used an "energy-restricted" low carb diet. Why would anyone do that? I don't know of any popular low carb plan that advocates energy restriction.

answered Jul 12 2011 at 22:45

The Loon
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Low fat diet is better for long term mood elevation?

3 Answers