Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Okay, I'm trying to wrap my head around Stephan's recent post on insulin/Gary Taubes. Up to now I've been working under the idea that straight alcohol (e.g., vodka or whiskey) doesn't spike insulin, and therefore doesn't directly cause weight gain (in moderation). But now that people are claiming that it's actually fructose causing the obesity epidemic, not carbs in general, I've started to wonder if alcohol might cause the same long term body fat dysregulation that fructose supposedly causes. After all, they're both metabolized in the liver, and they can both lead to fatty liver, right?

Or am I way off here? (Actually, given my fondness for bourbon, please tell me I'm way off!)

flag	asked Aug 13 2011 at 0:54 Jonathan 1,155●2●7●12

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Not even close... – The Quilt Aug 13 2011 at 1:03

I spent about a decade looking for the drink all you want and be healthy diet....bad news, there isn't one :( – JayJay Aug 13 2011 at 2:15

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@Quilt--I'll drink to that! @Jay--"all you want" seems to be the problem. I tried that way back when I was working as a bouncer in Mexico. I woke up in an outhouse... in a foreign country (Guatemala)... in the middle of a war... – Jonathan Aug 13 2011 at 4:55

Travis Culp · Answer 1 · 2011-08-13 00:59:43Z UTC

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I think alcoholics tend to be underweight, but that may be due to drinking instead of eating. Simply being metabolized by the liver isn't enough, it has to lead to hyperuricemia.

answered Aug 13 2011 at 0:59

Travis Culp♦
39.6k●1●32●132

Jester · Answer 2 · 2011-08-13 01:53:36Z UTC

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Leangains has a really informative guide to the way alcohol is metabolized. http://www.leangains.com/2010/07/truth-about-alcohol-fat-loss-and-muscle.html

Links to several studies and he cites his sources quite well.

answered Aug 13 2011 at 1:53

Jester
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Thanks. I'm actually following a Leangains inspired program right now, but hadn't read this. – Jonathan Aug 13 2011 at 4:15

Dylan · Answer 3 · 2011-08-13 00:57:11Z UTC

Good question, one I've considered myself. Just my n=1 is that I've lost around 25 or 30 pounds over a little over a year while consistently drinking 3 to 4 shots worth a day. And by consistently I mean my average is probably 4 shots a day over the past year because I sometimes have a little less and sometimes have a little more but almost without fail I have two doubles.

Also of note is that my weight loss has been very gradual and steady, I have not gained more than 5 lbs back at any time (which is a normal fluctuation for me when very active).

Amanda · Answer 4 · 2011-08-13 01:58:49Z UTC

I'm very interested in this topic. I've been paleo for 11 months now, and I cut all alcohol out for only the first month, then reintroduced liquor mainly (probably similar quantities to what is mentioned here, ~4 shots a day), with occasional wine, after that. I've been toying with the idea of cutting out all booze again for a while, to see if it will help me lose these last 15-20lbs of fat (I am almost down 50 lbs from 195, 5'5" female), but it's hard, since my husband is less than willing to do the same :-/

Is Alcohol as Bad as Fructose?

4 Answers