Joel Fuhrman - Eat To Live

102 JoelFuhrman, M.D.

ually increased glucose level and insulin response, will still cause the

same amount of weight gain. A flatter insulin response curve does

not lead to fewer calories converted to (at.^31 Balancing fat, carbohy-

drate, and protein intake, even if it could modify the insulin re-

sponse, would have little or no effect on one's weight. All excess

calories will still be stored as fat.

Furthermore, there is evidence to implicate dietary animal protein

as an important factor in raising insulin levels. Although dietary protein

itself provokes relatively little insulin release, it can markedly increase

the insulin response to carbohydrates when consumed in the same

meal.^52 Thus, avoiding animal protein or segregating it so it is not con-

sumed along with high-carbohydrate foods may reduce mealtime in-

sulin secretion — completely the opposite of Sears's half-baked theory.

So the glycemic index need not be a major concern. The only

way a glucose surge and the resulting insulin surge can cause weight

gain is by causing us to get hungry more quickly and eat more calo-

ries later and more often. This will occur only if you are eating a low-

nutrient, high-calorie diet. The factors that control appetite and hunger

are affected by more than the glycemic index.

This is just one more reason not to eat refined grains and sweets

and to structure an eating plan around natural high-fiber plant foods.

These processed, high-glycemic foods promote overeating. When the

glycemic index is used as a rationale to eat more high-protein and

high-fat animal products, it will have no beneficial effect on weight

and can create serious health risks.

A Zone of Contention — Dozens of Erroneous Claims

In addition to overstating the importance of the postprandial glycemic

index. Sears makes other faulty claims to support his unhealthful

recommendations. Sears ignores the wealth of information showing

a vast biochemical difference between plant and animal proteins. It

doesn't matter whether this difference is due to amino acid patterns

or the packaging. Plant proteins lower cholesterol and cancer risk,

while animal proteins cause them to rise.^33

Second, Sears even goes so far as to claim that vegetarian diets

are bad for the heart and that patients on Dean Ornish's vegetarian

diet will have more heart attacks and die sooner than the patients on

the American Heart Association diet. Sears states, "My guess is that

the people who stay on his program will ultimately have more heart