Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem put about 60 overweight police on a diet for six months. During the diet, the control group ate their carbs during their daytime meals. The experimental group ate much of their carbs during their dinner. Although the two groups had the same food, the control group lost 5kg of fat, while the experimental group lost 7kg. And when the researchers asked the dieting police about their hunger, the experimental group said they felt less hungry than before they began their diet.
The results were connected with the hormone called adiponectin. Adiponectin helps the muscles absorb more nutrients from the circulatory system. When the experimental group ate their carbs at night, their adiponectin levels went up. Not only that, they also had less insulin and glucose levels, and greater amounts of the good HDL cholesterol. More carbs absorbed by the muscles means lower blood sugar levels and less insulin that tells the muscles to store the blood sugars as fat.
The findings will be welcomed by diabetics, who can now further control their insulin levels just by restricting their carbohydrate intake to dinners and late-night snacks.
It kind of makes me wonder, though. Practicing Muslims observe the yearly fasts in the month of Ramadan. During this month they abstain from eating from sunup to sundown. Of course, the fast is spiritual in its focus, and the prohibition also extends to drinking (including coffee, tea, juice, even water), smoking and sex. Still, the month-long diets they go through every year would probably have the same results on them as the 60-odd police officers.
So with that in mind, let’s have a few sample recipes that will work wonders for your palate and your diet as your carb dinner. Eat them without the carbs for your lunch.
Here are some simple yet satisfying recipes:
Chicken cutlets stuffed with sautéed shredded zucchini, diced garlic and mozzarella dipped in a mixture of extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice baked to a golden brown
This next recipe goes well with plain steamed rice:
Beef sirloin cut into strips sautéed with garlic and onions seasoned with oyster sauce and cooked till the meat is tender. Serve with steamed broccoli, sliced carrots and broccoli rub.
Cooked pasta topped with sautéed bacon, minced garlic, diced onions, fresh tomatoes, clams, mussels and shelled shrimps, sprinkled with shredded parsley. Fettuccine or spaghetti may be used.
