I’m a big fan of the Dr. Campbell’s China Study where they compared the calories intake of Chinese and Americans. The study found that even though the average Chinese consume 30 % more calories than the average American, they still weigh an average of 20 % less.
How is that Chinese people can consume 30 % more calories, but not suffer from weight problems?
It is quite possible that people who follow a high-fat, high-protein diet are more likely to gain weight because their body will store the additional calories as fat.
Even though we can reduce our caloric intake, the truth is that our body ultimately decides the number of calories to take in and what to do with those extra calories. This means that limiting our caloric intake will only have a temporary effect on our body weight.
Good Food Choices Means Less Body Fat Stored
The good news is that if we make healthy food choices, our body will be less likely to store fat. The body will instead use these calories to support other functions, such as:
- Running the metabolism
- Keeping the body warm
- Supporting physical activity
- Or just disposing of any excess
Good Food Choices Means More Calories Used as Body Heat
Eating too many foods that are high in fat and protein will store the extra calories as body fat. On the contrary, consuming more foods that are low in protein and fat will cause the extra calories to be used as body heat.
Chinese people consume more calories because they engage in more physical activity and, because they consume more foods that are low in fat and protein, their body uses the extra calories for body heat rather than storing them as fat. The source for this information can be found at, http://toxsci.oxfordjournals.org/content/52/suppl_1/87.full.pdf.
Temporarily Calories Restriction Does Not Work as a Long Term Healthy Weight Management
The bottom line is that there is an orderly way to maintain a healthy body that works over time. It is much better than following a crash diet, which clearly does not work.
People who are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy body weight will need to follow a diet that is low in protein and low in fat. This type of diet is comprised mostly of plant-based foods. A Mediterranean diet is an example of a plant-based diet that works for long term healthy weight management.
Read More: Do Carbohydrates Really Make You Fat?
