It isn't our genes that make us fat

April 14, 4:39 PMDenver Low Carb ExaminerLinda Duffy

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Dr. Atkins knew it in the 70's. WIlliam Banting learned about it from his doctor in the 1800's. Drs. Mike & Mary Eades wrote several books about it. So did the UK's Barry Groves. Now scientists are "discovering" the real cause of obesity and it isn't our genetic makeup, but rather the effect of insulin on our fat cells.

Just today, the Purdue University's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Chemistry released the following

"Researchers have uncovered new evidence suggesting factors other than genes could cause obesity, finding that genetically identical cells store widely differing amounts of fat depending on subtle variations in how cells process insulin.

Learning the precise mechanism responsible for fat storage in cells could lead to methods for controlling obesity.

"Insights from our study also will be important for understanding the precise roles of insulin in obesity or Type II diabetes, and to the design of effective intervention strategies," said Ji-Xin Cheng, an assistant professor in Purdue University's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Chemistry.

Findings indicate that the faster a cell processes insulin, the more fat it stores." (more)

In other words, it doesn't matter how many fat cells you have, it takes the work of insulin to stuff those fat cells and make you overweight. What prompts your body to produce insulin? A high glucose level in your blood triggers your body to release insulin and lower your blood glucose back to normal. What causes high blood sugar?

CARBOHYDRATES!

What this press release seems to be trying hard NOT to say is that carbohydrates make you fat. I had to learn this the hard way. Unfortunately more and more people are also learning this tough lesson all the while they are being taught to cut fat, cut calories and eat plenty of whole grains. Of course, a low fat high grain diet (actually a high carbohydrate diet) raises blood sugar, raises insulin and makes you fat. HOPEFULLY more information like this will begin to pry open people's eyes. And while it may turn out our genes may make us more vulnerable to the effects of an insulin cascade, without insulin promoting foods in our diet, it really isn't something you have to worry about.

Others aren't so optimistic that information like this will have any effect on current dietary "wisdom". Low Carb forum member Hellistile stated after reading the press release, "I wonder how long it will take their sugar-doped brain cells to process this information and link it to "carbohydrates drive up insulin." It will take about 7,354 more studies and take about 50 years. Hope I'm alive to see it."