Low Calorie Diets = Low Fibre Diets = Increased Disease Risk: Doctor

Former Health Canada Advisor Warns Women: DON'T DIET

As many as four million Canadian women - and 40 million American women - who diet constantly to lose weight are increasing their risk of disease later in life warns a former Health Canada adviser.

Dr. George Grant owner of the Academy of Wellness in Toronto www.academyofwellness.com says his client data indicates that the majority of Canadians who diet do not consume enough fiber on a daily basis, and are also deficient in many key nutrients.

"Most Canadians are only having one bowel movement per day,” explains Dr. Grant. "This is very unhealthy in the long-term. People should have on average three if they are eating three meals per day. This is essential to maintain intestinal health and will help reduce the incidence of many diseases later in life.”

Dr. Grant points out that low fiber intake increases the likelihood of many diseases including heart disease, diabetes, cancer of the colon, breast, ovaries and uterus, diverticulitis, kidney stones and gallbladder disease. Dr. Grant warns that Canada will face a huge increase in these degenerative diseases as the next generation of Canadians - those obsessed with dieting - reach old age.

“In my work as a health analyst across Canada I see many, many people consistently under eating in a vain attempt to lose weight and keep it off," says Dr. Grant. "This starvation approach to life not only doesn't work for weight loss but it actually leaves people dramatically deficient in most essential minerals and vitamins as well as fiber," he said.

According to the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) 70% of Canadian women over the age of 20 are currently on diets, and 40% are yo-yo dieters, constantly losing weight and gaining it back.

Dr. Grant recommends the Keep Canada Slim weight loss program www.keepcanadaslim.com to his clients. This program is shipped worldwide.

"The Keep Canada Slim program recommends higher levels of calories than any other commercial program in Canada, and yet still delivers weight loss results. Most Canadians trying to lose weight are eating so little that they increase their risk of disease. It is imperative that we stop Canadians from living on low calorie diets," said Dr. Grant.

According to Dr. Grant most overweight women should not eat less than 1450 calories per day and men should aim for a minimum of 1850 calories per day.

“Obese people should eat even higher levels of calories,” he suggests. “Overweight people should aim to create no more than a 500 calorie deficit based on their daily maintenance levels while obese people should aim for no more than a 1000 calorie a day deficit.”

Typical commercial diets suggest calorie levels as low as 500 calories per day, ranging to a high of perhaps 1200 calories for women and 1500 calories for men. This creates a calorie gap of between 1500 and 2500 calories per day for most people. Because of the body’s response to the starvation nature of these diets 95% of the people who lose weight gain it back.

Dr. Grant says it is impossible to consume adequate levels of fiber and nutrients at these levels.

For a list of high-fiber foods click here