There are many fad diets that flood the market proclaiming amazing results. A majority of the diets revolve around the idea of carbohydrate restriction. Carbohydrates that are consumed and not burned off by exercise turn into body fat. The Atkins diet restricts carbohydrate intake and focuses on lean protein consumption. Other diets such as “Body for Life” prescribe a modified carbohydrate intake that focuses on the glycemic index.
Mark Haub, a professor at Kansas State University, has managed to blow these two diets out of the water with his shocking discovery. In a personal class experiment, Haub attempted to lose weight using a junk food diet. The diet was simple. Eat anything that comes prepackaged and that can be easily obtained through a vending machine. The major staple of his diet were Twinkies and Hostess cupcakes. The goal was to consume approximately 1,800 calories a day. The daily caloric need for a man of his size would be approximately 2,600 calories a day. Professor Haub consumed these sugary snacks in lieu of meals. Haub consumed canned vegetables to set a good example for his children while at home. Aside from Twinkies and canned vegetables, Haub consumed a protein shake and a multivitamin once daily.
According to the Atkins diet, carbohydrates that are consumed and not burned off become body fat. In a shocking result, Professor Haub went from a body mass index (BMI) of 28.8 to an astonishing BMI of 24.9. The BMI is marked as normal for his average height and age. Another marker for his success was present in the levels of his cholesterol. Haub’s LDL level dropped 20 percent and his HDL increased by the same amount.
The results are shocking and turning the diet and health industry upside down. Conventional methods of dieting are being questioned as well as the markers for “good health”. Individuals that consume that much sugar a day are susceptible to disease. These diseases include diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The law of thermodynamics states that consuming fewer calories than the body burns results in significant weight loss. A long term diet of junk food is not a healthy means to weight loss.
