The 5:2 diet…. If you are like me, every time there is a new supposedly effective diet bandied about you’ll want to know what makes it work (and therefore whether it is sustainable). The 5:2 diet is certainly vogue at present with many celebrities declaring this is their food regime.  This is a fasting diet where 5 days of normal eating are interspersed with 2 days of restricted calories (500kcal for women, 600kcal for men).

This diet has been shown to be both highly effective in burning fat and turning on anti-ageing genes. How does this happen?  One of the reasons is that on the fasting days it stops glucose release which in turn reduces insulin levels.  Another likely reason for the rapid weight loss is the body switching from sugar to what is called ketogenic metabolism. This means that our bodies are using fat for energy. Ketones are molecules generated during fat metabolism, whether from the fat in the food you just ate or fat you were carrying on your hips. A recent article I read noted that it is highly likely that our ancestors, on lean days when hunting was not productive, ran perfectly well on ketones as the body’s alternative energy source. In fact is likely that we go into it in the mornings when we haven’t eaten for a few hours.

Interestingly, and I have heard this several times recently, there have been many reports of Alzheimer’s patients and children with fits who have made major improvements in symptoms from consuming an equivalent of a tablespoon of virgin pressed coconut oil daily.  Why? Ketones are made directly from coconut oil which contain elements that convert directly into ketones which the body can burn for energy rather than store as fat. The benefit of coconut oil extends to simply increasing short term memory.  Studies in children with severe epilepsy have shown that almost a third cut their number of seizures by 40%.

Coconut oil is relatively high in calories but as there are little calories left to turn to body fat after the ketones have been burnt for energy it is recommended for the 5:2 diet

March against Monsanto… Next week on May 25, on 6 continents, in 36 countries, and in 250 cities at least, tens of thousands of people will March against Monsanto to  

• Protect our food supply
• Support local farmers
• Spread awareness about the harmful effects of genetically modified foods
• Promote organic solutions
• Expose the cronyism between big business and big government (including the Agriculture Appropriations Bill that President Obama signed into law which protects these companies from litigation)
• Bring accountability to those responsible for the corruption.

For more information please see the March Against Monsanto website www.march-against-monsanto.com.

At present the march closest to us is in Bristol with one perhaps taking place in London.