Are Carbs More Addictive Than Cocaine?

Check out this article from Details magazine (and great image above). I would tend to be wary of diet advice (like investments) from a mainstream mag, but at least people are figuring this out I guess. Quick read with a particularly interesting study:

In 2007, researchers at the University of Bordeaux, France, reported that when rats were allowed to choose between a calorie-free sweetener and intravenous cocaine, 94 percent preferred the sugar substitute. The researchers concluded that "intense sweetness can surpass cocaine reward. . . . 

Read More Here

LA Times: Scientists: Carbs, not fat make you fat

Paleo is not inherently low carb. It is more about food quality than quantity (versus a weighed-and-measured approach of The Zone Diet). Several high caliber endurance athletes have switched to paleo and continue to get alot of their fuel from carbohydrates. That said, the majority of us walking around could use being on the lower-carb side of the equation. There was an interesting article in the LA Times a few days ago about this. It serves as a good crash course in the metabolic process for dealing with the three main macro-nutrients: protein, carbs and fat.

Here is my simple logic test for what is wrong with out diet: in the last generation, we have consumed drastically less fat and yet we continue to get fatter as a nation. All those 'low-fat' processed foods just contain more sugar or artificial sweetener (which spikes your insulin just the same since the taste buds taste sugar and stimulate the appropriate response). Check out the article and maybe try going all of January without gluten. While not fully paleo, it will be a step in the right direction.

Hat-tip Crossfit Football

Powerful Story about Paleo

I make no secret about my enthusiasm for the paleo diet, but I try to minimize the amount of salesmanship as I know that can be annoying (diet might as well be included with politics and religion). I would recommend that everyone check out Robb Wolf's new book and try it for 30 days. As Robb says, at worst you gave up the food you like for 30 days, at best, you change your life. As a trader, I see that as a pretty good risk/reward.

Today on his blog, Robb has a really interesting anecdote from Fat Girl. I'm not usually a huge fan of anecdotal evidence. I like statistics and studies, but some people prefer personal stories. If you want science, read Robb's book or website or check out Dr. Loren Cordain's original book (or his work for endurance athletes) or Mark Sisson's book or blog.

If you want an inspirational story about someone who couldn't figure out what was wrong with her, tried EVERYTHING she could (including other diets and prescription medicines), consulted with dozens of doctors and then finally tried palo, then CLICK HERE.

I'm serious. My knees feel better, my energy is more stable, my endurance is better, I no longer get sugar crashes or afternoon sleepiness and my shakes are gone. As much as I love Crossfit, the paleo diet has made a bigger difference overall in my life. I'll be happy to discuss anything further with anyone interested.

NYT Op-Ed on Eating Local

If I can, I generally choose to eat local produce. There's a large farmer's market in London (Borrough Market) where I buy most of my meat, fruit and veggies for the week. I don't particularly do it for the environmentalist perspective, but it's a decent side-benefit I suppose.

With that in mind, I found this guest Op-Ed from Stephen Budiansky in the NYT particularly interesting: Math lessons for Locavores. He pretty much takes ardent 'eat local' supporters to task if they do it for the wrong reason. A good read.

One of his readers responded with some interesting research of their own, that takes it a step further (and a step in the right direction as well, both logically and nutritionally):

A recent Department of Agriculture study reported that 28 percent of food energy use comes from households while much of the rest — 57.6 percent — comes from the processing, packaging, transportation, wholesale and retail, and food service energy use that locavores are seeking to avoid.

A real locavore cares about all of these steps.

A locavore wouldn’t go for a Twinkie, even if the Hostess factory were two miles down the road. 

Please note the lack of food/eating puns that always accompany this sort of thing.

Noooooooo!!!

Turns out the Beer Festival closed at 5 yesterday. We showed up around 5:30. Imagine my disappointment. Its ok, red wine is more proper paleo anyway.

Also, In Bruges might be one of my least favorite movies of all time. I won't rant, but seriously? On the other hand, a friend introduced me to some decent (if not crude) British television comedy yesterday. I never thought I'd write that. It's like Jerry Jeff Walker sings in The London Homesick Blues....

Weekend Update

The power was out at the office for 6 hours on Friday. That made for some fun calls on the mobile and me reading a book between repair appointments by the light of our lone skylight. I was alone in this as my flatmate, Stewart, was in the US for a wedding. Weird Friday to say the least.

Friday night, Nicole and I saw Toy Story 3. It. Is. Awesome. Seriously, a great movie. We both thought that it was way more for adults than for kids (not that its inappropriate for the youngins, just that it was complex and well written).

Saturday, it was time for Crossfit (10 reps down to one rep of 100kg back squat mixed with one rep increasing to ten reps of chest-to-bar pullups). It's a little workout I made up myself and it huuuuurts. That's 55 squats at 220 pounds and 55 big pullups in 13 minutes. Ow ow ow. Then, we explored the Borough Market. It's like a huge well organized farmer's market. We picked up plenty of Paleo food that will serve as delicious meals for the near future. Ostrich filets, venison, pork and wild boar burgers with lots of fresh veggies.

Speaking of Paleo, Saturday night was our cheat night! Since it's Nicole's last weekend in town she treated me to dinner at a local, highly acclaimed, authentic pizzeria. I had wine, she had Prosecco. Our pizzas were enormous, delicious and served by the half-meter (seriously) on wood planks fresh from the oven. We devoured that, thanked our hardly-English-literate-waiter and then went looking for dessert. After stopping at two bakeries, we had the correct combination of a cookie, a carrot-cupcake, and two brownies. Of course, I felt awful on Sunday morning and now understand why the concept of a cheat day can be so powerful: I want nothing to do with sugar, starch, dairy or alcohol for awhile. We'll see how long that lasts.

Ed. note: If you're confused by any of this "Paleo" talk, check out the book, wikipedia page or the everydaypaleo blog that I look to for delicious recipes.

So far today, we went to early service at the beautiful St. Mary Abbots (Church of England). Its current structure is only 130 years old and the stained glass, columns and vaulted ceilings are gorgeous. A great, quiet place to worship. Then we went to a free workout one of the other Crossfit gyms hosts in the park on nice Sundays. We ran to the locale, did a 13 minute intense bodyweight workout and then ran home. Lucky for me, the workout included more squats! (no weight this time though). Ouch again.

The rest of the day has been filled with prepping for Monday (including reading the WSJ about the SEC charging the Wyly brothers) and watching Mad Men on iTunes. I'm seriously addicted. We've plowed through about 16 episodes since Wednesday. I don't like TV, but its a great show that about half of you have recommended and I'm sure the other half have meant to. You were right.

The big news going into tomorrow, is that I should be fully functional for trading! Fingers crossed that there isn't yet another unforeseen circumstance and that I'll be decent at what I was sent here to do.

Of course, the other news of note is that Nicole is heading back to the states on Tuesday. We've had soooo much fun and I'm really sorry to see her go.

Best,
Brad