LOW CARB/HIGH FAT DIET – THE CONTROVERSY
LOW CARB/HIGH FAT DIET – THE CONTROVERSY
Presented by the Sports Science Institute of SA (SSISA)
Not a day goes by without us being confronted, at some level, by discussions regarding the highly contentious low carbohydrate/high fat diet. “Who and what do we believe? What is right and is there in fact a right option?” It is no surprise that the public are confused. What we choose to eat is influenced by multiple factors, most of which are highly individualized. Many of us, in our efforts to be as healthy as possible, are influenced by dietary guidelines borne out of scientific evidence, but our culture, economic status, food access, lifestyles and even early life events and genetics play a significant role in what we consume.
To complicate matters further, nutrition is, to put it mildly, a rapidly changing science, with new evidence emerging daily. Consider that during the last decade, more than 830 000 articles on diet and health were published in scientific journals - that translates into a study published every 6½ minutes! It is no surprise that public population-based nutritional recommendations are extremely challenging and often divisive!
We live in an age where we want to be exposed to a range of options, but where we can make robust, informed choices that work for us. For this reason, the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA) will be hosting what we expect to be an extremely engaging, lively and informative forum to discuss various dietary strategies and theories.
Our panel will be comprised of Professor Marjanne Senekal, who is Head of Human Nutrition at UCT; Swedish medical doctor, Andreas Eenfeldt, who runs the blog, www.dietdoctor.com; Monique Forslund (www.lifezone.se), who lost 40kg following a low carb/high fat diet, is author of “Low Carb for families” and is a Health & Fitness Coach and teacher in Sweden; and Georgina Thomas, an endurance athlete and swimming coach who lost 45kg on a portion/calorie control diet, without excluding unrefined carbohydrates.
Professor Tim Noakes, who needs no introduction, will welcome our speakers and Mike Finch, the Editor of Runner’s World SA will chair the session and the ensuing discussion.
The forum is scheduled for 14 November 2012 at the SSISA’s conference centre in Newlands. Registration will start at 17h30 with presentations commencing at 18h00 sharp. Immediate booking is suggested – since this is a highly topical issue and we expect an enormous response. Please secure your seat by e-mailing workshop@ssisa.com. There will be a donation of R50 to the Ziphelele Foundation which provides financial assistance to deserving students who lack the funds to study Biokinetics or Exercise Science.
NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: The SSISA released their 2012 Healthy Diet Joint statement in April and it reflects a synopsis of what a panel of scientists from UCT’s Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (ESSM) unit and other academics and clinical practitioners believe to be accurate, based on current and past peer-reviewed scientific evidence. The focus of this statement is for persons without clinical conditions; those with medical conditions, should be under the care of appropriately-trained medical professionals. The direct link to this document can be found HERE
