A Better Approach to Low Carbs
The Hamptons-a forty mile stretch along the southern shore of Long Island, New York is synonymous with the good life: sun, fun and glamour. Now it's famous for the modified low-carb diet that bears its name, The Hamptons Diet by Fred Pescatore, M.D. If you want to lose weight, stay thin and be healthy, this is the diet for you.
Low-Carb Philosophy
Since grade school we've been taught to limit fats and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and grains. Remember the food pyramid and four food groups? Then came the Atkins Diet that reversed all that--forget the bread, pasta, rice, grains, fruit, nuts, starchy vegetables and sugar, but don't worry about eating fats. Why? The late Dr. Atkins taught that reducing carbohydrates switches the body's metabolism from burning carbs to burning accumulated fat. Now 40% of Americans are watching their intake of carbs, and the we loss results have been impressive.
The Hamptons Diet
As the former associate medical director of the Atkins Center in New York City, Dr. Pescatore disagreed with the "all-fat- is-good-for-you" message. So he modified the low carb approach to teach others how to eat healthy fats and some carbohydrates without gaining weight. As a result, The Hamptons Diet was born.
Good Fats
The basic premise of The Hamptons Diet is simple: a) limit carbs, b) eat more vegetables, fish and omega-3 fatty acids, and c) consume most of your fats in the form of monounsaturates.
Research shows that diets with monounsaturates as the predominant fat source result in lower risk of heart disease and longer life spans. The best food and supplemental source of monounsaturated fats is
macadamia nut
oil, which has up to 30% more of these "good fats" than olive oil. macadamia nut oil
is also more versatile in the kitchen, as it can be used at higher cooking temperatures (up to 450 degrees).
In his book, Dr. Pescatore reveals the healthy wonders of macadamia nut oil and teaches how to incorporate it into your favorite low-carb recipes. You can find The Hamptons Diet at your local book store or online at
amazon.com.
excerpt issue
HealthSights issue3:2004
