WSJ: NFL Linemen Turn to Fatty, No-Carb Diet, but Science Is Unclear

AlabasterVerve
AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
edited November 23 in Health and Weight Loss
I always love to read articles like this. The more mainstream the diet becomes, the more research will be done to suss out the positives and negatives and ultimately those who might do very well on a low carb diet may consider it.

Full Article: NFL Linemen Turn to Fatty, No-Carb Diet, but Science Is Unclear

"U.S. health officials recommend that carbohydrates make up 45% to 65% of every adult’s diet, with the remaining calories coming from fat (20% to 35%) and protein (10% to 35%).

By that standard, four NFL offensive linemen, two Jets and two Giants, might seem bonkers for undertaking a diet comprising about 70% fat, 30% protein—and almost no carbohydrates at all."

What the athletes say about eating a ketogenic diet:

“You feel leaner,” said Giants lineman Geoff Schwartz. “You feel like you have more energy. You recover from workouts. You just feel better in general.”

What the nutritionists say:

"Fueling up with just fat and protein is akin to trying to put diesel in an unleaded fuel tank and expecting your luxury car to run at peak performance."

The article ends with one player opting to eat carbs at dinner and another player sticking with the diet during training camp but having a "cheat day" on Saturday before games. There's no mention of what the other two players are doing.

Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    Lol, this means nothing if the players are 3rd and 4th string.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Lol, this means nothing if the players are 3rd and 4th string.

    Why is that? Do less skilled athletes train less or don't play as hard or something?
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    AlabasterVerve wrote: »
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Lol, this means nothing if the players are 3rd and 4th string.

    Why is that? Do less skilled athletes train less or don't play as hard or something?
    Because the diet has nothing to do with their ability to play versus the first stringers who are likely eating a bunch of carbs.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

  • InCHarmsWay
    InCHarmsWay Posts: 103 Member
    Willie Colon is not known for his exceptional speed or fitness....
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    courtenaymichele wrote: »
    Willie Colon is not known for his exceptional speed or fitness....

    LOL Neither am I. I won't hold that against him. :p

  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    I'm not one to slam people doing keto diets. I have questions about them that remain unanswered and am not convinced that it's entirely healthy, but maybe that's because I spent most of my adult life seeing "ketosis" as a bad thing, leading to worse things. I don't generally slam people for their weight loss choices and support just about anything someone wants to do, anyway, so I don't have an ax to grind with the keto people. It seems to work really well for many people.

    What NFL players do, however, isn't something I'd necessarily do. I stick with the doctor for advice, just like they do.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    edited August 2015
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Lol, this means nothing if the players are 3rd and 4th string.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png

    I don't understand what you mean. 3rd or 4th stringers don't try as hard?

    Many LCHF athletes do eat more carbs during athletic performance. Carbs can give a slight athletic advantage. Peter Attia md, a serious keto athlete, calls carbs a "performance enhancing substance". Even if an athlete is in ketosis, as long as they burn the carbs around the time of play, they will stay in ketosis. This way they get the benefit of carbs for athletic performance and the (perceived) health benefits of ketosis.
  • _Terrapin_
    _Terrapin_ Posts: 4,301 Member
    I saw new and trendy in the article; followed by replace fat with muscle. Oh boy. . . .
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    What NFL players do, however, isn't something I'd necessarily do. I stick with the doctor for advice, just like they do.

    Sound advice, as always. :smile:

    I think the real value in articles like these are that they generate interest and research dollars. But they also help dispel the myth that you can't eat vegetables or exercise intensely while eating low carb which is nice too.
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  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    00ajPve.jpg

  • mattyc772014
    mattyc772014 Posts: 3,543 Member
    I will probably get some flack for saying this. But the Jets suck(for a long time), Lebron lost the second championship in a row last year and Geoff Schwartz was pretty much on IR last year. Lets see what happens this year. Most likely they are not really following the "kenoway".
  • BrianaDuBois
    BrianaDuBois Posts: 48 Member
    Sounds like a recipe for pancreatitis to me, but to each his own, I suppose.
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    BrianaDuBois wrote: »
    Sounds like a recipe for pancreatitis to me, but to each his own, I suppose.

    lol I thought I heard them all but pancreatitis is new to me -- thank you for sharing. :D
This discussion has been closed.

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