Clean eating- does it matter?

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  • Posts: 27 Member
    Overall just for losing weight it does not matter as long as your body can properly digest what you eat (meaning you have no Intolerance against something)

    Basically you could eat Pizza and Burger and still lose weight as long as you are in a caloric deficit.
    And quite honestly i did some times.. I ate whatever i wanted within my Calorie Goal. And i lost weight.

    I learned from this that for me tracking my Calories is so vital for me. I can keep loosing weight even if i have a bad day.. and/or have no time to cook a proper Meal.

    But most of the time i try to reach my Macros. Right now i am trying to cut the carbs a bit(not Low Carb or anything) and add more Protein.

  • Posts: 174 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »

    Indeed. Here's something from earlier in the thread: calorie is a unit of measure, not a synonym for food, and it is confusing to use it in the latter way. Everyone knows and agrees that foods are different. That does not mean that a calorie is not a calorie. No one is arguing that certain foods might not be better choices in a specific context. I ran 16 miles yesterday. Beforehand, since I needed to eat something but did not have time to digest, a steak would have been a terrible choice. This does not make a steak bad or unclean -- just not a great choice for that purpose.

    "Different foods go through different metabolic pathways.

    Some of these pathways are more “efficient” than others.

    The more “efficient” a metabolic pathway is, the more of the food energy is used for work and less is dissipated as heat.

    The metabolic pathways for protein are less efficient than the metabolic pathways for carbs and fat.

    Protein contains 4 calories per gram, but a large part of the protein calories are lost as heat when it is metabolized by the body.

    The thermic effect of food is a measure of how much different foods increase energy expenditure, due to the energy required to digest, absorb and metabolize the nutrients.

    This is the thermic effect of different macronutrients (7):

    Fat: 2-3%.
    Carbs: 6-8%.
    Protein: 25-30%.
    Sources vary on the exact numbers, but it is clear that protein requires much more energy to metabolize than fat and carbs (8).

    If we go with a thermic effect of 25% for protein and 2% for fat, this would mean that a 100 calories of protein would end up as 75 calories, while a 100 calories of fat would end up as 98 calories.

    Studies show that high protein diets boost metabolism by 80 to 100 calories per day, compared to lower protein diets (9, 10)

    Put simply, high protein diets have a “metabolic advantage.”

    There is also one study that compared two sandwich meals that had the same number of calories and macronutrients.

    However, one sandwich was made with whole grains and cheddar cheese, while the other was made with refined grains and processed cheese (11).

    Those who ate the whole grain sandwich burned twice as many calories digesting the meal."
  • Posts: 30,886 Member
    antdelsa wrote: »
    Eating 188 grams of protein from beef isnt the same as 188 grams from an easier digested source such as white fish, the proteins from the fish will be available quicker than the beef because it takes the body longer to process the beef. This may not seem important to some people but if the debate is "clean" eating vs "dirty" there is a difference and over time the difference is significant

    You are the one saying this difference is important (and to the average person losing weight and not wanting to be "skinny fat"). Care to explain how?

    As a starting point, let's establish what is not being disagreed about:

    (1) Foods are different (of course they are).
    (2) It's good for health and energy to eat a good diet (IMO a good diet doesn't mean one can't sometimes eat ice cream or even post deadlifts and donuts photos -- in other words, if you think "a good diet" means "not eating bad food" I'd argue that you are not properly understanding nutrition).
    (3) Eating enough protein is important (I like .8 g/lb of goal weight if on a deficit).
    (4) Mild deficit + exercise including strength exercise if losing weight helps avoid fat loss (along with adequate protein). What a mild deficit is and how important it is depends on current body fat.

    I'd also say that for ideal athletic performance if one is aiming for certain goals OR similarly certain bodybuilding goals timing and specific food choices might be more significant, but this has nothing to do with fat loss in the average person.
  • Posts: 174 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »

    You are the one saying this difference is important (and to the average person losing weight and not wanting to be "skinny fat"). Care to explain how?

    As a starting point, let's establish what is not being disagreed about:

    (1) Foods are different (of course they are).
    (2) It's good for health and energy to eat a good diet (IMO a good diet doesn't mean one can't sometimes eat ice cream or even post deadlifts and donuts photos -- in other words, if you think "a good diet" means "not eating bad food" I'd argue that you are not properly understanding nutrition).
    (3) Eating enough protein is important (I like .8 g/lb of goal weight if on a deficit).
    (4) Mild deficit + exercise including strength exercise if losing weight helps avoid fat loss (along with adequate protein). What a mild deficit is and how important it is depends on current body fat.

    I'd also say that for ideal athletic performance if one is aiming for certain goals OR similarly certain bodybuilding goals timing and specific food choices might be more significant, but this has nothing to do with fat loss in the average person.

    It has everything to do with fat loss and the average person, bodybuilders don't cut this way because they aren't average people they do it because it is the most effecient and effevtive way to cut fat while being able to maintain or build muscle, i said having a cheat is ok in moderation but for people who have bad eating habits i don't think its wise to say yeah eat whatever as long as you count calories and hit your macros, if it works then cool but its not the most effecient or effective method nor is it the most healthy choice.
  • Posts: 9,414 Member
    antdelsa wrote: »

    Cmon man thats survival and not health and fitness, thats such an unfair example.... the minute details are what gets someone to a fairly small body fat percentage and aesthetic that most strive for ... everyone's goals are different but losing weight doesn't always mean getting healthy or looking good.

    But nobody said losing weight always means getting healthy or looking good :s

    What they said is for purely for losing weight it doesnt matter what you eat - it is the calorie deficit in that matters FOR WEIGHT LOSS.
    Not for nutrition or health or aesthetics.

    Purely FOR WEIGHT LOSS.
  • Posts: 9,414 Member
    antdelsa wrote: »

    It has everything to do with fat loss and the average person, bodybuilders don't cut this way because they aren't average people they do it because it is the most effecient and effevtive way to cut fat while being able to maintain or build muscle, i said having a cheat is ok in moderation but for people who have bad eating habits i don't think its wise to say yeah eat whatever as long as you count calories and hit your macros, if it works then cool but its not the most effecient or effective method nor is it the most healthy choice.

    But nobody recomended eating whatever you want with no regard to health or nutrition.

    Nobody said that would be a healthy choice.

    What they said is that purely for WEIGHT LOSS one would lose weight the same regardless of the source of the calories.

    This simple statement somehow seems to be going over your head. :o
  • Posts: 8,911 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »

    The question is, so what? For example, for most people it doesn't matter. For others (like someone about to go on a long run or to run a race), it may actually be important that the energy be used for work. That same thing might not be what someone in another circumstance wants -- less efficient means it takes longer to digest and you might not get as many calories from it, after all. Like broccoli.

    Didn't this get covered with stevencloser? Most people here KNOW about the TEF of protein being higher. Who cares? I get no prizes for eating the most (on paper) calories, and eating a super high protein diet just so I can claim to eat, I dunno, 2000 calories instead of 1800 is useless to me and a silly thing to think about. The question is what amount of protein is protective and helps create the most satisfying and satiating diet given OTHER concrns too (like healthy fats, the importance of vegetables, that I need to fuel activity, that I have certain preferences). For me around 100-110 g usually works well and makes sense. To double that because of TEF would be ridiculous and NOT give me a healthier diet.

    As I recall the variables were not adequately controlled. I do believe that higher fiber is in reality lower cal since we don't digest most fiber, and anyway for me it's more filling. But to exaggerate the importance of that or claim that makes a meal with white rice, shrimp, and lots of veg unhealthy (because white rice is too easily digested and you can use most of the calories) seems silly to me. And absolutely unhelpful for the vast majority of people.

    More like 2000 instead of 1980...
  • Posts: 30,886 Member
    antdelsa wrote: »

    It has everything to do with fat loss and the average person, bodybuilders don't cut this way because they aren't average people they do it because it is the most effecient and effevtive way to cut fat while being able to maintain or build muscle, i said having a cheat is ok in moderation but for people who have bad eating habits i don't think its wise to say yeah eat whatever as long as you count calories and hit your macros, if it works then cool but its not the most effecient or effective method nor is it the most healthy choice.

    (1) You didn't answer the question. Explain to me why I should avoid steak and eat only white fish for fat loss purposes. (Personally I sometimes have steak, sometimes have white fish, sometimes have fattier fish, like salmon, which IMO has additional benefits, sometimes have chicken, etc. -- and sometimes go without meat for a while.)

    (2) Bodybuilders cut a bunch of different ways, so don't pretend like there's one way that works.

    (3) I don't see why I should consider steak (or anything else) "a cheat" if consumed in the context of a healthful diet. Sure, sometimes I don't eat as I think is best, and am not saying otherwise, although I think calling that "cheating" is odd. But whatever works for you.

    (4) I haven't said eat whatever if you count calories and hit your macros. Did you not read the thread? I said for health and nutrition eat a good diet, and a calorie appropriate one. But that has zero to do with "eating clean" or never eating "bad foods" or whatever, and also has nothing to do with this new focus on TEF that you have added into the thread or whatever the reason is for always preferring white fish over steak.
  • Posts: 30,886 Member

    More like 2000 instead of 1980...

    I'm being exceptionally generous for the purpose of argument.

    I suppose if you looked at the difference between 20% protein and 100% it might be quite a large difference. Of course, the latter diet would be horribly awful and unhealthy but hey! More calories.
  • Posts: 6,771 Member
    Clean eating threads always make me want an ice cream.

    Just finished eating one, unseasonably and gloriously warm in London today!
  • Posts: 8,171 Member

    This is so insightful. We'd never tell someone there is no point in making a budget if they aren't going to save the maximum amount of money and never splurge on a latte or a manicure. We intuitively understand that there is a point in doing things even if one isn't going to be perfect and squeeze the maximum benefit out of everything. In fact, most of us understand that's the *only* way to get through life without anxiety and constant second-guessing.

    It's only because our cultural relationship to eating and maintaining a healthy weight is so broken that we're prone to this all-or-nothing thinking on this issue where we'd automatically see it as absurd in other areas of life. If you called a local food bank to volunteer and they said they'd only accept you if you volunteered the maximum amount of hours that you aren't sleeping and working, you'd immediately assume you were being pranked.

    To put into another context pertinent to my career: when someone wins a lottery or inherits money we advise them to take a small amount and have fun with it. Take the trip you have always wanted or buy something normally outside your budget BUT put the rest of it away in a manner where it goes to work for you.
  • Posts: 15,532 Member
    edited April 2017
    Clean eating threads always make me want an ice cream.

    Me too. Ice cream for breakfast?

    Anyone have the link to MityMax's fast food for a month thread?
  • Posts: 123 Member
    My friend illustrated it to me this way- How nutrient rich is your intake?
    Health related sites all over are advocating eating foods which have avoided excessive chemical additives, and that is great if you can reach that goal for peace of mind. Being in healthcare I know (as do many who visit here) how the body processes and eliminates the things it does not recognize as useful to its function. I prefer to limit the amount of additives I intake simply to preserve longevity of my internal organs, so I often opt for items with minimal added ingredients, but I am not legalistic about it.
    I just keep the thought in my food selection choices-how much benefit are my cells going to get by taking in this food?
  • Posts: 8,753 Member
    I'm still waiting for a list of specific additives and preservatives that are abd and what they do that makes them bad.

    I hear you! I actually like my foods to have preservatives, without them food goes bad in a hurry or will make me ill! Been there, done that. Hello porcelain god. Lol
  • Posts: 174 Member
    Whats overly complicated about eating whole healthy foods? Whats complicated about learning simple nutritional timing?

    Its more complicated to continue to eat garbage and try to sort out why you're still struggling with weight issues quite honestly

    I didn't post that article with the intention of plagiarism is was 5 in the morning i used quotations and just simply forgot to add the reference, sheesh

    Look do what you guys want, if it works for you great, I've never seen more people in my life who claim to be healthy but are so quick to jump down someones neck for saying to eat healthy and clean.

    Steak is a great source of protein but in context to my example white fish is digested faster and the nutrients are bioavailable much faster than what a steak would be ...

    Not sure what other ridiculous questions have been thrown out here as there are sooo many people who took this opportunity to make am excuse as to why its ok for them to continue to not eat a cleam diet ...

    Adherence is very important i get that, consistency is key but having discipline and will power to say no to foods you know aren't going to be the best option are part of this journey, its not about making this easy and all about doing it the right way. I prefer to do things the most efficient and productive way for the most optimal results if thats not your thing then disregard but don't jump down my throat for telling people to eat clean when we all know its the better option, if you have issues being disciplined and sticking with a clean diet thats your issue, but don't make it seem like its impossible to avoid garbage and is soooo hard to do, that defeatist attitude from the beginning is why people fail, I'd rather someone know its possible and can be done and for doing it they will achieve much better results in a shorter period of time. Not one person in here can tell me that a clean diet isn't a better choice its absolutely ridiculous to think otherwise, and taking advice on this subject from some of you is like taking financial advice from a homeless person, consider the source. How many of you who oppose what I'm saying are still struggling and how many of you can truly and honestly say you have the body you dream of .... you may be happy with your results but lets be honest with ourselves I'm sure there's some room for approvement
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