What can you do about hair loss on low carb or intermittent fasting? What type of oil is best for cooking? And how do you increase your caloric intake without gaining weight?
It's time for this week's Q&A about intermittent fasting and low carb with Dr. Jason Fung:
How do your patients reverse hair loss caused by IF and LCHF?
Hi,A few days ago you answered another site member's question by saying that some people do experience hair loss with fasting or or a LCHF diet. You said it is usually reversible. Can you please tell us how that can be achieved? Also do you know what causes it? Could it be a lack of protein in the diet for example, do you think? Thanks.
Valerie
I don't know what causes it, but have heard patients complain frequently. Lack of protein should not be a factor as protein intake should be the same in LCHF versus regular diets. Please refer to this article 'Can Low Carb Diets result in Hair Loss?' and this post ' Common Problems ' for more details.
Dr. Jason Fung
What type of oil is best for LCHF?
I would like to know which oil I should be using for cooking, and which oil for dressings etc. I am trying to find out more about inflammation, so I think this means reducing Omega 6, increasing Omega 3, please can you help?Gillie
Most people refer to the omega 3:omega 6 ratio. Ideally, this should be close 1:1, but in modern diets, it tends to be closer to 1:10 due to the heavy use of industrial seed oils. Corn oil, safflower oil, vegetable oils are all man made, heavily processed oils which are predominantly omega 6. The high omega 6 level tends to be pro-inflammatory.
Personally, I suggest people use natural oils - those found in meat, dairy, as well as olive oil (which is cold pressed, and not the processed variety). Personally, I use olive oil and butter mostly. Coconut oil is also good but my kids won't eat it.
Dr. Jason Fung
How to go upwards of 1500 calories without gaining weight?
I enjoyed your book on obesity & the video on the calorie misconception. If I have been restricting my calories to 1500 for years while me BMR is 1700 and with light activity 1900 cals a day.I'm currently tracking macros on Myfitnesspal to teach myself to eat keto and this calculates calories as well. Do I just jump in the deep end or gradually increase my calories to just over 1700 to help 'teach' my body to burn the right amount?
Thanks.
Heidi
I don't pay any attention to calories. The body does not care about calories. It only responds to hormones - chiefly insulin. If your insulin is low, then you are able to access your fat stores for energy. Technically, insulin inhibits lipolysis - that is, insulin stops fat burning. If you can't burn fat, then you must rely on your food intake for energy, and if you only eat 1500 calories, you will only burn 1500 calories.
However, if you lower insulin, then you can eat 500 calories and take the other 1500 calories from fat, and hey presto - you start to lose body fat as your body starts to burn 2000 calories. There is an overlap, for sure, between calories and insulin, but it is not one to one. Refined carbohydrates and sugars are the worst for insulin and natural fats are the best.
Dr. Jason Fung
More
Intermittent Fasting for Beginners Intermittent Fasting Q&AAsk Jason Fung about intermittent fasting and type 2 diabetes - for members ( free trial available)
More with Dr. Fung
Dr. Fung has his own blog at intensivedietarymanagement.com. He is also active on Twitter.
His book The Obesity Code is available on Amazon.
His new book, The Complete Guide to Fasting is also available on Amazon.