Live webchat with Dr John Briffa Wednesday the 4 July 12-1pm

[RachelMumsnet]

In response to popular demand we're delighted to invite Dr John Briffa for a live webchat next Wednesday 4 July at 12 midday.

Dr John Briffa is a doctor, award-winning health writer, and former columnist for The Daily Mail and The Observer. He is author of eight books on nutrition and self-help. His latest, Escape the Diet Trap has been widely discussed across the Mumsnet Talk boards.

In Escape The Diet Trap, Dr Briffa says you can 'achieve successful, sustainable weight loss without consciously cutting back on food and without the need for exhausting exercise'. One Mumsnetter describes the book as '...brilliant. Really easy to read without being patronising, and an eye opener with all the studies he cites. Really makes me feel that I am following a healthy diet for the first time in ages'. and another says, 'His advice is smart, sensible and rooted in Proper Science - but it's still controversial. Perfect for a webchat!'

Join us over lunch (extra helpings appear to be acceptable ) at noon on Wednesday 4 July to chat to Dr John Briffa, or if you're unable to join us on the day, post a question in advance on this thread.

[DrJohnBriffa]

@Alameda

yes

sorry

Biscuits are a bit like crack cocaine for me (as they are a lot of people), so I like to keep them away from me as much as possible.

[MNP]

MNP
Welcome Dr Briffa, following the low carb diet has changed my body shape for the better even tho weightless is slow with lots to lose but it has improved my sleep and bowel issues which have made my daily life a lot brighter, thank you.

DrJohnBriffa
Well done you and thank you. Do you feel what you're doing is sustainable, but that's possibly the most important thing of all if you're looking to get continuing benefit.

Yes I feel it is sustainable with the odd lapse and the improved way I feel and also the increased ability to 'see' the nasty effects when I lapse help steer me to a better path.

[DrJohnBriffa]

@becstarsky

Welcome to mumsnet Dr Briffa. Love your book, and lost weight with the diet initially but then started finding it really hard to stick to in terms of time commitment for making meals. I work full time and prepare meals for five people not including myself every day. They're fussy about eggs and veg, and they like pasta and potato based meals, so I was having to make separate meals for them and in the end I gave up and joined the majority.

Really annoying as your diet suits my health so much better than anything I've tried (I'm coeliac with PCOS related insulin resistance). Have you any ideas on recruiting/influencing carb-addicted family members? Thank you!

Any change of meals being mainly meat (e.g. roast, chops, casserole) or fish with vegetables and potato/rice/pasta and you just leaving the starch out for yourself?

[BIWItheBold]

It was a real revelation to me to realise recently that being hungry isn't just about having an empty stomach, (we, in the Western world, probably never really have empty stomachs!), but that it's controlled by our hormones. And that eating (too many) easily accessible carbs actually makes us hungry. Presumably, therefore, if we're keeping our carbs low, we could simply move towards eating whenever we're hungry, rather than sticking to the conventional 'three square meals a day'?

(Apologies as this is probably my millionth question)

[Alameda]

thanks, crack cocaine better for waistline I should think

have serious question though - is the body building fat stripping 40-40-20 (protein carbs fat) spread across 6 tiny meals a day a form of low carbing and in line with your approach?

[DrJohnBriffa]

@Ruggles

I'm so excited about this and swooning. Sadly also having night sweats, hot flushes and an early-ish menopause at 45.... :( I've just finished reading your book and can't wait to get started as it all sounds so sensible / logical and I would like to lose about 10 lbs. Is anything else I should do or take to help ease my way through the menopause?

Can't answer this because of medico-legals issues, but you might look around in the area of herbal medicine for some inspiration.

[DrJohnBriffa]

@SeventhEverything

Is it possible to eat low carb on a budget? What are your best recommendations for high protein budget food?

Cheap cuts of meat made into stews and casseroles, and (if you like them) organ meats likes liver and kidney. Eggs are quite economical too. Do also bear in mind that when individuals eat 'right' the usually eat less (so some savings here).

[becstarsky]

Hello Dr Briffa - posted question upthread, being cheeky and reposting "Have you any ideas on recruiting/influencing carb-addicted family members? Thank you!" Evening mealtime is a bit of a conflict in our house - your way of eating suits my health best definitely but I have an ongoing battle with my husband, son, niece and nephew who keep asking for 'a nice healthy pasta' 'something a bit lighter' etc.

[Quejica]

Lol at RAMPANT HUNGER AND UNCONTROLLED EATING!

I haven't eaten for 17 hours now, I am looking forward to my small slice of cauliflower pizza in a minute then won't eat until my chilli with cauliflower rice this evening.

Nothing I do is uncontrolled!

[DrJohnBriffa]

@Alameda

thanks, crack cocaine better for waistline I should think

have serious question though - is the body building fat stripping 40-40-20 (protein carbs fat) spread across 6 tiny meals a day a form of low carbing and in line with your approach?

40-40-20 (protein carbs fat) Then this is probably not low-carb, as such. Also, I'd avoid having 6 meals a day. If this is necessary, one wonders if the food is truly satisfying (suspect not).

[DrJohnBriffa]

@QueenStromba

I know I've already asked a question and I'd really like that one asked for the sake of my own future health but I think I have another one which is probably more important:

I believe you mentioned in "Escape the Diet Trap" how eating an overall acidic diet leads to calcium being leached from the bones. I would have thought that carbonated water would be acidic (carbonic acid) and therefore contribute to acidity in the diet and thus to leaching of calcium from the bones but I've read claims of a pH of 7 on some fizzy water bottles. Is fizzy water normally acidic, neutral or basic? Also, is soda water any different? Should we all stop drinking carbonated water altogether to prevent diseases such as osteoporosis?

The effect of a food on bone cannot be determined by measuring its pH because it's possible, for instance, for acidic foods to actually have an alkalising effect in the body. I don't know what effect carbonated or soda water have on the bone, and I suspect it's minimal in comparison to other lifestyle factors such as activity and ensuring good levels of vitamin D.

[cocolepew]

Oh this is interesting.

I have been told Im insulin resistant due to PCOS. Im due to get my ovaries out in a few weeks and will go on HRT for a few months at least.

Do you think following your diet straight after my hysterectomy would be a good Idea and why?


Thanks!

[DrJohnBriffa]

@Quejica

Lol at RAMPANT HUNGER AND UNCONTROLLED EATING!

I haven't eaten for 17 hours now, I am looking forward to my small slice of cauliflower pizza in a minute then won't eat until my chilli with cauliflower rice this evening.

Nothing I do is uncontrolled!

Sounds nom!

[becstarsky]

Oooh, you looked up the thread and answered me! How very kind and lovely you are, people hardly EVER do that on a web chat. Look everyone here's another link to the lovely Dr Briffa's book buy it immediately

[DrJohnBriffa]

@cocolepew

Oh this is interesting.

I have been told Im insulin resistant due to PCOS. Im due to get my ovaries out in a few weeks and will go on HRT for a few months at least.

Do you think following your diet straight after my hysterectomy would be a good Idea and why?

Thanks!

Why not now?

[NotMostPeople]

What about the connection between a fatty diet and gallstones?

Sorry I every mentioned orange juice .

[DrJohnBriffa]

@Jux

I'm afraid I haven't read your book as we have very little money to spare, and basically my DLA is how we pay for food.

I need to lose weight, but don't actually eat a great deal to start with. I have ms and therefore find exercise very difficult and painful. If I were to eat less I would spend most of the day fainting (I've tried it so I know!). I have fresh fruit and veg every day, past a couple of times a week, rice at least once a week. We cook from scratch every day so none of those ready meals or anything like that.

Would your regimen work for me, do you think?

Perhaps look at the role of certain fats (omega-3 fish oils in particular) and vitamin D in MS.

[DrJohnBriffa]

@NotMostPeople

What about the connection between a fatty diet and gallstones?

Sorry I every mentioned orange juice .

What connection?

[DrJohnBriffa]

@Echinacea

Hi John. I'm an Australian naturopath (you and I are sometimes at the same seminars :)) and insulin sensitisation is a major part of my clinical practise. As you and I are singing from the same hymn book on many issues (insulin, vit D etc.) I thought I'd ask your opinion/clinical experience with paediatric nutrition. It distresses me to see so many of my patients and mum friends giving their babies pasta, baby rice and dessert at every meal. Is there a baby philosophy or guidebook you follow? What do you think of the Nourishing Traditions mob? I personally think they (and the WAPF, from whom they form their ideology) are a little way-out when it comes to childhood nutrition and weaning. Personally, if I tried to get my patients to give their newborn babies ground liver in a bottle I doubt I'd be in practice much longer! I've had a look at Nina Planck and many of the other books touted by the Weston Price followers, but it just doesn't sit right. I still find myself advising that babies should start on fruit and veg, continuing to proteins, with unrefined carbs making up a significant proportion of each meal. What do you think? Really interested to know what your research has been and what you advise in clinical practise.

I'm familiar with WP but not what they advocate for kids. Generally, I advise the same diet for kids as for adults.

[vnmum]

I'm back with another sneaky question. I am really interestd in the idea of a lower carb diet for children due mainly to the bad effects grains etc have on people.

My DC are skinny minnies and I do worry about cutting their carbs too much incase they waste away (with not having much fat on them). How low carb can you safely go with children without affecting growth (they are 4 and 6)?

[DrJohnBriffa]

@BIWItheBold

It was a real revelation to me to realise recently that being hungry isn't just about having an empty stomach, (we, in the Western world, probably never really have empty stomachs!), but that it's controlled by our hormones. And that eating (too many) easily accessible carbs actually makes us hungry. Presumably, therefore, if we're keeping our carbs low, we could simply move towards eating whenever we're hungry, rather than sticking to the conventional 'three square meals a day'?

(Apologies as this is probably my millionth question)

Yes, as I think I've written elsewhere, I've had to review my long-held belief that we need to eat three times a day. Some do, some don't, and it can vary from day-to-day too.

[Quejica]

Do you feel a pressure to stay slim so that you are a shop window for what you advocate?

I know I've already had a question but Olivia has had lots

[DrJohnBriffa]

@Quejica

Do you feel a pressure to stay slim so that you are a shop window for what you advocate?

I know I've already had a question but Olivia has had lots

Yes, I do. It's a blessing and a curse. A curse because I have to walk the talk, and a blessing because I have to walk the talk ;-)

[BIWItheBold]

This has been brilliant. Thank you for answering so many of my questions and apologies to MNHQ for blatantly breaking the webchat guidelines

[Quejica]

Thank you - what a great webchat