TLC's Dr. Younan Nowzaradan of "My 600-lb Life" gets fabulous weight-loss results with his gastric bypass surgery patients. Everyone wants to know how he does it and his bariatric surgery diet is highly sought-after. You might be surprised at some of the foods Dr. Now includes and excludes. The meal plan calls for little to no fruit and eliminates other good carbs, yet adds starch, starchy vegetables, whole grains and fiber.
This seems to contradict celebrity health guru Dr. Oz. Is it possible to cut carbs while boosting fiber?
Why does Dr. Now's diet cut out good carbs?
The "My 600-lb Life" patients are almost always addicted to junk carbohydrates. It's pretty obvious that processed foods with sugar, starch, sodium, trans-fat and saturated fats cause weight gain. Such empty carbs add calories without providing much in nutrients. But cutting healthy carbs like fruit and vegetables? Isn't that unhealthy? Yes and no. It's true that some fruits are fibrous fat-burners. Dr. Oz recommends eating whole fruit instead of juice.
He says apples and berries with seeds help burn fat. But they are also sugary and work best for weight-loss when added to other foods. Blending fruit in Greek yogurt or plant-based protein powder and flaxseed makes complex carbohydrates that don't burn off so quickly. Putting berries on oatmeal makes a great fat-burning, high fiber breakfast too.
Why gastric bypass diet adds fiber and whole grains but cuts carbs
Here's where Dr. Now's "My 600-lb Life" diet gets a little controversial. He calls for adding fiber while eliminating fruit. So the source must come from grains. The meal plan does include some starchy vegetables like squash and carrots. But bariatric surgery patients must also eat whole grains, which, healthy or not, are still carbs.
The trick is in the choosing of carbohydrates. Dr Now's "no white diet" cuts white foods like rice, potatoes, refined flour and white bread. It calls for brown foods (whole grains), nuts and seeds for protein plus fiber. This ups healthy fatty acids (omega oils) while reducing saturated and partially hydrogenated fats and highly glycemic (sugary) carbs.
Why bariatric diet differs from other diets, but probably shouldn't
Gastric bypass surgery patients of "My 600-lb Life" have had most of their stomachs sealed off and can only eat very small portions. But as they still have to conquer hunger. The reality television show sees patients revert to overeating when they don't feel satiated. So anti-obesity foods must contain hunger-curbing protein without anything extra.
Sugary carbohydrates burn off fast, causing blood sugar spikes and inflammation. The point of dieting is to make the stomach shrink so it takes less food to fill it. The body then starts tapping into stored fat and the pounds fall off. If dieters who haven't had their stomachs surgically altered eat like this, they will lose weight too.