Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 60, July 2014 | Page 35

nutrition

Ma

The Banter On Banting
These days, it seems everyone, especially athletes, has an opinion on what eating lifestyle works for them. On
the same premise as Professor Tim Noakes’ controversial high fat, low carb diet, the Banting Diet is another
popular trend that many are turning to. We delve a bit deeper into this seemingly new diet.
– BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

WHAT THE BANT?

Banting is based on a high fat, medium protein and low carb intake – a
notion that fat is not the villain! With Tim Noakes borrowing from the
Banting design, it has become a trend for the athlete to grab more bacon
and lamb chops at the table and not feel guilty about it. The idea of carboloading, too, has become a thing of the past for many runners who used to
up the ante on pasta before a big race. But how much fat is really needed?
And is striking off carbs a danger?
According to Claire Julsing-Strydom, a Jo’burg-based registered dietician,
there is not enough research showing that a heightened consumption of
saturated fats in your diet works. “We all need fat and 20 to 40% is a good
range, but not the 80% in your overall diet that the idea recommends,” she
says. “There are also major risks when someone eliminates some carbs.
Your fibre content slows down and it takes away vital nutrients and antioxidants. Constipation can increase, there is risk of colon cancer, and many
suffer from kidney issues.”
There is also the concern over
cardiovascular disease, with massive
spikes in one’s cholesterol due to
increased fat intake that promotes
fatty build-up in the arteries.
Atherosclerosis is one example
of a disease characterised by a
slow narrowing of the blood
vessels by sudden spikes

in fat and cholesterol-loaded foods. Therefore, Claire recommends that
athletes focus on a balanced diet that includes protein, wholegrain carbs,
fruit and vegetables.

INDIVIDUAL CHECK

While the Banting lifestyle does limit insulin levels, which promotes weightloss, there is a concern that many are taking it on too drastically. “There
are some cases where there is quick weight-loss, but there is a concern
that you’ll lose muscle mass,” says Claire. “People have to understand
that the heart is also a muscle, and once you lose that mass, it affects the
muscle. People always want that quick-fire solution instead of adapting to a
more balanced, healthy lifestyle. You have to really look into your fat intake
– too much definitely puts you at risk for heart disease.”
So, before just settling on a eating plan that’s seemingly popular in
sporting circles, Claire encourages people to seek professional advice.
“It’s about moderation and who you are as an individual,” she says. “Each
person has a set of unique factors, be it genetics, history or how your
body works, and the only way to know is to consult a dietician to get that
personalised information.”
Most importantly, it’s also about not falling into that ‘one size fits
all’ mentality that many diets promote. If it works for one person, it
won’t necessarily work for you, so professional advice and testing are
recommended. While there are many alterations in the food pyramid we
learnt at school, there is no one way to eat or live. The best way is to find
what works for you and find that balance.

Images: iStock

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In the early 1800’s, English undertaker William Banting suffered from
obesity and took to limiting his intake of refined carbs in order to lose
weight. Following advice from friend and physician Dr William Harvey,
Banting avoided sugar, butter, milk and starch while eating a combination
of meats, greens and fruits four times a day. And it worked! Banting lost
weight and lived to a healthy age of 82 – and he could fit into a slimmer
coffin. Fast forward a few hundre