Coconut Oil and other "fat" s w/ a teenager

[sarena kopciel]

So I have been having an "ongoing" discussion with my daughter (17.5 yo senior in a private school) about the need for fat and reduced carbs. She is constantly looking at the fat grams in an item and neglecting anything else. I try, seriously I do!! But as with most teens, she drives, goes out with her friends for slurpees and Starbucks etc...

Today I was really peeved when she came home and told me her nutrition teacher told her (the class?) that coconut oil is bad, REAL BAD! I told my daughter that is so old school and even asked how old the teacher is and what size clothes she wears.

So my question here is, does anyone have reference to definitive info that shows the benefits of unrefined coconut oil and also the benefits to higher fat, reduced carbs living?

I told my daughter that she knows I had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and was obese when I followed the standard advice, i.e what her teacher is teaching.

On a side note, my husband, her father could live on COKE!! He even refutes that one doesn't need 8 cups of water daily (I get more!!) and COKE or ANY liquid counts as water anyhow!!

Frustrated....

[Jay Cohen]

You're wasting your time on your daughter. At 17, they think they're invincible and your clueless. Husband you married, so that's your problem. Just make sure you're buying the pop at warehouse club and keep him insured for least 500K, then up the Tran Fats. With any luck you could be living near Coach B and training everyday with the gang.

[Mike ODonnell]

more fat & less carbs/sugars = less acne and better skin. That will work.

[sarena kopciel]

Originally Posted by Mike ODonnell

more fat & less carbs/sugars = less acne and better skin. That will work.

Weird she really never had an acne issue!!
I just want something I can forward to the teacher who thinks she can further manipulate my daughter.

Oh and Jay, your humor is AWESOME!

[Steve Forman]

I got my 14 year old, with the skin issue and MOOD!!! since she has been paying more attention to what she eats, she has had a better, consistent mood during school and at home.


Plus, I read a book called, Fat, its Not What you Think. written by Connie Leas. She is a researcher and not a MD. she does a really good job at breaking down the topic. Not earth shattering to anyone here, but a really good read for someone needing more info. I gave it to my cousin, and she loved it. Leas looks at other books that we love here, and references them in the book. Its short like 170 page's.

Your 17 year old may listen to someone else other than you. My kids usually do!

[sarena kopciel]

Originally Posted by Steve Forman

I got my 14 year old, with the skin issue and MOOD!!! since she has been paying more attention to what she eats, she has had a better, consistent mood during school and at home.


Plus, I read a book called, Fat, its Not What you Think. written by Connie Leas. She is a researcher and not a MD. she does a really good job at breaking down the topic. Not earth shattering to anyone here, but a really good read for someone needing more info. I gave it to my cousin, and she loved it. Leas looks at other books that we love here, and references them in the book. Its short like 170 page's.

Your 17 year old may listen to someone else other than you. My kids usually do!

Thanks, thats just what I wanted to hear!!

[Allen Yeh]

I wish I could remember where I saw this chart...basically it graphed fat and carbohydrate intake over the years in relation to obesity. While the fat has lowered, carbohydrates have more than doubled. Lo and behold so has obesity.

My ex-gf in college was a nutrition major and while I wasn't as "deep" into things as I am now, boy we would have some arguements! She'd always say "well my professor said" and I would refute "your professor is using faulty information!"

All the books I can think of are along the lines of stuff you already know so nothing I would give a teenager that's for sure. That would be a sure way for the book to end up never opened. Recently I'd read 2 articles by Jonny Bowden over at T-mag and he has a book called the "150 Healthiest Foods on Earth." Maybe take a look into that.

Just remember for everything you cite the teacher will have all the negative stuff as well.

[Darryl Shaw]

Originally Posted by sarena kopciel

So I have been having an "ongoing" discussion with my daughter (17.5 yo senior in a private school) about the need for fat and reduced carbs. She is constantly looking at the fat grams in an item and neglecting anything else. I try, seriously I do!! But as with most teens, she drives, goes out with her friends for slurpees and Starbucks etc...

Today I was really peeved when she came home and told me her nutrition teacher told her (the class?) that coconut oil is bad, REAL BAD! I told my daughter that is so old school and even asked how old the teacher is and what size clothes she wears.

So my question here is, does anyone have reference to definitive info that shows the benefits of unrefined coconut oil and also the benefits to higher fat, reduced carbs living?

I told my daughter that she knows I had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and was obese when I followed the standard advice, i.e what her teacher is teaching.

High carb diets don't have to be unhealthy nor do they automatically lead to weight gain, cardiovascular disease or diabetes. It's the type of carbs and patterns of consumption along with a lack of exercise that causes health problems so if your daughter wants to go the high carb route why not try steering her towards more of a mediterranean or asian style diet?

Adherence to Mediterranean diet and risk of developing diabetes.

Adherence to Mediterranean diet and health status.

http://www.mediterrasian.com/scientific_research.htm

On a side note, my husband, her father could live on COKE!! He even refutes that one doesn't need 8 cups of water daily (I get more!!) and COKE or ANY liquid counts as water anyhow!!

Frustrated....

Sorry, but your husbands right. As long as you drink when you're thirsty you can stay hydrated with Coke, Red Bull, tea, coffee, milk or any other liquid you like.

[Garrett Smith]

Sarena,
Find her someone who looks the way she would like to look and eats similarly to the way you believe she should, then have them talk about what nutrition worked and what didn't.

Heck, it took me being a soy-eating carb-crazy lacto-ovo veg triathlete for a while to realize that something was way off with all of those approaches, so she may have to do trial & error on her own. Remember, it is her journey.

TV and friends are supremely influential at this time in her life, however detrimental that may be.

As I tell patients, if I actually cared what other people ate, I'd have been dead from stress a LONG time ago. I simply provide them the information I believe to be correct, what they do with it is their choice.

[Mike ODonnell]

Originally Posted by Steve Forman

Your 17 year old may listen to someone else other than you. My kids usually do!

and there's the real truth!