Comment by Brian (bsc) on November 30, 2011 at 1:17pm

I don't eat at 5 guys, but if I did, I would get a bacon cheeseburger with no bun. Based on your data, that is about 51g protein, 62g fat and 0 g carbs (maybe a few carbs in the cheese). Compared to the tofu, 8g protein, 4g fat and 2g carbs, the tofu is almost nutrition free. Why would you not get a burger?

Comment by Gary Z on November 30, 2011 at 2:51pm

Sorry you have not compared accurately. As you forgot to multiply the nutritional data for the tofu (x5) same portion of Tofu has 40 g of protein (discounting the fact that I always serve with veggies for example kale, broccoli, asparagus, brussel sprouts, which all adds more protein) and therefore only 10 carbs when served by itself. To state it is without nutrition is as well incorrect as the properties in soy have beneficial cancer fighting agents. On the flip side, a diet of burgers (meat that comes from possibly more than 1000 different cows and could be contaminated with their own feces, antibiotics and more) and bacon (processed and loaded with salt and nitrates) is loaded with the animal fats you have outlined proven to lead to heart disease, stroke and numerous cancer let alone is associated with hip fractures, migraines, depression, liver disease, kidney disease the list goes on... Although these were favorites of mine once upon a time, I would love to know, how a burger and bacon is beneficial to your health and if you work in the meat industry?

Comment by Brian (bsc) on November 30, 2011 at 4:55pm

Sorry. I just have a whole different view of what is healthy and appetizing. I can't stomach the idea of eating a full block of tofu and I don't find soy healthy. But I love me some grass-fed beef and some nice tasty bacon.

Comment by Judith on November 30, 2011 at 6:54pm

I'm on the very edge of having thyroid problems, so I phased out all soy and try to avoid it as a food additive, which isn't easy. Also never sure about being able to get non-GMO soy. As a low-carber, with high protein needs due to fibromyalgia, I'm with bsc. I only eat meat once/day, but plenty of eggs and cheese as other healthy protein sources. All from organic sources as long as I can afford it......

Comment by Gary Z on November 30, 2011 at 7:46pm

I am sorry if the post was misunderstood to both bsc and Judith as it was not intended to promote soy but rather to: demonstrate the size of our stomach by way of discussion of a typical American Five Guys fare and to compare to a healthier alternative. Now this alternative may not be right for everyone as bsc has suggested according to his taste and preference and Judith you have listed some other medical concerns in addition to your diabetes. Judith, that said I would only do what makes you feel comfortable however according to what I have researched there is much controversy over soy and issues with the thyroid and much of it is centered around the effectiveness of the medicine used to treat issues once fully developed. Clearly neither of you are fans of Tofu so please replace the tofu in the final section of that post with a large stomach full of broccoli, bok choi, and or kale (prepared to taste) and then you will be getting the proper protein, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, needed without the negative effects of any of the foods mentioned in either the post (bacon etc..) or responses mentioned (eggs and cheese).

Comment by Brian (bsc) on December 1, 2011 at 5:02am

What I have done over the years to alter my eating habits is first, adopt a low carb high fat diet. This has dramatically cut my hunger. And second, I have shifted from focusing on quantity and instead focused on quality. This is perhaps your point. So these days, I will choose a really nice cut of meat or a nice piece of wild sockeye salmon and take time to prepare it so it tastes wonderful. Because of my diet, I won't be as hungry and I won't eat as much, but I will still enjoy it an be satisfied.

And while I do eat broccoli, bok choi, kale and lots of veggies, they are not substitutes for meat, seafood, dairy and eggs. These veggies are low density sources of nutrients and are missing important nutrition elements like protein, fat and vitamin B12. In my world, veggies are a secondary element of my core nutrition, adding mostly bulk and trace nutrients here and there.

Comment by Gary Z on December 1, 2011 at 8:04am

Listen bsc I am not a preacher or wish to chalenge you as diabetes and all that it comes with (and could and will come with) is tough enough...
Although some of what you have said is great about your focus and prep, some of the remainder of what you said somewhat defies fact and logic and good sense. How so?
True a diet that focused on low carb and high animal fat proteins may curb your 'hunger' as you say but is loaded with cholesterol, sodium, etc., (and other 'tasty' but unhealthy stuff like in the bacon commented on) and sounds much like an Atkins approach...) As we know in spite of selling millions on this diet he spent his last years alive consumed with heart disease - our nation's number one killer and likewise leading top way to for a diabetic to go.
Let's think about it logically... if you are going to focus your diet on any one thing should it be fat? animal fat? does this make sense or sound healthy and will your body appreciate it in the long term?
I am not a chemist or biologist but strictly from the point of view of what makes sense to a couple educated folks like ourselves: it takes many many years for evolution to occur (no matter what part of our bodies are being evolved)... now humans came about how long ago? i like others believe we evolved from animals whom have stomachs that don't even digest meat (furry guys that swing from trees in Africa), and when we stood up we existed for how many thousands of years without having meat be the primary focus of a daily diet? finally just recently we are not only altering via the cooking process we modify the farmed meat itself? should this component be the mainstay of any of our diets since it is unclear as to whether or not our systems have completely evolved to accept it in its current status? half of nutrition is proper elimination (you can see this in the rest of the animal kingdom) they don't eat what they cannot eliminate... how fast does your broccoli or cantaloupe move through your system vs. your bacon, veal, or dairy? Can we use improper elimination or current diseases as an indicator that the standard American diet of too much meat is a trend worth reversing because maybe our bodies are not evolved to handle this food and is rejecting it in every way possible?
The truth is the green vegetables you mentioned calorie for calorie have more calcium than dairy and more protein than your steak or chicken; they have a ton of other great properties that help prevent disease rather than cause them. Fat exists in other vegetables like the avocado and can always be added in the cooking process both for flavor, balance and nutrients...
one should really be worried about not adding too much because a little oil goes a long way and not the other way around.
Shortly after I had put this post up I heard from friends that are 5 guys regulars and don't have the health issues I have today.... what they took away from the posting was the extreme amount of sodium in not only the components of things like the bacon cheeseburger but additionally the fix ins.
If the nutritional chart demonstrates anything is that whether you have diabetes, a health condition related to the diabetes, a health condition unrelated to the diabetes, or believe you are in tip top health is that you are taking in a lot of negatives into your body on that one fill and are therefore doing more harm to yourself than good.

Comment by Judith on December 1, 2011 at 8:42am

Gary---if you want to treat diabetes by the book, you must write a new book for every diabetic. My way of eating and exercising, including 8 or 9 servings of veggies a day, has given me a consistent A1c in the 5s and a great lipid profile with super high HDL and super low triglycerides. It also keeps me active when many with fibromyalgia can barely get out of bed. Oh and that's diet and exercise only for both, so far.....So my way works for me. I trust your way works for you, so enjoy!.....

Comment by Gary Z on December 1, 2011 at 12:55pm

Judith, all people like diabetics are different like snowflakes or thumbprints. We all have different passions, pain, experiences, background or even pharmacology which may have helped you on your journey. As lovely as our diversity is and as much as it should be celebrated, don't we all have things in common as well? For example, no matter what type of diabetic you are... a glucose level similar to those without ill functioning endocrine systems is desirable for vitality; no matter what type of diabetic you are you are only mortal and will eventually die like all others inhabiting this planet; so no matter if you are a diabetic or not there are probably things we could do to either hasten that experience or better heal ourselves. Information sharing is a dynamic great experience and our best forms of support, let's work together to help ourselves and others: this was the only purpose of my post as are all my blog posts where you can find recipes and other information. I know little about the medical condition you raised (fibromyalgia) however I know that drinking green grasses and juices has been known to have positive healing effects with a majority of the psychiatric and muscular symptoms which is said to go hand in hand with the condition. It may be worth a try if you are trying to get off some of these medications and work toward a more natural healing approach to what you are going through. It may already be a part of your routine as it sounds like you already have a great one! If not, you may consider waking up to a breakfast of some wheatgrass or some juiced green beans, broccoli, cucumber, kale, spinach, etc... and see how that feels after regular daily consumption. Good luck!

Comment by Brian (bsc) on December 1, 2011 at 4:03pm

A little bit of digging and you would have found that Dr. Atkins died in 2004 from hitting his head after slipping on ice. He did not die from heart disease. That is a slander directly from the PCRM and PETA. If you are happy and healthy with a raw vegan diet, more power to you, but it is not for me.

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