Category Archives: Diet And Food

A DUBLIN woman who lost more than half her body weight has lifted the lid on the radical diet overhaul that saw her shed those excess pounds.

Wendy Deacon was named Slimming Worlds Woman of the Year for 2019 after losing an astonishing 12st 4.5Ibs.

She was inspired to change her eating habits after discovering her daughter had expressed concern to her grandmother that Wendy would eventually eat herself to death.

"Hearing that broke my heart and I knew I needed to change. The thought of my daughter being so worried about my health really spurred me into action," she said.

Wendys incredible journey saw her go from a dress size of 32 to an astonishing 10.

She achieved it with a combination of regular Slimming World meetings and a major shift in diet that saw her ditch takeaways and chocolate in favour of fruit and salads.

"By far the best thing about losing weight though is seeing the pride in my family's faces, especially Amy's. I've finally started to feel proud of myself too - I've got my whole life back, she said.

Now planning her wedding and about to celebrate her 50th birthday, the Dubliner has now shared an example of the kind of food she now eats during the average day.

Breakfast: Nothing

Lunch: Hot chicken roll with crisps

Mid-afternoon: A couple of chocolate bars

Dinner: A takeaway

Evening: More chocolate

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with grilled tomatoes, or yogurt and fruit

Mid-morning: Fruit

Lunch: A big home-made salad with turkey or ham

Dinner: Chicken stir-fry or spaghetti Bolognese

Evening: Fruit or a Slimming World hi-fibre bar

Continued here:
Dublin woman reveals diet that helped her lose over 12 stone - Irish Post

A heartbroken mum lost 41kg after doctors said her weight could have contributed to her unborn baby's death.

Charlotte Doughty, 43, was filled with "self-loathing" when she discovered her 24-size figure could have triggered the tragic outcome.

During the pregnancy the British woman was diagnosed with pre-diabetes in early 2015 and doctors said her weight was seriously impacting her health.

Tragically Charlotte's unborn baby was later diagnosed with Edwards Syndrome, a genetic disorder, and passed away in the womb at 37 weeks.

Due to Charlotte's family history of diabetes, her later age and obesity, she was at a higher risk of developing diabetes.

Grief-stricken, Charlotte, from King's Lynn, Norfolk, became locked in a vicious circle of eating and drinking to help numb some of the pain she was feeling.

"I fell pregnant later on in life when I was 37-38 and I was massively overweight probably around 15-16 stone at that point," Charlotte says.

"I was told by health professionals that my weight along with my age may have played a factor in my babys condition.

"Due to my grief and self-loathing that I may have caused my babys condition, my eating escalated further and despite the warnings from my GP, I continued to eat fast food and drink pints of lager. "

"I blamed myself, at the time I did think what if I hadn't been as big as I was, would things have been different? "When that happened I just swung completely the other way. I started eating more and drinking more to get through the pain.

"It became a vicious circle of feeling depressed about my weight by turning to food and alcohol."

But being so big was impacting Charlotte's life.

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"I was drinking really heavily, I would have a bottle of wine at night and then at the weekend I would drink eight pints in the evening," she admits.

"Then I joined Slimming World in 2017 and haven't looked back since. I'm still not a great cook but it's just simple food- you don't need to be the best cook in the world.

"I then started walking which gradually turned into running. My partner was a godsend. If I was crying and telling him I couldn't do it, he would pick me up and tell me I can."

Charlotte followed Slimming Worlds Food Optimising eating plan and started cooking healthy meals from scratch.

In less than two years, she has already lost 41kg and has dropped from dress size 24 to a size 12.

"I really am a completely different person, I look back at old photos of myself and I don't recognise her," she says.

"I honestly feel ten years younger. For a long while I couldn't get my head around how much I had lost. Probably six months back I would still look at myself and feel like I was really big.

"The past six months I have really changed. Before I was hiding away from photos but now I don't mind them. "My self-esteem is massively different and it's really helped my confidence.

"Slimming World has literally saved my life as I was only heading one way."

7NEWS.com.au has not received any monetary benefit from this story

The rest is here:
British mum reveals diet that helped her lose 41kg after death of unborn baby - 7NEWS

Visceral fat is stored in the abdominal cavity which means its close to many vital organs, including the pancreas, liver and intestines. For this reason, the higher the amount of visceral fat a person stores, the more at risk they are of health complications, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Eating a poor diet is one way visceral fat can build up, so making changes to what you eat is important.

There are a wide range of different diet plans proven help fat loss and weight loss. But which one is deemed best for getting rid of visceral fat?

A study published in March 2019 showed the keto diet was highly effective at reducing visceral fat.

The keto diet, short for the ketogenic diet, is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, and includes an adequate amount of protein.

READ MORE:How to get rid of visceral fat: Three supplements to help reduce the harmful belly fat

The study, Extended Ketogenic Diet and Physical training Intervention in Military Personnel, was commissioned by the US military.

There were concerns about the growing rates of obesity with people within the US military.

A total of 29 people were studied for three months - 15 were put on a keto diet and the rest ate their normal, mixed diet.

Those who followed a keto diet lost an average of 17lbs during the study.

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They also lost 5.1 percent of their body fat, with 44 percent of this loss being visceral fat.

Those who ate the keto diet also showed 48 percent improvement in their insulin sensitivity, reducing their risk of developing diabetes.

The keto diet has also been shown to be effective at getting rid of visceral fat in other studies.

A study including 28 overweight and obese adults found those who followed a ketogenic diet lost more fat, especially visceral fat, than people who followed a low-fat diet.

Read more:
How to get rid of visceral fat: Best diet plan to reduce the belly fat - what foods to eat - Express

SIMON Cowell has boasted his vegan diet is the easiest thing hes done and has made him a better dad to son Eric.

The X Factor: Celebrity boss, 60, has lost more than one and a half stone thanks to the lifestyle overhaul.

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He ditched meat and dairy as well as swapping low calorie beer for his normal tipple.

Asked at last nights ITV Palooza if hed continue the diet over Christmas, he said: Pretty much so yeah.

Maybe a few roast potatoes. Not only that [it is good for the environment] but it makes you feel better. It genuinely does.

My memory's better, my energy's better. And when you've got a five year old you've got to be able to keep up with them because the minute they're awake they're all over the place. His energy is unbelievable.

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When he wakes up he's like, 'Daddy, daddy, daddy,' and before he goes to sleep, 'Daddy, daddy, daddy'.

So I was conscious of the fact I have to keep up with him energy wise and someone recommended this as the way to go.

I tried it and I stuck to it, it's one of the easiest things I've ever done.

Simon attended the ITV event at Londons Royal Festival Hall with girlfriend Lauren Silverman, 42.

He decided to overhaul his lifestyle after collapsing in October 2017.

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Doctors warned against him living like a vampire by staying awake each day until 8am saying it had to stop.

He recently said: I went to see this doctor in London. We did some tests. And then a month later he said, You have the worst diet I've ever met from any patient.

So I went, Okay, out of the smoking, the drinking, and diet, what do I have to drop? And he said, The diet. So I said, I'm in.

More here:
Simon Cowells weight loss is the easiest thing hes ever done and his vegan diet helps him be a better dad - The Sun

I dont know if you answer questions, a reader wrote recently. I assured her I do, as time allows.

After reading recent articles, I am wondering about whether vegans can get enough vitamin B12 and enough choline and if there are other elements that are problematic for them. I have an adult child who has become vegan after years of being vegetarian. He does not cook much and eats a lot of prepared foods which is not the best anyway, but now I wonder about these issues. I hope you can offer some advice. Thank you. Carolynn

By definition, vegan diets exclude all animal foods including eggs and dairy products. Honey (because it comes from bees) is also a no-no to some vegans. The latest position paper on this topic by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) assures us that A well-planned vegetarian diet containing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds can provide adequate nutrition.

Key here is well-planned. Whether or not your adult child is getting the most benefit from becoming vegan depends like it does for all eating styles on the nutrient balance in the foods he chooses to eat.

Vitamin B-12 has always been a concern in vegan diets since this vital nutrient is not found in plant foods. And vital means essential; a deficiency of B-12 can cause fatigue, tingling in the fingers or toes, poor digestion and mental symptoms that mimic dementia.

Studies have shown that fermented foods (such as tempeh), nori, spirulina, chlorella algae and unfortified nutritional yeast cannot be relied upon as adequate or practical sources of B-12. Nutrition experts therefore recommend that, in addition to a supplement that contains vitamin B-12, vegans should consume foods fortified with this vitamin at least twice a day. (Many breakfast cereals and other grain-based foods are fortified with B-12; check the label.)

Choline is an essential nutrient that helps preserve the structure of all our bodys cells. In addition, choline helps form neurotransmitters that keep our memory, mood, muscle control and other important functions up to par.

Animal-based foods are the best sources of choline but this nutrient is also found in plant foods such as cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains. An added bonus: our bodies can manufacture some choline in the liver.

Surprising to some, protein needs can usually be met in vegan diets with the regular consumption of legumes and soy-based foods. An exception is the fruitarian vegan diet which is limited to fruits and possibly some nuts and seeds. These diets typically supply inadequate amounts of protein.

So there you have it. Since vegan diets restrict readily available sources of some key nutrients, your son needs to understand how to plan his meals so as to avoid any nutritional deficiencies. A registered dietitian nutritionist can help.

Quinn is an author and a registered dietitian affiliated with Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula in California. She may be contacted at barbara@quinnessentialnutrition.com.

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Vitamin B-12 is always a concern with vegan diets - Lewiston Morning Tribune

What if you stopped obeying a list of rules about what and how much you eat? Intuitive eating aims to help people do just that, working to heal their relationship with food after a lifetime of off- and on-again dieting.

There are 10 different principles that characterize this practice, which was defined by registered dietitian nutritionists Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch in 1995. The basic idea is that it is possible to let go of the belief system that dieting is beneficial and necessary for a healthy lifestyle. It encourages the honoring of hunger and cravings and challenges beliefs about good and bad foods. Food is meant to become neutral for those practicing intuitive eating, explains Devrie Pettit, the RD behind Happily Fed. This can give you more freedom while making decisions about food, allowing you to eat what sounds satisfying and what makes your body feel good.

Related: Intuitive Eating Is the Anti-Diet to End All Diets

It sounds pretty great, right? The idea of never dieting again is incredible, but it could also make you feel nervous, too. Surely unconditional permission to eat doesnt apply to everyone, right? If you feel skeptical that intuitive eating is a good fit for individuals with a chronic illness like diabetes, you are definitely not alone.

Intuitive eating is for everyone.

Its a big myth that intuitive eating isnt appropriate for everyone, says Cara Harbstreet, RD, of Street Smart Nutrition. It was created by two dietitians for the very purpose of supporting health and well-being, so its a natural complement to the interventions or management plans for chronic diseases.

Removing food rules may feel risky for someone with a chronic disease. It may seem that doing so could contribute to out of control eating behaviors or worsened symptoms. While some may initially experience intensified cravings and feel they are eating more than normal, this is a pretty normal first step toward a healthier relationship with food, according to Harbstreet.

Unconditional permission to eat is often misconstrued as free and open access to eat whatever you want, whenever you want, says Harbstreet. And perhaps on the surface, yes, this is a process one must go to in order to rebound from years of dieting and restriction.

She adds that, with time, practicing intuitive eating can take on the form of learning to honor when you are hungry and when youve had enough. Youll feel OK eating a snack even though it was unplanned, allowing yourself to eat foods because they bring enjoyment, and eating during times previously seen as off limits, like right before bed.

Try the fur cure. Simply petting an animal can decrease the level of the stress hormone cortisol and boost release of the neurotransmitter serotonin, lowering blood pressure and heart rate and, possibly, elevating your mood.

Additionally, this evolving relationship with food is a chance to see it for what it really is.

When you neutralize all food, you dont see it as good or bad, and you come to realize that all food serves a purpose, says Pettit. Food can provide nutrients, energy, or just taste good. Some foods encompass all three purposes.

This means that, once you allow yourself to consider all foods, you can choose what sounds good to you, what you have available and time to prepare, and what feels good in your body.

Intuitive eating isnt just an OK choice for individuals with diabetes, it can be incredibly helpful in managing the chronic illness for the long term. As an example, the principle of Making Peace with Food is important to individuals with diabetes, says Harbstreet.

So often, foods with carbohydrates are vilified or avoided, she explains. Which creates a cycle of deprivation and intense cravings or binge eating for many people.

Related: How You Can Reverse Type 2 Diabetes, According to Experts

This is just one example. It is possible to see how other principles like, Exercise Feel the Difference, could be a good fit for someone coping with diabetes. Additionally, there is a big mindset shift that comes with adopting intuitive eating as a lifestyle, as Harbstreet points out.

Rather than use scare tactics or fear to motivate someone, IE offers support, encouragement and non-judgment to allow room for learning and mistakes, she says. Ultimately, its a more compassionate way to help people with diabetes feel empowered and confident in their ability to do whats best for them and their bodies.

Another aspect of this mindset shift is letting go of the expectation that weight loss is the goal for someone with diabetes. Pettit is quick to explain that becoming smaller isnt necessary, that it isnt possible to make accurate assumptions about how a person eats or moves based on their size or appearance. It is also true that it is completely possible to improve blood cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure levels because of new, health-promoting behaviors without seeing the number on the scale change.

The biggest misconception is that weight loss automatically equals better health, Harbstreet adds. I find that although this may be the case for some people, its usually a temporary fix and it removes attention from the other healthful behaviors that are also important.

So, how exactly should someone with diabetes get started with intuitive eating? The first step is to find an IE coach who is also a registered dietitian to visit with about first steps. This person will help you as you face the challenges of completely changing how you think about food and health and they can keep your medical providers looped in so you dont get conflicting advice, according to Harbstreet.

Additionally, Pettit offers a few specific tips for the process. She encourages individuals in these circumstances to make sure they are including foods they love to eat and choosing meals, snacks, and exercise routines that are sustainable because they work well with your existing lifestyle. Intuitive eating embraces gentle nutrition, so it is OK to keep in mind basic principles as you build a meal. For example, pairing protein, fats and carbohydrates together is encouraged by Pettit.

Lastly, although this is a practice that is for anyone, it might not be the very first step for specific people. If you are critically ill or in recovery for an eating disorder, there may be additional healing that needs to happen on the road towards an intuitive eating lifestyle. This is why reaching out for professional support is so important as you work on embracing a less judgmental approach to food and exercise, whether youre chronically ill or trying to break free from years of cyclical dieting.

Find out what celebs are saying about diet cultureand why it can be toxic.

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Intuitive Eating: Can This Anti-Diet Work for Diabetes? - Parade

It would be like studying an intensive exercise program including long runs, calisthenics and strenuous sports among sedentary volunteers for just six days. The investigators might find that the program made the volunteers sore, tired and weak. However, a six-month trial, allowing adequate time to adapt to the new regimen, would reach the opposite conclusion, revealing the real benefits of physical activity.

Despite their greater difficulties, diet trials receive far less funding than drug trials, especially considering that poor diet is the leading risk factor for premature death. Few big companies stand to profit directly from dietary treatments for chronic diseases. Consequently, typical diet trials must get by on shoestring budgets, rarely exceeding a few hundred thousand dollars, compared with drug trials that may cost several hundred million dollars. Without adequate support, quality inevitably suffers. Diet trials of adequate size, duration and intervention strength rarely get done.

This problem has special relevance now, as the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee reviews the science in preparation for new Department of Agriculture recommendations to the public in 2020. Among thousands of scientific articles initially screened, only a small proportion so far have passed strict quality criteria for inclusion in committee deliberations. And ultimately, recommendations to the public can be no stronger than the science on which they rely.

Which doesnt mean that all nutrition research is unreliable. High-quality observational studies and clinical trials provide strong evidence for the benefits of whole carbohydrates (nonstarchy vegetables, fruits, legumes, minimally processed intact grains) over highly processed, fast-digesting carbohydrates (refined grains, potato products and added sugar). We also know that nuts, olive oil and avocado protect against chronic disease, contrary to dietary recommendations during the low-fat diet era, as embodied by the 1992 Food Guide Pyramid.

We need a sort of Manhattan Project to find definitive answers to the epidemics of diet-related disease. Nutrition research to prevent disease must have the same quality and rigor as pharmaceutical research to treat disease. Building the necessary scientific infrastructure will require sustained investment by government and philanthropic organizations, but the amounts involved would total a fraction of a cent for every dollar spent treating diet-related conditions like obesity, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Study authors and the media can help by avoiding the tendency to overstate the results of weak research, contributing to public confusion. And the public has a critical role to play, not only demanding government action but also volunteering for diet studies.

No other factor approaches the importance of diet for public health. To reduce the human toll of chronic disease, we must upgrade the quality of nutrition research. The financial investment required will yield huge returns in medical cost savings.

Excerpt from:
Why It Is So Hard to Figure Out What to Eat - The New York Times

Vitamin F is not a vitamin in the traditional sense of the word.

Rather, vitamin F is a term for two fats alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA). They are essential for regular body functions, including aspects of brain and heart health (1).

ALA is a member of the omega-3 fat family, while LA belongs to the omega-6 family. Common sources of both include vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds (2).

They were discovered in the 1920s when scientists found that fat-free diets had adverse effects on rats. Initially, the scientists suspected the rats were deficient in a new vitamin they called vitamin F later found to be ALA and LA (3).

This article discusses vitamin F, including how it works, its potential health benefits, and which foods contain the highest amounts of it.

The two types of fat that comprise vitamin F ALA and LA are classified as essential fatty acids, meaning they are necessary for health. Since your body is unable to make these fats, you have to get them from your diet (4).

ALA and LA play the following crucial roles in the body (5, 6):

Vitamin F deficiency is rare. However, a lack of ALA and LA can lead to various symptoms, such as dry skin, hair loss, slow wound healing, poor growth in children, skin sores and scabs, and brain and vision problems (7, 8).

Vitamin F supplies calories, provides structure to cells, supports growth and development, and is involved in major bodily functions like blood pressure regulation and immune response.

According to research, the fats that make up vitamin F ALA and LA may offer several unique health benefits.

ALA is the primary fat in the omega-3 family, a group of fats thought to have many health benefits. In the body, ALA is converted into other beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (9).

Together, ALA, EPA, and DHA offer a wealth of potential health benefits:

Linoleic acid (LA) is a primary fat in the omega-6 family. Like ALA, LA is converted into other fats in your body.

It offers many potential health benefits when consumed in moderation, especially when used in place of less healthy saturated fats (16):

Diets containing ALA may help reduce inflammation, promote heart and mental health, and support growth and development. Furthermore, LA may aid blood sugar control and has been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

To optimize the benefits of vitamin F, maintaining a healthy ratio of LA to ALA in your diet may be key.

This is due to the opposing signals these fats send in the body. While LA and other omega-6 fats tend to induce inflammation, ALA and other omega-3 fats work to inhibit it (20).

Some experts estimate that the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in Western diets may be as high as 20:1. According to studies, this may contribute to inflammation and an increased risk of heart disease (21).

Though an ideal ratio has yet to be determined, a popular recommendation is to maintain the ratio at or below 4:1 (22).

However, instead of abiding by a ratio, it may be simpler to follow recommendations from the Institute of Medicine (IOM). These suggest adults consume 1.11.6 grams of ALA and 1116 grams of LA per day (23).

Some experts suggest that adults consume a 4:1 ratio of LA to ALA, or 1116 grams of LA and 1.11.6 grams of ALA, per day to reap the greatest benefit from vitamin F fats.

Vitamin F supplements are unnecessary if you consume a wide variety of foods containing ALA and LA.

Though most food sources typically contain both, many carry a higher proportion of one fat than the other.

Here are the amounts of LA in some common food sources:

Many foods high in LA also contain ALA, albeit in lesser amounts. However, particularly high proportions of ALA can be found in:

Animal products, such as fish, eggs, and grass-fed meat and dairy products, contribute some ALA and LA but are mainly high in other types of omega-6 and omega-3 fats (35).

Both ALA and LA are found in plant oils, nuts, and seeds. Theyre also found in some animal products, though in small amounts.

Vitamin F is comprised of two essential omega-3 and omega-6 fats ALA and LA.

These two fats play a major role in regular bodily processes, including immune system function, blood pressure regulation, blood clotting, growth, and development.

Maintaining a 4:1 ratio of LA to ALA in your diet is often recommended to help optimize the potential benefits of vitamin F, which include improved blood sugar control and reduced inflammation and heart disease risk.

Consuming foods high in ALA, such as flax seeds, flaxseed oil, and chia seeds, is one way to help shift the balance in favor of positive health outcomes.

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What Is Vitamin F? Uses, Benefits, and Food List - Healthline

Everything you need to know about the popular (and controversial) diet trend.

By Harper's BAZAAR team

According to Hay, the Sirtfood Diet attempts to raise your intake of 'sirtfoods'basically, foods that activate weight-loss proteins in your body, called 'sirtuins'.

"According to researchers, these special foods work by activating specific proteins in the body called sirtuins," Hay says. "This group of proteins regulates several important functions in the body. Studies suggest that Sirtfoods may cause the body to produce more of these proteins.

"The Sirtfood Diet centres around 20 foods that, according to research, turn on the so-called 'skinny genes', which in turn will elevate your energy levels and help you to lose weight."

If you're wondering what the 20 'sirtfoods' are the diet permits, they're mostly comprised of natural, antioxidant-rich foods. Hay lists strawberries, blueberries, apples, citrus fruits, walnuts, parsley, kale, capers, green tea, soy, turmeric and dark chocolate as some of the best kinds of 'sirtfoods' you can eat on the diet, to trigger weight loss.

Considering the diet's intensity, many professionals believe it should only be used for short-term weight loss, including Rick Hay.

In his words: "According to research carried out by the developers of the 'Sirtfood Diet', eating foods high in sirtuin activators turns on your body's fat-burning powers and supercharges sustained weight loss, protects cells in your body from inflammation, boosts energy levels, promotes glowing skin, and may even help reverse ageing and stave off disease."

Before attempting to undertake the 'Sirtfood Diet', you should probably consider its extreme difficulty, which has even been noted by dietitians. Considering it limits carbohydrates, it's mostly geared towards short-term weight loss, so if you're looking to sustain weight loss, a different diet or eating plan may be more manageable in the long run.

Rick Hay notes: "The Sirtfood diet is very restrictive, and less balanced than Keto or Paleo. It focuses on calorie counting and requires you to cut out major food groups. You will also need to downsize your portions, especially in week one. Another downside is the fact that the diet is lacking essential nutrients such as calcium and iron.

"If you're not used restricting your food intake during the day, you may also experience nausea, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and headaches."

The 'Sirtfood Diet' is also probably best left avoided for anyone who's struggled with eating disorders in the past, or who has difficulty with regimented portion control.

Hay says: "If you've ever suffered with an eating disorder or had a complicated relationship with eating in the past, it's best to avoid getting on the Sirtfood Diet wagon. Instead incorporate more of the Sirtfoods mentioned above into your diet and cut out processed foods and sugar."

Note: Before beginning any diet, including this one, we recommend consulting with a specialist, dietitian or general practitioner to ensure it is right for you.

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The 'Sirtfood Diet': What It Is, & Whether You Should Do It - Harper's BAZAAR

This is it, McLaren's latest Ultimate Series car, the Elva.

McLaren Automotive unveiled its new, ultrahigh-performance model on Wednesday, and it's called Elva. The lightest roadgoing machine this boutique British brand has ever built, it joins the company's hallowed Ultimate Series of cars, a super-rare collection that includes models like the Senna and the Speedtail.

From its construction to the powertrain, feature set to design, the Elva is cutting-edge in every way except one: the name. This thoroughly modern machine is an homage to a series of cars designed by Bruce McLaren himself back in the 1960s. Decades ago, McLaren-Elvas were produced as customer versions of the company's high-performance Group 7 racing machines.

Now, the automaker has acquired the rights to this name and applied it to a car that should more than live up to its forebear's pedigree. The new Elva is an extreme two-seater and the first open-cockpit model offered by McLaren.

The new is clearly inspired by the old.

As mentioned, this is the lightest roadgoing car ever built by the brand. Not unexpectedly, engineers got the weight as low as possible by going high -- switching to a high carbon-fiber diet, that is.

The Elva's bodywork, chassis, doors and seats are all made of this featherlight material. Even its brake rotors, which measure more than 15 inches (390 millimeters) in dimeter, are fabricated of a sintered carbon-ceramic material. These binders are based on the Senna's, but further improved by the addition of titanium calipers, a change that cut about 2.2 pounds from the vehicle.

Connecting the Elva's interior and exterior, its carbon-fiber bodywork wraps over the door tops, spilling into the cabin. A spar made of the same material runs between the front seats where it supports a central armrest and a variety of controls.

For customers who want to use their Elva in anger, a six-point racing harness is available. These restraints should keep the driver locked firmly in place during even the most extreme maneuvers. For appropriate protection in severe crashes, a deployable rollover-protection system is included.

Another reason the Elva is lighter than other McLarens is because of what it lacks. A true, open-air exotic, this car has no windshield or roof, nor are there any windows. Of course, for those well-heeled customers that would prefer a little protection from the elements, a fixed windshield will be offered -- something that'll be required in the US.

But this really shouldn't be necessary because engineers have created a clever system to shield passengers. McLaren's Active Air Management System, AAMS for short, carefully channels airflow through the Elva's nose from an inlet above the splitter, directing it in front of the occupants, where it's then guided over the passenger compartment to create a calm zone. This system engages at higher speeds; it need not activate at lower velocities, such as when driving around town, since both airflow and overall noise are low.

Further playing with wind, the Elva also features a fully active rear spoiler. It automatically adjusts for both height and angle as required by driving conditions. This wing can also function as an airbrake, helping the car shed speed when driven in anger, saving some wear and tear on the brakes, which are, nonetheless, undoubtedly powerful. This machine also has a fully flat underbody for enhanced aerodynamics.

Loads of work was done fine-tuning the Elva's aerodynamics.

Even though it's less than 0.05 inch thick, the front clamshell plays a major role in the Elva's overall slipperiness. Not only does it enable AAMS, it also aids in cooling. At the leading edge of each door are special ducts that direct air toward the car's duet of intercoolers, which are mounted ahead of each rear wheel. They keep inlet temperatures under control and are absolutely necessary in a machine this powerful.

If you're familiar with any of McLaren's other Ultimate Series cars, you've already got a good idea of what powers the Elva. Mounted behind the passenger compartment beats a 4.0-liter heart, an awe-inspiring, twin-turbocharged V8 that delivers an 804-horse stampede and 590 pound-feet or torque. This engine is from the same family as the powerplant used in the Senna and Senna GTR models.

Delivering those staggering figures, this V8 is fitted with a flat-plane crankshaft, low-mass reciprocating components and a dry-sump lubrication system. It exhales through a special exhaust system made from titanium and Inconel, a special nickel alloy. The finishers are of a quad-tip design and were 3D-printed.

With a seven-speed transmission capping this drivetrain off, the Elva will sprint to 62 mph (100 kph) in less than 3 seconds. It will also blast from a dead stop to 124 mph in a claimed 6.7 seconds, meaning it should be even quicker than the legendary Senna. With all this speed, the car's linked-hydraulic fully active suspension and electro-hydraulic steering systems seem almost like afterthoughts.

Further eliminating unwanted mass, an audio system is not included, though customers can opt to get one at no extra cost. Given the Elva's open-air body, the available stereo comes with marine-grade speakers to withstand moisture and other adverse weather conditions.

This car's high-tech interior neatly matches its incredible engineering.

Several vehicle functions are controlled via a touchscreen infotainment system. Its 8-inch display is large enough that users can run multiple applications at once.

Naturally, customers can spec their Elva exactly the way they want it. McLaren Special Operations, the automaker's bespoke division, provides a wide range of interior materials and colors. The list of available exterior hues is nearly endless, though you may want eschew paint altogether. McLaren offers a Gloss Visual Carbon Fiber Body, which essentially leaves the carbon fiber exposed so you can see the weave pattern. This can also be tinted in various colors for an undoubtedly cool look.

As American banker J.P. Morgan is quoted as saying, "If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it." Indeed, you won't be able to buy a new McLaren Elva with the loose change trapped between your couch cushions. The car starts at $1,690,000.

The Elva should be homologated for all major markets. Like its P1, Senna and Speedtail siblings, production is capped at just 399 units.

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McLaren Elva roadster is a worthy successor to the Senna - CNET