ARE ALL CARBS EQUAL?
We are getting low carbs trust down our throats right now –
literally. Everywhere we look these fads are being thrown at us.
Then there will be a major health scare and everyone will back
off for a bit, only for someone else to pick up the gauntlet.
So let’s put the record straight. You can not cut out a major
food group to such ridiculous amounts! There should be no such
thing as a no/low carb diet.
In principle, the theory works. You lose weight (whether you do
it healthily and keep it off is not for me to say). Eating good
quality proteins definitely keeps the hunger at bay. However, if
you are a normal individual cravings will start to kick in for
those forbidden carbs and the whole thing goes down the pan.
So why don’t we change the concept slightly? Instead of
concentrating on low carbs why don’t we start thinking about
GOOD carbs? Because of course all fruit and veg are
carbohydrates and everyone knows you have to eat plenty of this
group for vitamins and minerals, right?
So consider changing tact. Miss off all the heavy, sugar laden
carbohydrates like bread, pasta, potatoes etc and pile on the
veg! Don’t stint, don’t worry about the carbs – they are good
for you! Have a salad on the side tossed in a light dressing and
three to four portions of non starchy veg with your chicken or
fish. Have an apple to satisfy your sweet tooth. Fruit contain
fructose, which has a different make up to other sugars and
glucoses. When glucose hits your body the levels in your blood
rise rapidly. The body has to deal with this surge by releasing
insulin to clear the blood and direct this energy source to
right place – that not required for muscle energy is shoved
along to the liver to be stored for future use and the remainder
gets stored in your fat cells. (ie, you get fat!) You are left
with insulin in your blood which causes a huge drop in blood
sugar. So how does body react? It wants more sugar to
counterbalance! Fructose is metabolised direct in blood stream,
does not cause a surge of insulin and hence the blood sugar
remains stable. In other words, you won’t get an addictive
craving for more, like you do with that pack of biccies! It is
difficult to overeat on apples, isn’t it? You don’t often fancy
eating the whole bag, do you?
Not all carbs are equal, just as not all proteins are equal. For
successful weight loss a quality and good level of proteins must
be adhered to (and the level necessary is different for each
individual) to stop the body starting to burn muscle up for
energy. Quality protein maintains muscle mass while decreasing
the body fat density. A good carb programme incorporates body
fat testing into its regime, wherever possible.
Prehistoric man wasn’t fat. He existed on lots of protein from
animals, nuts and seeds, fresh fruits and natural vegetation.
Grains, potatoes and rice did not exist and although our world
has evolved to grow and produce these ingredients, our bodies
have evolved at a much slower rate and are not as yet primed to
cope with them. So really as we have brought the troubles on
ourselves it is up to us to rectify the problems.
Just why did we make them taste so good?
Here’s to successful weight loss!
Chrissie Mayes
If you want more info on kickstarting your weight loss programme
then click on the link below
http://www.negativecaloriediet.com/promote/besthealth.html
About the author:
Chrissie is a Wellness Consultant working with clients on a one
to one basis to address individual nturition and weight loss
problems. For more info visit her wesite
www.besthealthchoice.co.uk
|
