CARBS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL

CARBS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL

 

Whether you’re in a grocery store, a restaurant or just watching the commercials on TV during your favorite show, you are bombarded with ads and special menus singing the praises of the virtues of the low carb diet. This low carb craze has virtually swept the western world and has dieters everywhere seeking out low carb this and low carb that with many reporting weight loss as a result.

 

This is great news, right? Finally, an easy diet plan makes you lose weight and you can eat lots of food as long as they have almost no carbs in them. Is the idea of eating a low carb diet for weight loss really a good idea or are there any side effects that may come with these diets that adversely affect our health?

 

Consider this, many people want something for nothing and this way of thinking also applies to those looking to lose weight but unfortunately there is no miracle substitute to good sound nutritional practices. Our society is one that values “quick fixes” which is why the low carb diet plan is a perfect fit for this society’s way of thinking. This is what makes it so appealing.

 

It is true that a large amount of weight will be lost as glycogen (stored carbohydrate) depletes in the muscles and liver, but this weight is from water, not a fat loss which is not good for body the composition or overall health. It is also true that the body will rely on free fatty acids for fuel when muscle glycogen is depleted, but the body will rely on much more on amino acids (protein) from the breakdown of lean (muscle) tissue as well so while you may burn fat, you will also burn more muscle as well and remember, your heart is also a muscle! In addition to this, those on the carb-restricted diet have lower energy levels and shorter time to fatigue during physical activity which means any activity will likely be in shorter durations.

 

The fact is you need carbohydrates for your brain, heart, and muscles as well as other vital organs. The main fuel of the brain and central nervous system is glucose, which is obtained most easily from carbohydrates. If carbohydrates remain unavailable for several days the body tries to conserve protein by producing an alternate fuel source known as ketones from the partial burning of fatty acids. As this breakdown continues, these ketones build in the blood causing a condition known as ketosis. Initial weight loss is not from fat but from water from the kidneys trying to rid the body of excess ketones.

 

 Low carb diets make the blood more acidic, causing potentially serious and unwanted side effects like headaches, bad breath, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. Also when carbohydrate stores are depleted in the body, the rate at which fat is metabolized is reduced meaning that carbohydrates are necessary for the ability to metabolize fat effectively. And keep this in mind, carbohydrates do not make you fat, calories, in general, make you fat so the most effective weight loss the plan is simply to adjust your calorie intake to be in the right range for your own individual needs with the proper balance of nutrients.

Not all carbs are the same and the distinction is huge. Carbohydrates only come from plant sources and therefore contain fiber, water, and phytonutrients which in most cases is good for you.

The term, ' carbs', is deceptive because fruits, vegetables, and processed foods such as doughnuts, candy,  spaghetti, and bread are not the same but they are all carbs.

Therefore it is the type of carbs that you consume that makes the difference.

Processed carbs are the clear and present danger if consumed in large quantities as most people do, in the developed world.

Processed carbs are manipulated by removing the fiber and other healthy elements with sugar and salt added to improve the taste after the food is transformed into something that is lifeless but edible.

This processed food has now been transformed into a substance that is easily absorbed, increasing blood sugar levels quickly and ultimately resulting in weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and other health concerns.

If any diet requires you to remove entire food groups, it is probably unhealthy in the long run and should be avoided.

A plant-based diet remains the best choice for health and longevity and science continues to affirm this. 

Choose your carbs carefully because carbs are not created equal.

 

Best wishes!