| What
You Should Know About Low Carb Diets!
by Theresa Sontag
What is a Low Carb Diet? You'll
do away with bad carbs and bad fats, and start
eating good fats and good carbs. What you need
to understand is that you are not really on a
diet, but changing the way you eat. Eating the
wrong foods consistently throws your body out
of balance. Most of us tend to overdue it eating
processed carbs. What do I mean by processed carbs?
Basically, there are two kinds of carbohydrates,
simple and complex. Some refer to them as bad
and good carbs, fast and slow digestion carbs
and others. Here are some basic explanations:
SIMPLE
CARBS - Foods with simple or refined
carbohydrates most often have a low nutrient content
and a high-glycemic index. They are metabolized
quickly (quick to digest). They enter the bloodstream
and rapidly elevate blood sugar levels, then fall
dramatically within a short span of time. In order
to keep the body running healthy and stable, it
is recommended that these type foods be limited.
Examples of these simple or overprocessed carbs
are white bread, potatoes, and sugary treats like
cookies, candy, cupcakes and cakes, and beverages
like cola products.
COMPLEX
CARBS - Foods with complex carbohydrates
contain many nutrients and have a low- to moderate-glycemic
index. Higher fiber content in these foods means
slower digestion, which is healthier for the body
(including reducing mood swings and food cravings).
And these foods are considered good choices by
health advisors. Examples of these complex carbs
are whole grains, most fruits and vegetables.
Legumes, plants of the pea or bean family, are
also in this category.
WHICH
IS BEST? Studies show that low-carb
diets can help with weight loss; which means that
the carbs need to be of the complex, low-glycemic
type. The key is eating whole, real, unprocessed
food found as close to nature as possible.
WHY
DOES YOUR BODY NEED CARBOHYDRATES ANYWAY?
Carbohydrates cause your body to produce a hormone
called Insulin. Insulin is responsible for the
movement of glucose (sugar) from the food you
eat into the cells of your body to be used for
energy. Excess glucose (that is not burned as
energy) is then stored as body fat.
Years of consuming too many
carbohydrates can lead to a sensitivity of the
cells to Insulin. This can result in the body
having to make more (and more) Insulin to get
the same job done. Over time over-production of
Insulin can lead to high cholesterol, heart disease,
obesity and type II diabetes and more. A side
effect of Insulin over-production is that it actually
causes more fat to be deposited.
EATING
LOW CARBS WORKS WITH YOUR BODY.
All the food you consume provides
energy for your body. Your body burns fuel in
this order: carbohydrates / fat / protein. So,
by limiting the carbohydrates you eat, it is perfectly
natural for your body to burn fat next. Your body
will go inward and start burning your own body
fat for fuel. Because of this store of body fat,
you wont feel hungry and you will maintain a more
even blood sugar level throughout the day.
One important thing to note
here is ... it is not eating too much fat that
makes you overweight - it is eating far more carbohydrates
than your body needs to use for energy.
It is important, however,
that any and all dietary planning should be made
under the guidance of your own medical practitioners.
Also, drinking 8 glasses of water a day and consistent
exercise is vital to your body's health. This
content only presents overviews of low-carb research
for informative purposes and does not replace
medical advice from a professional physician.
About The Author
Theresa Sontag
is an avid cook and gardener. For more information
on low carb diets and recipes visit http://lowcarbrecipe.blogspot.com.
terrisontag@yahoo.com |
