What You Should Know About Low Carb Diets!
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.