Why Low Carb Is Better Than No Carb

In today’s world, people will try all kinds of diet fads in an effort to lose weight. Everyone has a different opinion about what works, and truth be told, depending on your body type and metabolism, different things can work differently for different people. However, it troubles me when I see people going to extremes - in either direction - which just aren't healthy. That's why, while I do advocate lower-carb diets - our society as a whole eats WAY too many highly processed, high-carb foods - I would also steer clear of a diet where carbohydrates are cut out in their entirety. A healthy eating plan should include fats, carbohydrates, and protein. To follow a diet without any of these essentials would be to endanger your health.

America's carbohydrate addiction (Photo credit: Newbirth35)

Carbohydrates are the most plentiful of all nutrients. Carbohydrates (or "carbs" for short) can be found in most foods that we eat. Carbohydrates are made of simple and complex sugars that are metabolized by the body for energy OR stored as fat when no more energy is needed. (Yes, many people for some reason cling to the outdated idea that FAT is stored in the body as fat, when in fact, CARBS are much more likely to be making you fat.) Examples of simple carbohydrates include sugar, white flour, and many processed foods such as pastas, breads, and other grains. Complex carbohydrates are include vegetables, whole grains including all their natural fiber, and some fruits. Eating less of the simple and more of the complex types may be a good way for some people to lose weight.

Diets that advocate no carbohydrates force the body to obtain all of its energy from protein and fats. When protein from food is no longer available to meet the body’s energy needs, the body begins siphoning it from the muscle tissue of the body. In essence, the body begins eating itself for fuel. No one wants that! The body needs glucose (sugar) to function. Interestingly enough, the glucose needed by the brain must come from carbohydrates and not protein sources.

Now, carbohydrates have been classified by their glycemic index (GI) number. This method of rating carbohydrates helps people make wiser choices about what they include in their diets. Foods with high GI’s (greater than fifty) cause the body to store fat (simple carbs). Foods with a low GI number (less than fifty); cause the body to burn fat (complex carbs).

Several foods containing complex carbohydrates. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On a diet that features low GI carbohydrates, the insulin level in the body is maintained at a steady level. These carbohydrates are processed at a slower rate by the body. The other hormone, glucagon, can work to burn the sugars for energy in the cells. You don’t feel hungry all the time when the insulin hormone level in the body has no major fluctuations. When you expend energy during physical activity, the body starts releasing fat stores to use for energy metabolism. Low carbohydrate diets provide the body with energy without going into crisis mode.

Eat the right carbohydrates. Choose fresh vegetables and fruits. Whole grain or seven grain breads and pastas are preferred to those made with white flour. Beans and nuts are good for a low carbohydrate diet. If you must have potatoes, try sweet potatoes. The GI number is lower and they are great with a dab of real  butter - the fat in the butter actually helps your body process the vitamins and nutrients in the sweet potatoes.

Don’t try to cut out all of your carbohydrates. Reducing them can be a great help for many people trying to lose weight - and can offer other health benefits if you lower your consumption of processed foods, but choosing the right types is more important than how much you consume.

Keep an eye on this blog, as we do share low-carb recipes here fairly frequently - and we'll have a couple for you later this week!