Balancing Carb Diets
Today, more and more people have begun raving about the benefits of low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet programs. These people discuss how these diets helped them lose dramatic amounts of weight. While there is no doubt that this may be the case, the fact remains that our body still needs its daily dose of carbohydrates. If you carefully look into diet programs that claim to be “all high-protein and low-carbohydrate” in nature, you will notice the program eventually allows you to consume carbohydrates.
Carbs and Weight Loss: Debunking Myths
For the past few years, there have been many articles and reports that have been published that have shone a bad light on carbohydrates. Many of these articles have implied that consuming carbohydrates every day has caused more and more people to experience decreased energy levels and high glucose levels in the bloodstream. As a result, they can successfully promote various high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet programs such as the Atkins diet and South Beach diet programs. As the saying goes, “Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.” Restricting the amount of carbohydrates taken in by the body and overwhelming it with protein-rich foods have also been known to cause a variety of health conditions such as increased levels of cholesterol and liver problems. In some cases, these diets have been known to increase the likelihood of contracting heart ailments.
Carb Cravings and Weight Loss
Another downside of doing these high-protein, low-carbohydrate programs is that many people who have lost all their weight simply gain it back again as they satisfy their body’s cravings for carbohydrates. As a result, the dramatic weight loss is only a short-term solution. There are generally two kinds of carbohydrates that a person consumes each day. Those that are considered as “good” carbohydrates such as whole grain cereals, pasta, and brown rice. On top of providing our body with energy, these “good” carbohydrates also contain fiber. This fiber helps the body flush out toxins and free radicals that have been attributed to weight gain.
Choosing Carbs Wisely for Weight Loss
What needs to be avoided are what is known as “bad” carbohydrates. These kinds of carbohydrates are those that are rich in sugar such as soda drinks, sweets, and the like. Eating too much of these carbohydrates will result in a high level of glucose in your bloodstream because it is not burned and converted into energy. This would then lead to an increase in fatty tissue deposits, inevitably causing you to gain weight. As you can see, carbohydrate foods are not as bad as many people claim they are. All you will need to do is choose the right kind of carbohydrates and consume these in moderation. This will ensure that you can lose weight while still providing your body with all the nutrients and energy it needs to help you get through the day.
