Hope you all had a very pleasant Thanksgiving! I did, and then was away at a medical fitness conference last week. But now I’m back and ready to continue our journey for a healthy holiday season.
Just a couple weeks away and Christmas will be here. Not sure if you heard, but Santa in preparation for this year has gotten off the no-ho-no-carb, low-ho-low-carb diet frenzy and is back eating sensibly. It’s true! The media attack on carbohydrates being bad for you is finally coming to an end. The public has been bamboozled by these quick-fix no/low carbohydrate diets that have netted a pretty penny for their authors.
It’s time to set the record straight. Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy for the body. Without them in our diets, we’d have a real tough time doing all the things we do during the typical day.
First and foremost. it’s important to know that not all carbohydrates are the same. . . and that’s where the bad rap is coming from. Unfortunately, the good carbs are being taken down by the bad ones and folks are walking around with the misconception that the entire carb family should be avoided like the plaque.
There is a BIG difference between the two. Refined carbs such as white rice, white bread, soda, juice, candy, and baked goods made from white sugar/flour are basically stripped of all nutrients. These bad carbs are quickly released into the bloodstream as glucose causing insulin to be released, which then pulls the glucose out of the blood and stores it in our bodies. That emptying of the glucose out of the blood makes you hungry, so you eat more. If these simple carbohydrates are all that you eat, you’ll generally always be hungry and will quickly store-up a lot of extra empty (meaning no important nutrients) calories. We definitely don’t want that!! That’s like being on the naughty list.
Whole grains, fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, are good carbs. These complex carbohydrates are packed with numerous minerals and nutrients and rich in fiber, which helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels, supports optimal digestion, and stabilizes blood sugar levels. In other words, the glucose in our blood won’t be quickly removed for storage like with refined carbs. This helps ward off hunger and therefore, helps to prevent you from overeating. Fiber also creates a feeling of fullness in the gut, which also prevents you from overeating.
Some examples of whole grains are oatmeal, wild rice, buckwheat, corn, barley, as well as whole wheat/grain breads, pastas, and cereals. Whole grains are also low in fat and have been linked to lower risks of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
So Santas present to us all this year is the knowledge that all carbohydrates are not bad for you. Stick with the good complex carbohydrates, limit the simple ones, and you’ll be off to a great start in the New Year. Those exercise sessions might feel a bit better, too, as you’ll be properly fueling the body.
Advertisement
