Carbohydrate rich foods are the bane of many dieters, but it’s essential to remember that without a supply of nutrients from carbohydrates, our body will burn it’s own sources of protein and fat to meet its energy requirements. And yes, we want our body to burn fat, that’s the key to losing weight, but we do not want it to burn the protein from our to keep us functional.
Not all carbohydrates are similar. The foe of our waist line is not carbohydrates themselves, but certain types of carbohydrates and how they metabolize in our system. We can best distinguish carbohydrates in terms of simple and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbs are what we find in sugary and processed foods, complex carbohydrates are found in whole foods like fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes. Weight Loss Secret #1: Go for the complex carbs.
When it comes to carbs and sugars, another very important factor to understand is the glycemic index of foods. The glycemic index is a quantitative designation that tells us how quickly the sugars in a food break down into glucose in the digestive process. Glucose enters our bloodstream, lifts our blood sugar level and then signals the production of insulin in order to keep blood sugar from getting too high. Insulin, as well as lowering blood sugar, tells the body to store fat. If there is an enemy to your waist line, it is not carbs themselves, but high insulin levels. Weight Loss Secret #2: Eat low glycemic foods.
We don’t want to neglect the other two basic food groups, proteins and fat. Contrary to common belief, fat restriction does not in itself promote weight loss. We need nutritious fats in our diet or we will begin to crave fatty foods. Good fats help our bodies break down our food more efficiently and thereby actually enhances fat burn, ironic as it may seem. What are the good fats? They are a group of fats called essential fatty acids, the omega-3 and omega-6 oils. They are found in nuts (especially walnuts), seeds (the best of which is flax), salmon, avocado, and olive oil. Weight Loss Secret #3: Eat healthy fats every day.
Finally, protein. We need it too every day, but not too much. Protein is instrumental in weight loss because it keeps our blood glucose levels balanced, thus keeping insulin levels ideal. Good food sources of protein are legumes, chicken (not fried!), fish (not fried!), and lean beef. Weight Loss Secret #4: Eat your protein: not too much, not too little.
To summarize, a healthy diet of low carbs, low glycemic foods, healthy fats and lean protein will help you lose weight and keep you well nourished in the process. Quick weight loss methods will work in the short term, but long-term weight loss is a function of long-term dietary and lifestyle changes.