Five Little Diet Secrets
January 21st, 2010High carbohydrate foods are the ruin of many dieters, but it is important to know that without a supply of sugars from carbohydrates, our body relies on 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 point, but we do not want our body to burn the protein from our muscles.
Go for the complex carbs. Not all carbohydrates are alike. The foe of our waist line is not carbohydrates themselves, but certain kinds of carbohydrates and the way they break down in our system. We can best distinguish carbohydrates in terms of simple and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are what we find in sugary and processed foods, complex carbohydrates are found in whole foods like fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes.
Eat low glycemic foods. In addition to carbohydrates, another very important factor to keep in mind is the glycemic index of foods. The glycemic index is a quantitative rating system that tells us how quickly the sugars in a food break down into glucose in our body. Glucose enters our bloodstream, stimulates our blood sugar level and then triggers insulin in order to keep blood sugar from getting too high. Insulin, as well as lowering blood sugar, tells our body to store fat. So if there is any villain here, it is not carbohydrates, but high insulin levels.
Eat nourishing fats every day. Carbs are not the only factor to consider. We don’t want to ignore the other primary food groups, proteins and fat. Contrary to conventional belief, fat restriction does not inevitably stimulate weight loss. We need good fats in our diet or we will begin to crave fatty foods. Nutritious fats also help our bodies metabolize our food more efficiently and thereby actually enhances fat burn, ironic as that might seem. What are the nutritious fats? A group of fats called essential fatty acids, the omega-3 and omega-6 oils. You can find them in nuts (walnuts are a good source), seeds (especially flax), salmon, avocado, and olive oil.
Eat your protein: not too much, not too little. Finally, we turn to protein. We also need protein every day, but not too much. Protein is essential in weight loss because it keeps our blood glucose levels stable, thus keeping insulin levels ideal. Good food sources of protein are legumes, chicken (not fried!), fish (not fried!), and lean beef.
Bottom line is that a healthy diet of low carbs, low glycemic foods, healthy fats and lean protein will help you shed the pounds and keep you well nourished in the process. Keep in mind too that the health of your body is a contributor. Toxic waste accumulates in our fat. If you do a detox to cleanse your body of toxins, you will help shrink the size of your fat cells!