Big Brother Fighters

Carbohydrates are the ruin of many dieters, but it is important to know that without a supply of glucose 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, which is why we diet in the first place, but we do not want our body to burn the protein from our muscles.

Not all carbohydrates are similar. The villain of our waist line is not carbohydrates themselves, but certain kinds of carbohydrates and the way they metabolize in our system. We can best understand differences in carbohydrates in terms of simple and complex carbs. Simple carbs are what we find in sugary and processed foods, complex carbohydrates are found in whole, natural foods like fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes.

Weight Loss Secret #1: Go for the complex carbohydrates.

While we’re still on the subject of carbohydrate foods, another very important factor to keep in mind 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 our body. Glucose enters our bloodstream, raises our blood sugar level and then triggers the production of insulin in order to keep our blood sugar from getting too high. Insulin, aside from lowering blood sugar, tells our body to store fat. So if there is an adversary here, it is not carbohydrates, but high insulin levels.

Weight Loss Secret #2: Eat low glycemic foods

We don’t want to neglect the other essential food groups, proteins and fat. Contrary to conventional belief, fat restriction does not inevitably stimulate weight loss. We need healthy fats in our diet or we will begin to crave fatty foods. Healthy fats ensure that our bodies break down our food more efficiently and therefore actually enhances fat burn, ironic as that may sound. What are the good fats? These are a group of fats called essential fatty acids, the omega-3 and omega-6 oils. They are found in nuts (walnuts are a good source), seeds (the best of which is flax), salmon, avocado, and olive oil.

Weight Loss Secret #3: Eat healthy fats every day

Finally, we turn to protein. We need it too every day, but not too much. Protein is helpful in weight loss because it keeps our blood glucose levels proportionate, thus keeping insulin levels down. Ideal 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

The bottom line: 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.

For more information about weight loss, here are two excellent resources:

Women’s Health Weight Loss Magazine

Detoxification and Weight Loss