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Warning: No-Carb/Low-Carb Can Cause Serious Health Problems
Dear Friend, We wrote about this subject in our Anti-Aging Newsletter this
month but then worried that some of our friends and customers, who are not
signed up to receive it, would miss this very valuable health information.
Therefore we have added it to our Oleda Health and Beauty Tips so you will
have a chance to make up your own mind if this diet is for you.
Balance in nutrition is the single most important aspect and often the first
to be discarded when dieting. With all the new trendy diets today, Americans
are losing the nutritional foundation essential for lifelong good health. We
take our bodies on these rollercoaster diets, changing with each new trend
and promise, leaving us in a state of chemical imbalance and forcing our digestion
and metabolism to compensate when our usual nutritional sources are removed.
When there is balance, our systems work efficiently to process the foods we
eat. With balance and efficiency comes healthy weight maintenance.
Carbohydrates are not the villains they are being made out to be! They are
essential for digestion and metabolism; they are the best source of energy
for all bodily functions, especially the brain and central nervous system.
Carbohydrates help regulate protein and fat metabolism, as fats require carbohydrates
for their breakdown within the liver. Carbohydrates contain the same number
of calories per gram as protein (approximately 4 calories per gram) and less
than one half the calories of fat (approximately 9 calories per gram).
Unrefined, natural carbohydrate foods like grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables
are the only food category not linked to any leading killer diseases. Research
has shown that diets low in pure sugar -- one of the very real culprits --
and high in complex carbohydrates have been shown to help disorders such as
heart disease, high blood pressure, anemia, kidney disorders, cancer and tooth
decay.
 Avoid the carbohydrates that are “bad” carbs: the pure sugars
and starches, the carbohydrate foods lacking in essential vitamins, minerals
and fibers- the “empty calories." These carbs, found in starchy
and sweet foods, when eaten in excess can crowd out essential nutrients in
the diet. Concentrated sweets, such as cookies, cakes and candies should not
exceed 10% of the daily total calories, yet it is estimated that today we consume
as much as 25% of our calories in the form of sugar.
The National Research Council does not state a specific requirement in the
diet, however most authorities agree that 55 to 60% of total calories should
be from carbohydrates. A minimum of 100 grams a day is absolutely essential,
with 300 grams being ideal for most people. A person's metabolism, activity
levels, size and weight all determine the amount of carbohydrates the body
needs. Complete removal of carbohydrates from a diet may produce ketoses; these
are toxic compounds that can cause a breakdown of essential body protein, brain
damage, depression, apathy, and loss of energy. When protein is burned for
energy, as in low carb diets, the kidneys can be overworked trying to quickly
rid the body of toxins. It is necessary to consume large amounts of water to
stabilize this condition. In balanced diets, fats are burned for energy from
storage - not proteins – benefiting the entire body as these stores of
fat produce energy more efficiently.
So now back to balance – if you are one of the millions now on one of
those “No-Carb/Low -Carb” diets please be aware of the need to
help your body in balancing and compensating for a lack of essential nutrients.
Consider supplementing and balancing where you are lacking in carbohydrates
with a good multi-vitamin; a vitamin rich in all B’s, and especially
biotin, to help in the digestion of added proteins in the diet. Also drink
plenty of water, eat an assortment of fruits and vegetables – choose
your favorites, they are all good for you!
Quick-Carb Reference:
Sources of Complex Carbohydrates: Rice (especially brown), Potatoes, Beans,
Peas, Corn, Yam, Low-Sweet Fruits and Vegetables, Wholegrain Bread, Dark Bread,
Pitta Bread, Matzo Bread, Pasta, Wholegrain cereal (including high-fiber Breakfast
Cereal), Wheetabix, Shredded Wheat, Kasha, Oatcakes, Cuscus.
Sources of Simple Carbohydrates: Sugar, Chocolate, Candy, Jam, Cookies and
Cakes, Biscuits, Sweet White Breads, Toffee, Honey, Soft Drinks, Alcohol Drinks,
High-Fructose Juices, Ice Cream, Syrups.
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