Carbs and Weight Loss: The Truth About Carbs and Nutrition and Losing Fat

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ESCHEWING THE FAT
Heinz is developing low carb ketchup, Michelob has its low carb Ultra beer, and Subway touts an "Atkins approved" wrap guaranteed to keep you in ketosis. Is this life-without-bread diet something you should consider or just a long-lasting fad? Are carbs really the devil dressed in grain?

There are studies that show eating little to no carbs can cause weight loss, and in some cases, even healthier hearts. Most of these studies, however, involved people who ate pasta like Pavarotti and filled up on white flour like Mrs. Baird. When you cut carbs out of diets like these, of course weight loss results. But what about the moderate eaters out there - like you - who like a bowl of cereal from time to time, and who disagree with the popular opinion that bread is the root of all evil?

Good news: there is much more proof out there that a well-rounded diet with controlled carb intake is the best way to go, both for your physique and your state of mind.

ALL CARBS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL
Carbs have gotten a bad wrap in recent years, but if you want to build muscle, you've got to eat them. They are the best sources of sustained energy, and their effects on blood sugar are essential for lean muscle growth. Carbs are a must-have, but the question remains: which carbs should you eat, how much should you eat, and when should you eat them?

There are two types of carbohydrates: low glycemic (complex) carbohydrates are the ones that digest slowly, giving you a prolonged source of energy; high glycemic (simple) carbs digest quickly, are high in sugar, and spike your blood sugar and insulin levels. Contrary to popular opinion, both types of carbs are essential for building a shirtless-savvy physique.

You need low glycemic carbs, such as fibrous fruits and vegetables, to give you the energy to work out hard, to be on your toes at work, and to have something left over for a little nighttime fun (if you're so lucky). These complex carbs have little effect on your blood sugar levels, so they are rarely stored as fat.

 
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I just started a new diet and was thinking about going low-carb for the first time ever in my fat life. Glad you cleared that up for me. I think counting fat grams is healthier and better.
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