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Carbs Are Friends, Too.

5/31/2015

3 Comments

 
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Alright, time to have a chat...

I've got two things that bug me about misconceptions people have about low carb and ketogenic diets, and it's time to set some things straight :)

One is that all carbs are bad. No. Just no. I didn't gain weight eating potatoes, white rice and a plethora of fruits and vegetables. Trust me. It was the fast food, the donuts, the cakes, the cookies, the candy (can you tell that sweets are my weakness?) and yes, even my beloved beer. 

Second is that low carb is equivalent to no carb. Sure, if you're following a ketogenic diet and have a low tolerance for carbs, it might be. But in general there is no set number that defines what a low carb diet actually constitutes. So whether you eat 150g, 100g or 50g of carbs per day, it's alllllll low carb in comparison to the standard American diet that recommends eating up to 300g of carbs per day. Make sense? 


Next, I want to take a moment to remind you that carbs aren't evil. Just like fat was unfairly demonized, carbs are at risk of suffering the same misconception. There are good carbs and bad carbs, just as in fats. The best way to spot the good ones? Keep it real. Eating a potato, white or sweet, is going to be much more nutritious (potassium, magnesium and vitamin C, anyone?) than a stack of Pringles. It really is that simple. 

Lastly, you also have to consider your own personal need for carbs. Just the same as you have to do with your overall food intake, the amount of carbs one person eats is really dependent on their activity level and training needs. I do believe if you feed your body real, unprocessed and nutrient dense food, it will naturally learn to tell you when to eat and when to stop. However, this isn't the case for everyone and you will have to go a step further to ask yourself what your own bodies needs are in regards to carb intake. 

The reality is that there is no one formula fits all to answer that question and to be honest I've been having to play around a lot with that amount myself. I haven't been in Ketosis since February and my work/life schedule has been too demanding to maintain any sort of dietary consistency. Because of this my eating has been off, my weight and inflammation have been up and forget about a solid nights sleep. So for now I am just trying to get back on track with my workout/sleeping routine and sticking to real food (including carbs like potatoes, white rice and fruit). Once I re-establish a good foundation, I will start to tinker with adjusting carbs to match my training routine and even play around with Ketosis once again. 


What kind of carbs agree best with your body and lifestyle? Let me know in the comments below!

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3 Comments
GMahoney
6/1/2015 12:08:57 am

Instead of cutting back on carbs from your diet just moderate your intake for your level of energy needed. Take a look at carb cycling, diet method where periods of low-carb, high protein and high fat intake are cycled with periods of high carb. This promote fat loss by tricking your body into burning fat for fuel instead of the sugar from the carbs it would normally get (more details: http://everydayhealthhero.com/can-carb-cycling-help-you-lose-weight/ ). Since late January I have been using this method , works well for me. Have already lost 16 pounds. I LOVE this way of eating. I can lose weight, have plenty of energy and feel good. Also, psychologically, since carb down only lasts a few days, I always know that carb up is coming soon.

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Jason Davis
6/14/2015 01:14:24 pm

Kind of sounds like the carbs you eat to trick the body to lose fat is like carb back loading and eating carbs at night?

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Jason Davis
6/14/2015 01:16:55 pm

Great article Alex. I follow you on instagram too. We are just alike on our eating habits. I have to get back on low carb high fat and protein. I've been allowing the wrong carbs lately. I just saw doc Gundry so I'm getting back on track tomorrow.

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    :::Author:::

    I'm Alexandra; blogger, paramedic, and eater of fat. 
    I eat bacon daily, take my coffee with heavy cream, eat the yolks and consume coconut oil by the spoonful. Because of this, I have never been healthier or happier in my life. Welcome to my blog, where I intend to abolish the fat phobia that plagues us and give dietary fat the healthy reputation it deserves.


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