carbs

[Guest guest]

,

it seems to me that there is so much variety of opinion on this

subject...

there are people like Christie, here who are atkins for life and eat

very low carb and are healthier and happier than ever.

along those lines, there is a guy, dr. rosedale, with a book, the

rosedale diet, who says that we need to be FAT burners, not carb

burners for energy, because, if your body burns fat for energy, that

has all sorts of health and anti aging benefits, but if you are a

carb burner for energy, there are all sorts of anti-health

implications.

then there are the people on this list i was on for a few years, the

community forum at www.radiantrecovery.com. This is a wonderful web

site for people looking to get over their sugar addiction. you're

supposed to eat a certain way: plenty of protein, moderate fat,

plenty of greens and moderate carbs. people found that if their carb

intake was too low, they would feel tired and stop losing wt. but if

they increased back up to a moderate carb diet (i think like maybe

one slice whole grain bread at a meal or a small potad or apple or

something) then they felt better and wt. loss would resume.

so as always, it's probably best not to generalize but take the

individual approach.

but having said that, i don't know anyone who does well on a high

carb diet!!

laura in nj

> Hello Heidi:

>

> Thank you very much for your observation. That was very insightful.

>

> Maybe the approach I presented here was too simplistic. I am really

> aware of people who have a hard time eating for example shrimp,

peas

> and peanuts. And of others who don't feel exactly well with milk

and

> even fermented dairy. Such idiosyncrasies must be respected, of

> course. I don't deny them.

>

> Now I think carbs (starches) in general and grains in particular

are

> a rather complex subject. For some people, supressing them may be

> beneficial in the beginning, but then later problems may arise, you

> know. I don't much believe in substituting fats for carbs as most

> paleos do. Other people (maybe few) will always resent not being

> allowed to eat carbs as if they had a hole in their lives.

>

> I think we may have to learn how to eat carbs and especially grains

> again. They are l'enfant terrible in nutrition, if you see what I

> mean.

>

> I totally agree with you that we should look at and apply paleo not

> from an archeological perspective, which may be silly and

> anachronical after all, but rather from what works for each of us.

>

> Indeed there is a lot of misusing and misunderstanding around

carbs.

> I am not trying to promote them as food number one, but again I am

> concerned about the possible consequences (in the long run, to be

> sure) from a lack of them in your diet.

>

> While I agree that junk food or commercial carbs is obviously bad

for

> everybody, I would propose a modulation in the case of organic

grains

> and tubers rather than a simple elimination. Sometimes we simply

need

> the right combination, the right proportion or maybe a few

> adjustements (in the case of gluten intolerance, the use of

> alkyglycerols and chlorella may be helpful).

>

> A few rules do apply here: a) don't eat carbs more than three times

a

> day; eat just one kind at a given meal; c) don't mix carbs with

> fresh fruit; d) don't make carbs the most important item in your

diet

> (something between 20% and 30% is ok); e) try to eat leavened

bread;

> f) cook and chew well.

>

> Some people may even discover to their surprise that they will have

> no trouble with gluten after they take those measures. For a few

> others, however, the problems with wheat, rye and barley will

> persist, but in this case I don't see any reason why these people

> should avoid rice, potatoes, chestnuts etc. Soy, in any case, is

best

> left aside, if you aren't Oriental.

>

> I think that a total avoidance of carbs may not only lead to

> gustative insatisfaction or frustration, but also to a faulty

proteic

> assimilation. In my opinion, the best approach is to follow the

> middle way.

>

> Regards,

>

> José

>

> PS. Heidi, are you a German? Just curious to know.