I think I finally realized that the low carb craze spreading across the globe has
ultimately reached a level of obsession when I was standing next to my car at a
local convenient store, pumping gas.
While listening to the canned music coming from the speakers overhead, the music
was suddenly interrupted to broadcast an advertisement...for the "LOW
CARB SLIM JIM™"!
Yes...the Slim Jim™! Those spicy, greasy sticks of leftover processed
meat found on store counters all over the world are here to give dieters everywhere
the assistance they've been looking for to finally trim those waistlines and let
those abs poke through!
Of course, you should ignore the 13 grams of fat in every slimy stick you pop into
your eager little mouth, right? Or at least that's what the company would LIKE you
to think, because everyone now knows that it's the CARBOHYDRATE that's your true
enemy in the fight against fat right?
WRONG!
Ads abound for unhealthy products that love to claim low carb in order to lure the
uneducated dieter into their tangled web of deceit while adding unnecessary inches
to their waistline.
Regardless of whether you're looking to gain muscle mass or lose body fat, diet
will make up the foundation of your program, and understanding the truth behind
carb consumption will make or break your chances for success.
Here are 7 FACTS ABOUT CARBOHYDATES that you need to know before customizing your
diet plan:
FACT 1: A Carb Is Not A Carb Is Not A Carb
All carbohydrates are NOT alike, but rather come in two forms: those that break
down almost as soon as they hit your stomach (called High-Glycemic Index or High-"GI"
carbs) and include such foods as pastries, mashed potatoes, white bread, white rice,
fruit juices, etc., and those that digest more slowly in your body (called Low-Glycemic
Index or Low-"GI" carbs) such as most fruits and vegetables, whole grain
breads, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, etc.
As you're about to learn, each type of carb has a very different effect on your
body and knowing when and how to eat each will make or break your success. Read
on...
FACT 2: Low-Gl Carbs Help Burn Fat And Fuel Your Day
Since low-glycemic carbs don't digest as quickly, when your body is looking for
energy it will decide to look toward your fat cells for the fuel it needs. That
means that a steady, regulated supply of the right amount of low-GI carbs will help
you burn fat all day long while providing you with the energy you need to make it
through the rest of your day.
As an added bonus, low-GI carbs contain more nutrients and fiber which will give
you a more "full" feeling and help you avoid those cravings you're about
to learn about in FACT 3...
FACT 3: High-Gl Carbs Trigger Fat Storage...MOST Of The Time
Since high-GI foods digest so quickly, they trigger your body to release insulin
which forces your body to look to what you just ate or drank for fuel rather than
using your fat stores.