http://www.carbsexplained.com/carbohydrates/n47.html "Low carbohydrates" has become the mantra of food manufacturers and dieters everywhere. But eating foods with low carbohydrates isn't necessarily the best way to go. en-us Tue, 22 Nov 2005 13:48:14 EST Tue, 22 Nov 2005 13:48:14 EST Weblog Editor 2.0 Some people think low carbohydrates are the way to go. And they're right--to a point. Eating the Right Carbohydrates Although going on one of those diets with low carbohydrates like the Atkins diet or the South Beach diet can make you lose a lot of weight in a little bit of time, it's really not worth the health risk you're taking. The real reason that most people are overweight is eating too many carbohydrates. Chances are, even if you're at a healthy weight, you eat too many carbohydrates. Count your carbs for a week and see. You only need 130 grams a week to be healthy. There is one situation in which eating too many carbohydrates isn't bad, and that's when you're eating complex carbohydrates--that is, foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grain or whole wheat breads and cereals, whole wheat pasta, oats and brown rice. These foods might not necessarily be foods with low carbohydrates, but they are the kinds of carbohydrates you need for good health. They keep you feeling full, unlike simple carbohydrates, which are foods that give you a sugar rush that's usually followed by a sharp drop in your blood sugar levels, leaving you feeling tired and hungry. Good carbohydrates (the complex carbohydrates we mentioned before) usually have a lot of fiber, which is how they keep you feeling full. Most diets that emphasize low carbohydrates don't tell you that. Why not? Because eating only foods with low carbohydrates--or rather, keeping your carb intake as low as possible--will help you lose weight quickly. And quick weight loss sells books, web site subscriptions, low carb foods, etc. But the best way to lose weight is still to average a pound a week of weight loss. Slow? Yeah, but it's still 52 pounds a year. And you're more likely to be able to maintain your weight loss that way. Plus, you can still eat a variety of foods and not feel deprived. Can you have a piece of cake once in a while? Sure! Just wait until a special occasion. Tue, 22 Nov 2005 13:48:14 EST