A study published in 2016 by the Center for Disease Control reported that 22 states, including Minnesota, had obesity rates of 25-30%. Many of the states around us have obesity rates approaching 35%. With the best health care in the world and an unlimited amount of information at our fingers tips 24/7, why is obesity increasing? It is because of what we are being forced to buy and call food!
A common statement is “If you want to lose weight and be healthy, only buy food along the outer ring of a grocery store”. Why is this true? That is where most fruits, vegetables, cheese and meat is found. Foods with higher carbohydrates are often found in the aisles.
Why are carbohydrates bad for us? Here is a simple answer.
All Carbohydrates are sugar and provide us with an inexpensive, quick supply of energy. This is a good thing. The problem arises, however, when we take in more energy (carbs) than we burn with daily activity and exercise. That energy is stored as fat, which means energy for later use. This, again, is a good thing. Why then don’t we use that fat for energy later?
The hormone insulin is released by the pancreas when sugar (carbs) are detected in the blood, so that the sugar can be broken down and used by the body. Insulin, however loves and protects fat! Whenever insulin is around, fat will not be used for energy, while we continue to store unused sugar as more fat. Even exercise can’t stop this normal insulin reaction.
Proteins, on the other hand, are also used for energy and building muscle. When proteins enter the blood stream they do not have the same insulin reaction as carbohydrates. When we use up the available protein, we can actually access fat stores for energy! This is why higher protein and lower carbohydrate diets are successful in losing and maintaining weight. We are eating in a manner that is best for our physical body!
High protein diets have been taking it on the chin for years, in the media, and by those making great profits from keeping the ‘low-fat’, ‘reduced-fat’, ‘diet-this’ and ‘good-carb-that’ fad alive. Proteins are more expensive than carbohydrates to produce. The “Make it cheap and give them a lot of it.” mentality has not been good for our health or our waistlines.
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