Have your Carbs without counting them!

A new study conducted by researchers at Slim-Fast Foods Company shows that half of the Americans believe that weight loss is possible by cutting carbohydrates with no need to count calories.

A new study conducted by researchers at Slim-Fast Foods Company shows that half of the Americans believe that weight loss is possible by cutting carbohydrates with no need to count calories. Low carb, America ‘s latest miracle weight-loss diet, has put most Americans into “calorie denial”. The nationwide survey involved 1,000 telephone interviews. The researchers found that among low-carb dieters, 46 per cent believe they can lose weight just by cutting carbs without cutting calories. Fifty-two per cent believe that they can lose weight and also keep it off long term by cutting carbs but not cutting calories. Thirty-four per cent believe that they do not need to control portion size. Fifty-five per cent do not worry about getting all the essential nutrients they need in their diets. According to Elaine Magee, the “Recipe Doctor” for the WebMD Weight Loss Clinic, “The low-carb phenomenon is unfortunate. Some really good, healthy foods are being banned. You cannot deprive yourself. You cannot simply ban so many foods. It’s unhealthy. And it does not work in weight loss.” To lose weight, “you simply have to choose wisely, have balance in your diet. We’ve lost the idea of eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans. And guess what — those are carbs, what I call ‘smart carbs.’ They are great foods!,” she added. “When you stop eating before you’re stuffed, you end up eating a reasonable portion of food. Besides, where’s the joy in cutting so many foods from our lives?. We need to experience joy in eating but at the same time make health a priority. Living a healthy lifestyle is about finding the balance, where you can trim,” Magee further said. “Many people think they have problems with high-carbohydrate foods, controlling the amounts they eat. Well, it’s not just carbs that are the problem, it’s fats and carbs, that combination is what’s killing us. There’s nothing wrong with a potato — until you fry it in fat. Potatoes are high in fibre, vitamin C. We need to remind ourselves of that,” she concluded.(source: India Times Health News, May 2004)