Carbohydrate-Guide

The New England Journal of Medicine recently ran an article from the Harvard School of Public Health where a conclusion was reached that “diets lower in carbohydrate and higher in protein and fat are not associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease in women.”

Is this cause for celebration and reason to head bring on the fat?

Not really…

Dean Ornish, M.D. debated Dr. Robert Atkins several times and became known as the “low fat” physician, and Dr. Atkins as the “low carb” doctor. As Dr. Ornish points out - it’s not about low fat verses low carbs. It is about balance - to achieve an optimal diet you need to have a diet low in “bad fats” such as saturated fat and trans fatty acids and low in “bad carbs” (refined carbohydrates) such as sugar and other concentrated sweeteners, white flour, and white rice.

A healthy diet includes:

• Good fats such as the omega-3 fatty acids are contained in fish oil and in some nuts and seeds, including walnuts, flax seeds, and canola oil
• Good carbs are found in unrefined, whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains (whole wheat flour and brown rice), and legumes.

Dr. Ornish answers the question “Why are too many refined (bad) carbohydrates bad for you?”

When sugar cane is refined into sugar, or whole wheat flour is refined into white flour the bran and fiber are removed. Dr. Ornish indicates that’s the reason you you can eat large amounts of “bad carbs” without feeling full.

• Fiber and bran cause your food to be absorbed more slowly from your stomach and intestines.
• When the fiber and bran are removed, your food gets absorbed very quickly, causing your blood sugar to spike to high levels.

Good carbs on the other hand becasue they are higgh in fiber fill you up and slows down the absoption of food into the blood stream, which keeps your blood sugar levels more stable.

To read why Dr. Ornish has challenged the Harvard School of Public Health finding jump here to the article.