"To Carb or Not to Carb, That Is The Question!"

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"The Naked Truth About Carbs"

By Chef Kevin Wagner

These days, it seems like everyone is buzzing about the low-carbohydrate diets such Atkins, South Beach, etc. "Carb" is a four letter word that evokes an emotional response from nearly anyone on these programs.

Studies show that at least half of Americans have tried, or are on, a carb reduced diet of some form. At the time of this writing, figures are not available for Canada, but one can assume we are not far behind.

So what's it all about? Are these diets all they're cracked up to be? And are they good for you in the long run?

Since my mission is to educate, I believe that knowledge is power. With that in mind, let's take a look, shall we?...

First of all, what is a carbohydrate anyway?

A carbohydrate is a type of food, usually derived from plants. It includes simple carbohydrates (sugar, fruit), and complex carbohydrates (vegetables, starches). It is one of three necessary nutrients that supply calories to the body, along with proteins and fats.

Sounds simple. So where is the big problem?

Since the dawn of agriculture, we have been "carb-o-vores". Farming was one of the main reasons our ancestors settled into cities and villages, to provide a steady source of food for their families.

Even today, many of the world's people thrive on mainly plant-based diets, with very few instances of our chronic ailments such as heart, liver and kidney illnesses. Carbs are required for 50% or more of their daily calories.

Obviously then, the trouble doesn't lie with the carbs themselves, but with our eating habits. Over the past couple of generations, we as a society have "habitually" consumed large amounts of processed carbohydrates, and therein lies the whole problem. I say "habitually" because we have been conditioned to eat these foods by their producers.

Foods like white sugar, potato chips, French fries, chocolate bars, bleached white flour, processed cereals, canned fruits.... and anything else you'd like to add to the list...

Processing of natural carbohydrates, provides empty calories stripped of much of their original food value. They fill our appetites, but don't give our bodies the necessary vitamins, minerals and fibre required to fuel it properly. They are, for the most part "fibreless", and our bodies are not designed to handle them, especially in the amounts we consume.

Most of the processed carbs our bodies can't burn as fuel (because there's nothing of food value in it), then becomes fat, which is then stored in places we'd rather not have it :-) Higher levels of blood sugar are also related to over- consumption of "bad carbs", since it is unable to be properly absorbed by our bodies.

As well, it presents a host of health problems like high cholesterol, heart diseases, liver and kidney illnesses, hyper-tension, various cancers, etc. We really are what we eat, more than we want to believe.

Obviously then, the answer is not to reduce your carb intake, unless it's way out of proportion. It's more reasonable to change the types of carbohydrates you consume to foods which will be able to be efficiently used by your body.

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*Sidebar*

Speaking from experience, I have used low-carb diets to lose weight when I feel necessary. However, they are for a very limited time only, and I wouldn't advise anyone to stay on this type of program for good long-term health.

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Focus instead on fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grain cereals and natural wheat products. Pasta, potatoes and whole grain breads are necessary, too, but not in huge portions. Keep in mind, the biggest mistake in dieting is blaming the foods you eat, and not the size of your portions. Moderation is still the key to a healthy, long-term eating plan.

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*Sidebar*

Personally, I prefer a Mediterranean-style diet, that relies on mainly plant-based proteins and carbohydrates, with moderate amounts of animal proteins and fats. You will have to make up your own mind as to what works for you.

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If that gets you thinking about looking into the whole "carb craze" a little more deeply, good! The jury is still out as to whether or not these low-carb diets are healthy in the long run. Rather than listen to them, learn all you can and decide for yourself whether it's right for you.

Feel free to share this article with your friends, after all... everyone can use a little help :-)

Until next time.....

Yours in Food & Friendship,
Chef Kevin

Kevin Wagner is Chef/Owner of Cooking Solutions, catering, teaching, and consulting services located in Bear River, Nova Scotia. Email: ChefKevin@cooking-solutions.com
in response to this article or other questions.

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