Carbs, Schmarbs.
What Will They Think of Next?
by Ronni Litz Julien
Do not blink in 2005! Good nutrition information changes
as fast as you can say pasta. As we continue to research
all of our healthy avenues and ways to keep ourselves fit, I
have created some nutritional challenges for you to think about
this upcoming year.
First, do not get carried away with the lack
of carbohydrate in your diet. As per usual, we tend to
take a timely nutritional concept and work it to its extreme.
We saw this happen fifteen to twenty years ago with the low fat
craze. We took so much fat from our diets that many came
to me experiencing hair loss and wondering why. A young
female client of mine concerned with her weight and health
ceased eating protein foods (fish, chicken and meat) and dairy
foods (like mild and cheese) since they contain "too much fat."
Six months into this regimen, she broke both of her ankles while
jogging due to weakened bones and no mechanism to heal.
Now, we are into the low-carb life. As
we are seeing, most of us do not benefit long term from these
obsessions, rather the large food companies do, who gear their
new products to our overzealous passion for the newest food fad.
My favorite of all the new "low carb" products is the low-carb
chocolates. Indeed, the sugar has been removed, but there
is more saturated fat than ever! The goal: choose
the "good" carbs, those high in fiber, like fruits and
vegetables, beans, whole grain breads and cereals, sweet
potatoes and brown rice. Hold on to your arteries!
Next, on a positive note, be ready for the
food companies to strike again. Only this time, they will
introduce you to "trans-fat-free" items. Trans fats are
the newest family of incredibly unhealthy fats found in
margarines, cookies, crackers, etc. At the moment, trans
fats are found on your nutrition fact label as "partially
hydrogenated oils" in the ingredient section. Some time
this year, the government will require the amount of trans fats
in our food to be noted on the label, and many foods will begin
to be made without trans fats, such as Oreo cookies and many
margarines. Be aware of the trans fats, limit them, and
you will, still, hold on to your arteries!
Finally, the usefulness of our anti-oxidant
recommendations is once again being questioned. For years,
I recommended beta-carotene, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E
supplements to my clients as part of my anti-cancer and
anti-coronary nutrition program. The studies continue to
surface, one by one, as scientists have concluded that high
doses of all of these supplements may not benefit us and, in
fact, may be harmful. Dizzy yet? Therefore, it is
back to getting these nutrients into our bodies through foods:
colorful fruits and vegetables and healthy oils, in our lifelong
search for the healthy grail. Remember, do not blink!
The grand emphasis for 2005: commit to a
solid physical activity regimen, not every day, just consider
three of four times a week for 30 minutes. I believe this
is eighty percent of the importance today for a healthy and long
life. While exercising, sneak in some high fiber carbs
along the way. You will feel better. This advice is
not the latest fad; this is a lifestyle, it never goes
away.
|
