Cutting Through the Carb Confusion, Part 1

Carbs continue to be a source of controversy in many American’s minds. Are you one of the countless Americans suffering from total carb confusion?  I suspect many of you are, which is a shame because doing your carbs right is the second most powerful nutritional strategy available to you to protect your health.  And when you look at the spectacular body of science related to the topic of carbs and health and carbs and body weight, the situation is crystal clear – meaning some carbs are good for you while others are not.  The purpose of this column is to set you straight on this issue – liberating you from any doubt, confusion or reticence you have towards this vital food group.

Let me establish first and foremost that I’m not an advocate of low carb dieting or low carb living.  I am a huge proponent, however, of right carb living (Download the free cliff notes to Dr. Ann’s 10-Step Diet for more).  Have your carbs – and eat them too – just be sure they are the right ones.

Before I tell you about the delicious categories of make-me-healthier right carbs, I have to tell you about the wrong ones.

The Great White Hazards

There is one and only one category of carbs that I want you to minimize – namely the highly refined, also known as high glycemic “Great White Hazards.”  These infamous foods include: white flour products, white rice, white potatoes, and sugar/sweets.  I collectively refer to these foods as the “Great White Hazards” because we know they can:
Promote fat storage Perpetuate appetite Promote cardiovascular disease Increase the risk of type 2 diabetes Promote certain cancers

The teacher in me wants to make sure you understand how these staples of the modern American diet have so many adverse effects in the human body.  The simple answer lies in the fact that these particular carbohydrates are so quickly and easily digested.  We have learned over the past decade that eating rapidly digested carbs results in sudden spikes of blood glucose (sugar) and insulin levels that adversely effect human metabolism and ultimately lead to the health risks noted above.  To stay on the right track, keep the wrong carbs to a minimum.  Remember this simple, nutritional motto – See White, Think Fat, Think Disease! For more on how these foods wreck havoc on your health buy my book or join me Thursday, February 17th for my live webinar!

Ann Kulze, MD is a renowned authority on nutrition, healthy living and disease prevention.  She is a highly sought speaker and the author of multiple books, including her latest title, Eat Right for Life.  For more info visit www.DrAnnwellness.com .