It’s common sense: If you want to lose weight, watch your calories and exercise regularly. But is it really that simple? Researchers Dr. David Ludwig and Dr. Mark L. Friedman warn that there’s an easier way to shed that stubborn belly fat.
Ludwig even dares to say that calories don’t matter.
“If exercise and counting calories were the sole contributors of long-term weight loss results my colleagues and I would be out of job,” says Ludwig, who serves as the director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center in Boston. “We have to forget the low-fat paradigm that would exclude foods such as avocado, nuts, and olive oil which are among the healthiest foods we could possibly eat.”
Instead, Ludwig and Friedman claim the key to losing weight is all about those pesky refined carbohydrates–foods which are often prevalent in American diets. As consumption of these carbohydrates soar, so too do waistlines, along with heightened risks of obesity, diabetes, and even heart disease.
Ludwig even claims that refined carbohydrates trigger the body to absorb more calories into fat cells, causing an inevitable slowdown of the metabolism.
Worse yet, hunger increases.
“Simply looking at calories is misguided at best,” says Ludwig. “While dieting and exercising is a great way to kick-start a weight loss plan, the true secret is to cut out refined carbohydrates, which are so prevalent in American diets.”
What Foods to Avoid for Weight Loss
So it’s finally revealed: Refined carbohydrates, and not calories, are the key to sustaining weight loss. So which foods are off limits?
- White rice. White rice often contain few nutrients or fiber, making it easy to consume in large quantities, causing your weight to soar.
- White bread. Again, there isn’t much fiber or micronutrients here, so it’s easy to overindulge. Your best bet: Choose whole grain breads instead, which bump up the fiber content.
- Anything that’s been processed. Grain foods such as cereal, ready-made pasta, or ramen are packed full of fat, sugar, and salt, which add up to more calories without being satiating. The solution: It’s best to make these foods at home instead of buying the pre-made versions to eliminate excess salt and sugar.
In addition, Ludwig says that people should remember that not all carbohydrates are bad–but eating the refined kind can make it easier to binge, making it hard to lose weight. Instead, make sure you’re eating the right kind of carbohydrates instead.
“Those seeking healthier diets to take a closer look at what they eat, rather than just how much they eat,” says Ludwig. “Metabolism wins.”
Readers: Do you try to avoid refined carbohydrates in your diet? Why or why not?
Sources:
Weight Loss Secret: Not Just Diet and Exercise? Why Carbohydrates Matter – GuardianLV.com
Good Carbs, Bad Carbs: Why Carbohydrates Matter to You – WebMD.com
The Difference Between Unrefined and Refined Carbohydrates – FitDay.com
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