High Carb vs Low Carb Diets… Interesting Case Study
I know many of you continue to feel as though the way to lose weight and/or maintain lean muscle mass is to minimize your carbohydrate intake. Take a look at this article, written by Dr. S. Nadolsky, who is not only a physician but an avid body builder as well. Dr. Nadolsky states, “…If you’re a healthy exerciser whose blood sugar levels are normal and you’ve been eating low carb for a while, I recommend trying a higher carb diet. You might be surprised at the results…”. He definitely sheds some light on how and why a diet higher in carbohydrates may benefit us.
Carbohydrate confessions: Stories (and data) from a low carb convert – By Dr. S. Nadolsky
Conclusions:
- Mindful eating makes the difference
- Weighing, measuring and tracking are important (I recommend this to anyone trying to make any type of physical change by changing their diet)
- Note that most lay people who are relatively inactive and somewhat overweight, should still stick with lower carbohydrate diets because it is much easier to get blood sugar and blood pressure controlled on a low carb diet
- while low carb diets have their place, I no longer think they’re necessarily the right choice, or the only choice, for everyone
Take home points:
- Do not overly restrict; do not over-think it; do not waste time with detailed “carb math.”
- Enjoy a wide variety of minimally processed, whole and fresh foods.
- Observe how you look, feel, and perform.
- Decide what to do based on the data you collect about yourself, not on what you think you “should” do.
- The only “rules” come from your body and your experience. Do not follow a dietary prescription for anyone else’s body.
And above all, for most active people, carbs are your friend!