Tuesday, May 8, 2012

You're Fat Because You Eat Processed Carbs

Which is basically the message of this Newsweek piece.   I'm not sure if I agree.   

I do agree that WHAT we eat is a big part of why we're getting fatter.    However, the author makes the argument that calories and exercise play no part.   I most definitely do believe that calories in/calories out plays a part in the obesity epidemic. 

I'm always mystified by the either/or approach.    Couldn't it be that it's a combination of both factors--calories in/calories out and what we eat--that's causing the problem??????? 

We're exercising less AND we're eating more refined carbs and sugars and less unprocessed "natural" foods like raw fruits and vegetables.    So doesn't it make sense that both play a part?

3 comments:

  1. If I really think hard about it, I agree with we can live without processed carbs. Is it realistic? It's probably not real for most people. They are convenient, but so is a salad. Grains are good for you, but they're a gmo product. It's eat less/move more to lose weight. It's not that simple when you have additives, preservatives and gmo food messing up our bodies.

    It makes me feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. *GRIN*

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  2. Yeah, without a corresponding increase in calories, we ain't getting so fat. It comes down to how long it takes to digest something, and how long it allows you to feel full or satisfied. I think it was "The End of Overeating" that made the point that eating highly processed food is sort of like eating something pre-chewed. The original, whole ingredients (if there were any to start with), have been broken down and modified to the extent that it is chewed very quickly, melts in your mouth, and speeds through your digestive system. 150 calories in a Twinkie will barely take the edge off your hunger, yet a 150-calorie slice of fresh whole wheat bread can be pretty satisfying from a hunger control standpoint. So it figures that the more processed food in your diet, the more food you end up eating just to reach the same satiety level of smaller quantities of less processed food. Maybe to some people this is a no-brainer, but I am a recent survivor of the "gummy bear weight loss diet." :)

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  3. I thought "The End of Overeating" was brilliant.

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