Goodbye to Gout

Diet and its effect on health is a complex topic, or else there wouldn’t be a need for nutritionists and dietitians. Clearly it pays one to become educated, given the amount of good and bad advice that is freely available online. Today we’ll take aim at a popular misconception about carbohydrates: they’re not all bad. Simply put, in this article I will tell you what types of carbs you should consume and which ones you should avoid to ensure quick weight loss!

The first thing to remember is that carbs are found in all sorts of food-processed foods like cakes, soft drinks and microwavable dinners, as well as natural foods such as fruits,nuts and vegetables. Understanding the difference is the key to figuring out which kinds you should eat and which kinds you shouldn’t.

1. The bad: Processed foods contain a lot of carbs–unfortunately, the bad kind.  As soon as they’re processed, much of the nutritional value is lost!  What’s left for you are empty calories to make you gain weight, and nothing else.  Refinement of these carbs takes them out of their natural (healthy) state and makes them no longer good for you

Examples of such foods with over-processed carbs are chips, white bread, pasta, soft drinks, cakes, biscuits, candies, etc. These foods should be phased out of your diet, as these processed foods contain primarily a lot of sugar and (as you might be aware) sugar is high in calories. So the problem here is, the more sugar you consume the fatter you become! Apart from weight gain, eating processed foods regularly can also result in diabetes, since your blood sugar levels increase so much that it becomes extremely difficult for insulin to control it!

2. The Good Carbohydrates: So what are good carbohydrates? Good carbohydrates – complex carbohydrates – can usually be found in natural foods such as raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grain wheat, etc. Because these carbs are more complex in terms of their chemical makeup, they are slow to digest; therefore, they don’t make you fat! Plus they also contain a high amount of fiber. Fiber will keep you full for a long time, and help your digestive tract for obvious reasons! If there was ever a natural way to suppress your appetite, then this is it!

Suffice it to say that not all carbs are bad. Understanding good vs. bad carbs can help you get a flat stomach fast!

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The general perception is that the ill health effects of Type 2 Diabetes cannot be cured with the help of dietary changes alone. To an extent this is right, but not always, and not in every case. This is because following an altered diet may not help in controlling the underlying diabetes, if the original diet followed was not the root cause of the diabetes in the first place. You might know that the root basis may have been for example, a lack of physical activity, chronic stress, or both of these.

diet adjustments are made so as to ‘remove or lower’ the excessive glucose or sugar load from the bloodstream. Though this should be the first step that any person diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes needs to follow, such adjustments in the diet alone are not always capable of curing one from the ill effects of Diabetes 2.

Regarding the diet, Type 2 diabetes is also partly caused by the lack of ‘good’ fats and an excess of ‘poor’ quality fats in our diets. It is a medically accepted fact that that besides contributing to the onset of Type 2 Diabetes, these awful ‘bad’ fats can be seen to produce other nasty problems such as heart and blood vessel, obesity and a few more other terrible health related conditions.

Diet alterations can be used to control and cure one from the ill effects of Diabetes 2, if done intelligently. So, one needs to understand various parameters in order to ‘implement and design’ a favorable diet routine that can cure one from the ill effects of Diabetes 2.

PCF ratio is one of these important parameters. PCF stands for protein, carbohydrates and fats. Did you know proper ratios of PCF include 20% protein, 30 % fats (good fat) and 50% of carbohydrates.

One can consume these proteins from fish, chicken, eggs and nuts, etc, but at the same time, one should also adjust the intake of these things in a very controlled, and limited manner. That means, watch your portion size! Note that in individuals with advanced kidney disease, an excessive intake of protein can lead to further kidney failure, which could be a major problem in some diabetic patients.

Carbohydrates may be taken from many sources, including fruits, vegetables and wholegrains. Those with Type 2 diabetes should ensure that the carbohydrate they are taking in, should be one with a low Glycaemic Index (low GI) value.

Fats come in several types, and the more monounsaturated fat is, the better it will be for you. Fats can be taken in from Oleic sunflower oil, olive oil, canola oil, peanut oil.

The one particular fat which is essential for the healthy functioning of the body is a fat commonly referred to as an ‘omega 3 fatty acid’. These are found in oily fish like salmon, and also found in flaxseed which is also known as linseed (which should be ground before consuming, otherwise it cannot be absorbed from the intestines). The ‘saturated’ fats are the worst for your health, and are absolutely not good for diabetic patients. Finally, one should also aim to consume fiber in copious amounts, as this will help to slow digestion. Slowing digestion also means blood sugar levels will rise more slowly (rather than rising rapidly to high and dangerous levels). Keeping blood sugar levels as low as possible is the ultimate goal of all diabetics. Fibre included in your diet is also thought to help you reduce the risk of obesity, as it is considered to help you feel fuller for longer and help you eat less. An intelligent diet plan can not only help you control, but also help cure you from the ill effects of Type 2 diabetes!

Technorati Tags: carbohydrates, diet alterations, lifestyle, type 2 diabetes