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Skipping carbs as part of a crash diet?
You could still gain weight if you eat too much of other foods, says Brian Udermann, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse who studies health myths.
People think calorie-dense carbs equal instant belly fat, but they should concentrate instead on the total amount of calories they consume. Udermann cites a study by Danish researchers published in the journal Obesity Research showed that individuals who ate a carbohydrate-rich, low-fat diet lost more weight and fat mass than individuals in a control group who didn’t change their diet.
Carbs provide fuel to help cells grow and develop normally.
Many medical and exercise science researchers believe carbs are the brain’s preferred energy source and are important for supplying the energy needs of muscles and organs, Udermann said.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a joint publication of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, recommends that people make carbs half of their daily food intake. That translates to about 250 grams of carbohydrates for people on a 2,000-calorie diet, according to Udermann.
However, he noted that researchers and nutritionists recommend complex carbohydrates, like whole grains and vegetables, over simple carbohydrates like sugar.
“Weight control really comes down to the total number of calories you consume, and a balanced diet is a healthy diet,” Udermann said.
Brian Udermann is the author of “25 Ways to Cure the Hiccups: Uncovering the Truth Behind 101 Common Myths and Misconceptions.”
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