Picture it. You wake up in the morning and decide to get dressed for the day. As you look in the mirror, you realize that you have a bit of a belly. Then, you remember that you had a big lunch the other day and, perhaps, a few too many drinks the night before. Now, you realize that your waistline has more than likely expanded over the years. Frustrated, you throw on your clothes and rush out the door. You know what? You may just have found the key to weight loss. It’s all about calorie consumption. If 1000 calories are all you need to drop a pound, you’ll be able to shed off that extra weight in no time.
In the same way that water is essential to life, nutritionists and biologists say that carbohydrates are necessary for keeping a healthy human body. The evidence? Humans naturally process carbohydrates more slowly than other types of food. Additionally, when the body doesn’t have enough carbohydrates, it starts seizing on the protein within foods instead. If you’re looking to shed off some extra weight, cutting out carbohydrates from your diet is a surefire way to speed up the process. This is where things get a little tricky. You see, most people associate carbohydrates with calories. But that’s not necessarily true. There are forms of carbohydrates that aren’t calorie-packed. For example, fruits and vegetables, which are all considered carbohydrates, aren’t actually calorie-rich. They contain vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which are all necessary for human health. In fact, some suggest that including these foods in your diet may even help you lose weight.
What Is A Carbo-load?
The term ‘carbohydrate load’ was first used in the early 1900s when researchers realized that consuming large amounts of carbohydrates caused weight gain. Since then, the term ‘carbohydrate load’ has been used to describe an overload of carbohydrates in the diet. Even now, when researchers talk about high-carbohydrate diets, they often use the term ‘carbohydrate load.’
Although the term ‘carbohydrate load’ is 100 years old, scientists haven’t stopped researching the topic. In fact, a group of scientists at the University of Alabama recently tested a ‘keto’ diet, which is high in fats and low in carbohydrates, to see if it was effective for weight loss. The study, which was published in July 2018, found that the keto diet was more effective than the standard American diet for weight loss. The latter includes more carbohydrates and less fats. What’s more is that the keto diet had a greater effect on cholesterol levels and blood glucose than the standard American diet. This suggests that the keto diet may be a healthier option for diabetics and those trying to avoid heart disease and diabetes. If you’re looking for a diet that helps you lose weight while improving your health, the keto diet may be for you.
How Much Carbs Should You Eat?
It’s important to note that the amount of carbohydrates you need every day will vary depending on your gender, age, and activity level. Some foods are higher in carbohydrates than others. If you want to keep your weight in check, you need to know how much carbohydrate food you should be eating. Here’s a rough guide:
- For women, the calorie-to-carbohydrate ratio should be around 2:1
- For men, the ratio should be around 3:1
- For teenagers, the ratio should be around 4:1
- For active people, the ratio should be around 5:1
When you reach a healthy weight, your body converts carbohydrate foods to glucose, which is the body’s main source of energy. When you start losing weight, your body starts converting carbohydrates to fat, which is why you may become bloated and tired. You can’t expect to lose weight if you don’t know how much you should be eating in the first place. It’s simple logic.
The Glycemic Index: Confusing As Carbs May Be, They Aren’t All Created Equal
You know what causes weight gain? Not carbs per se, but the speed at which they are processed by the body. The glycemic index is a number that measures how much a food raises your blood sugar. Foods with a higher glycemic index are quickly digested and, therefore, have a higher ability to raise your blood sugar. The lower the glycemic index, the more slowly a food will digest and the more balanced your blood sugar. For example, carrots have a low glycemic index. So, if you’re looking to cut back on your consumption of carbohydrates, vegetables with a low glycemic index are a good place to start.
You may be wondering what type of carbs are bad and what type are good. There’s some confusion about this as some carbs are considered better than others based on their glycemic index. For example, whole-wheat bread has a medium glycemic index. This means that it will raise your blood sugar slightly more than plain white bread but less than white bread with added sugars. Keep this in mind as you peruse the aisles of your local grocery store. You may be tempted to grab a bag of cookies or a candy bar. But, if you’re looking for healthier options, you may want to skip those and opt for fruit, vegetables, or legumes instead.
Carbs Aren’t All Bad
This brings us to the crux of the matter. Carbs, or more specifically, refined carbohydrates, have gotten a bad rap over the years. You see, not all carbs are created equal. There are nutritious carbs and there are calorie-packed carbs. You need to understand the difference. Your body needs carbs to function properly. There are even some types of carbs that can help you lose weight. For example, potatoes have a low glycemic index and are, therefore, considered a beneficial carb choice. They also contain an essential nutrient called ‘iron,’ which is necessary for good health. Similarly, whole wheat bread has a medium glycemic index. Like potatoes, whole wheat bread is a good source of fiber and nutrients. For these reasons, it’s often considered a healthy option. In general, darker, leafy vegetables are high in fiber and have a low glycemic index. So, if you’re looking for healthy carbs, you may want to opt for dark green vegetables instead of white potatoes or bread.
1000 Calories per Day: The Magic Number
If you’re looking to shed off some extra weight, you may be wondering what amount of food you need to eat to reach 1000 calories per day. This is a good question and it assumes that you have at least some knowledge of what 1000 calories means. If you don’t, then this article is going to quickly become your best friend. But, once you do, then you’ll wonder why you didn’t try this method of weight loss sooner. 1000 calories is a good place to start. It’s low, easy to reach, and it won’t feel like you’re depriving yourself. If this sounds like a good place to you, then you can use this as a jumping off point to start your weight loss journey. Remember, variety is key when it comes to eating healthy. You shouldn’t ever feel like you’re on a diet, but eating the same thing day after day may eventually cause you to gain weight anyway. So, make sure you keep variety in mind as you eat your 1000 calories per day.
Final Takeaway
If you’re looking for a way to lose weight, then cutting out carbohydrates may be the key to reaching your goal. When you get down to the basics of nutrition, it isn’t that complicated. While it’s true that there are numerous types of foods that are high in carbohydrates, there are also plenty of options that are low in carbohydrates and filled with nutrients. Make sure you check out the nutrition facts before purchasing any given food item. This way, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into. If you want to start losing weight, then try to eat more fruits, vegetables, and legumes than you would traditionally thought of as ‘diet food.’ Additionally, be sure to consult your physician before starting any new diet or supplement regimen.