Paleodiet?
Long ago, there lived a species of man that roamed the world barefoot, naked and savage. They lived by hunting and gathering food. When they fed, their carbohydrates came from fruits, berries, vegetables and the occasional honey. For 1.6 million years they lived like this. Their digestive system, hormones and enzymes were fundamentally adapted to accommodate a diet high in animal fat, protein, and fiber and relatively low in sugars.
Only for 10,000 years have we enjoyed the food surplus, refined, high GI foods that we enjoy today. Our bodies are not use to having a diet that is so rich in simple sugars. It takes a long time for evolution to take place, and it is pretty apparent that we are not designed to take in massive amounts of simple carbohydrates yet. If you want to read more about this, check out this article.
However, it does not mean that we aren’t adapting to this new lifestyle. There was a New York Times article that suggests that our bodies are producing more of the enzyme that converts starch to simple sugars than people who eat a low starch diet. This could allow us to one day eat the foods that we love to indulge in while remaining fit.
But until then, we should stick to the proven method for maintaining a healthy physical body. Simple carbohydrates have their place, but the majority of a healthy diet should consist of the staples that our ancestor’s left us through their diet – nuts, fruits, vegetables, meat, and fish. If only we were could eat double chocolate ice cream with sprinkles and cookie dough all day long and still build muscle…
I hope that I have cleared up some issues regarding the subject of Carbohydrates. They aren’t so bad you only have to avoid the good ones :P. Don’t think that you can simply eat all that you want as long as it doesn’t have simple carbs though. Remember, if calories in > calories out then you gain weight. It just makes life a lot easier when you aren’t constantly hungry. To prevent this, stick to your complex carbs.
Related posts:
- 10 Reasons Why Fad Diets Never Work
- Bodybuilders and Power Lifters
- Fat Loss
- The Basics of Building Muscle
