Want to lose weight? Eat carbs

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Mar 3rd 2008 10:36PM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

Carbs are generally considered the enemy when it comes to weight loss, so we fervently avoid pasta, bread and potatoes, usually without seeing the results we wanted. What's behind the notion that carbs are a no-no for weight loss? And is there any truth to it?

Evidence shows that at least one carb--potatoes--isn't counter-productive to weight loss, and in fact can even help you lose weight. How so? Here are the reasons you shouldn't give up on 'taters:

They can boost your metabolism
They help curb hunger hormones
They can prevent cancer and heart disease
They can help boost your immune system.

Want to know more? Click here. But remember, French fries and potato chips don't count. When eating potatoes, stick to ones cooked with as little fat as possible.

Source

Comments (7)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

eugene 3-04-2008 @ 6:04PM

so I can tell my wife ordering french fries helps my diet?

Paul Roe 3-04-2008 @ 6:04PM

The tug toward the center: eat carbs, don't eat carbs, eat carbs, but not too many.

In the end, we arrive at conventional wisdom and moderation, after loops, knots and flip flops, we come home to our elders.

Or, is the pendulum just swinging past the center only to swish again toward the opposite extreme? (that is, lots of carbs, little fat)

It is interesting, but I do hope that the healthy fat is good trend perserveres.
It is one of the best health trends in recent times: nuts, avocados, fish, cold pressed oils, and sparing consumption of saturated fats in coconuts and other tropical sources.

Good luck. :O)

Paul
antiaging4geeks.com

marcie0305 3-04-2008 @ 6:10PM

Martha - I really want to encourage you all at That's Fit to be careful about using "fat" as a general term- we need to be avoiding manmade fats and eat animal fats in moderation, IMO. Please don't put all fats in one bucket! "Good" fats such as Paul describes above are vital to our well-being. Here is a great post from Tim Ferriss on this subject:

http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/02/25/the-science-of-fat-loss-why-a-calorie-isnt-always-a-calorie/

Thanks!
~Marcie
http://feedingblackmail.blogspot.com

Martha Edwards 3-04-2008 @ 6:16PM

Thanks for the reminder, Marcie. You're totally right.

Jorn Knuttila 3-04-2008 @ 6:09PM

Why, TF, do you do this to your readers? The article you cite does not at all support the horribly confusing and incorrect title of your post. Do you do this just to get attention for your web site? Please say it isn't so.

The findings of the referenced study aside, there are numerous scientific studies that show high carb intake makes people fat. Pile on things like metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes and shouting "Eat carbs to lose weight!" borders on a cruel lie.

marcie0305 3-04-2008 @ 9:26PM

:) I meant to say also perhaps lightly frying potatoes in something like coconut oil would actually be a decent treat - add some nice sea salt and cracked pepper, maybe even a dash of garlic & cayanne too!

(I know coconut oil is technically "saturated" - but it works best in substitution of other things for high-heat frying. And it's from a plant, so that makes it okay in my book!)

Thanks!
~Marcie
http://feedingblackmail.blogspot.com

marcie0305 3-04-2008 @ 9:33PM

Also, lets put "bad" and "good" carbs in perspective, too. Potatoes can be considered "bad" when they are cooked all to hell, just like any other vegetable. See here for all the good things about potatoes:

http://www.potatoes.com/Nutrition.cfm

I tend to avoid them in soup, for example, because they truly are mostly carbs at that point. I think we need to try and eat them "al dente" if you will. And the skins are absolutely marvelous in terms of mineral content.

In general, more processed, more cooked, more travelled = less nutrition content. Period.

Thanks!
~Marcie
http://feedingblackmail.blogspot.com