Carbohydrates - The Solution to All Problems

For some people, carbohydrates cause real panic attacks and anxiety – low carb seems to be the only solution to live healthily and, above all, when it comes to weight loss, a low-carb diet is the first choice!!

Really? No – definitely not.

Carbohydrates have become increasingly maligned in recent years, unfortunately without justification. The human organism only works with carbohydrates; they are the fuel that provides us with energy and without which we are unable to maintain our energy levels.

Yes, fats and proteins can also be converted into energy, provided we deprive our body of any kind of carbohydrates and thus force it into a state of ketosis. Ketosis is a metabolic state in which acidic ketone bodies, derived from fatty acids, occur in increased amounts in the blood to provide the body with energy. This is merely a survival mechanism that the body initiates to be able to survive.

There are now several diets and lifestyle trends that take advantage of this state of ketosis. The Atkins diet, high-fat diet, etc. Naturally, a significant weight loss occurs in the initial phase, as the body is forced to rely on dietary fat and possibly body fat to obtain energy that it would normally draw from carbohydrates.

Sounds pretty good! Yes and no.

Because: The body is constantly in a state of stress, it is running on emergency reserves and has to expend additional energy to extract energy from fats. This energy is then no longer available to us, which leads to sluggishness, fatigue, and lack of energy. Furthermore, these diets or these carbohydrate-free forms of nutrition inevitably always involve a very high intake of protein and fat. If the proteins and fats also come from animal sources, then the dilemma is perfect. Because, as I have already mentioned in this article, a high intake of protein and also a high intake of fat is anything but health-promoting. It leads to acidification and unnecessary strain on the liver and kidneys, which are constantly busy compensating for the acidification and the toxic state caused by too much protein and fat, as well as by ketosis. Kidney stones and liver dysfunction are the result.

Even if quick results in terms of weight loss can be achieved at the beginning with a low-carb diet, it is not a state that should be maintained permanently, as this leads to massive health problems in the long term. As soon as a normal form of nutrition with sufficient carbohydrates is resumed, weight gain and thus the yo-yo effect are pre-programmed.

Instead of constantly incorporating some restrictions into your diet, I believe we should simply resort to a way of eating that can be practiced in the long term. A lifestyle, not a diet – something we can manage this way for the rest of our lives, without giving up or imposing restrictions on ourselves that are doomed to fail sooner or later anyway.

The easiest, most natural, and healthiest way, which is right in front of us, is a plant-based, vegan, pure, (ideally raw) way of life that provides us with everything we need to be healthy, energetic, and fit – for life.

The recommendations are for a macronutrient distribution of 80% carbohydrates, 10% fat, and 10% protein. This percentage distribution is found naturally in all plants, so we do not have to worry about our nutrient supply as long as we follow a raw, plant-based lifestyle.

It is so much easier than it seems. Nutrition is a philosophy in itself and every day we are overwhelmed with new insights and information. This easily leads to overwhelm – but as I said, if we focus on the essentials, namely eating fruit and leafy greens, then the rest takes care of itself… at least in most cases. I am not saying that there are no individual cases where people have health problems despite a proper diet, whether due to stress, lack of sleep, emotional strain, lack of exercise, not enough sunlight, and and and… but a large part of humanity can eliminate or at least significantly optimize all complaints, problems, and diseases with a proper diet, provided the other lifestyle factors are correct.

Carbohydrates are the key here – But beware, this is not a free pass for cake, bread rolls, muffins, sweets, and co. (this should actually go without saying, but I am saying it again anyway)!! Yes, these are all carbohydrates and carbohydrates are good – but still, a distinction must be made between processed and naturally occurring carbohydrates. It is simply not the same whether 600 calories are consumed from a conventional piece of cake with sugar and white flour or 600 calories from watermelon.

The cake hardly fills the stomach, consequently does not make you full, provides no nutrients, and thus signals the brain to keep eating, with the intention of finally getting good nutrients. This is how you stay constantly hungry when consuming such processed carbohydrates, and without receiving nutrients. Empty calories that provide no benefit to the body. Watermelon, on the other hand, provides many good carbohydrates, which come with fiber, minerals, vitamins, etc. After a serving of watermelon (600 kcal), we feel much fuller, because the high water content (generally in fruit and vegetables) fills the stomach and the nutrients that are taken in with it signal to the brain that everything is sufficiently available.

To conclude, there are "good" and "bad" carbohydrates, the good ones from fruit and vegetables are optimal for the human organism, which is made to feed on plants.

If you follow a plant-based diet, the macronutrients distribute almost automatically to 80/10/10% of the total calories, this way of eating provides everything we need and protects against disease and obesity.

If you are now asking yourself, "what else can I eat?" then I have probably the simplest answer of all for you!

FRUIT as much as you want!

That´s it – easy peasy!!

Eat fruit and green leafy vegetables as often and as much as you want, forget any diets, enjoy in large quantities, eat until you are full and do not count calories. This is a lifestyle where nothing is limited! You can eat huge portions and still feel light and carefree, because that is what happens when you bet on good carbohydrates!

Fruit and greens in abundance – I can't say anything more about it! Or rather, one more thing, if you never try it, you will never feel it.

Carbohydrates for the Living!

Lena