Fat or Carb – who’s the culprit ?
Over a decade we believed fat to be the only culprit for causing weight gain.
However, it is now more evident that fat is not the only cause for weight gain or lifestyle diseases. Certain fats are beneficial and can promote good health as research states, if consumed moderately.
Recent data and research has focused on the proportions of food groups and its importance in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
“You are what you eat”, personally I strongly believe in this because our body has no magical potion to get rid of the excess calories that we consume. It is a state of complete balance just as you save money in the bank, the more you deposit the more you save , similarly the body collects fat as a deposit which is used at times during starvation or during any major illness when the body is metabolically stressed.
Our body is not equipped to burn the excess fat unless we make it use by burning the excess calories. We will need to make an effort to burn this and be rest assured this is not an overnight change; it takes much longer than you anticipate. The positive side is the longer it takes the steadier it is. Coming back to the cause of weight gain, besides fat, carbohydrates or which we know as starchy foods are a significant contributor to weight gain. It is not the starchy food that we consume; it is actually the portion size that matters.
A traditional Indian meal has 2-3 rotis, a vegetable usually with potatoes (Aloo Mutter or Aloo Palak) dal, rice and other ancillary (poppadum, pickle). Now if we look at the contents it comprises mainly of carbohydrates (Roti, Potatoes and Rice) some proteins and fat too. Thinking seriously, do we need this energy each day at each meal : the answer can be a yes if you have trained for longer than two hours each day or had a job like a construction or mine worker. With sedentary lifestyle and jobs that involve low physical activity this additional intake of energy cannot vanish and will be instead stored in your body precisely more around your waist.
Carbohydrates are energy fuel for our body, they provide us the energy to work and perform our daily activities, the more you burn the more you need. An individual with a sedentary lifestyle requires a minimum of 6 serves a day to maintain their body weight with normal physical activity (1 serve is 2 rotis, 1 cup cooked rice or 2 slices of bread) any excess will lead to weight gain again just as weight loss this is not an overnight process, it takes years to accumulate this weight, so an occasional meal with extra carbs will not do overnight harm.
Fat or carbohydrates – both form a major part of our diet, none are bad or worse, it’s the quantity that matters …. so moderation is the key.
This article is a general guideline only. Please see a health professional for individual conditions and needs.
Varsha Asrani is a New Zealand Registered Dietitian. For personal consulatations she can be contacted on 0210524353. For any questions, suggestions or views please email her on info@varshaasrani.com.
Over a decade we believed fat to be the only culprit for causing weight gain.
However, it is now more evident that fat is not the only cause for weight gain or lifestyle diseases. Certain fats are beneficial and can promote good health as research states, if consumed moderately.
Recent data and...
Over a decade we believed fat to be the only culprit for causing weight gain.
However, it is now more evident that fat is not the only cause for weight gain or lifestyle diseases. Certain fats are beneficial and can promote good health as research states, if consumed moderately.
Recent data and research has focused on the proportions of food groups and its importance in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
“You are what you eat”, personally I strongly believe in this because our body has no magical potion to get rid of the excess calories that we consume. It is a state of complete balance just as you save money in the bank, the more you deposit the more you save , similarly the body collects fat as a deposit which is used at times during starvation or during any major illness when the body is metabolically stressed.
Our body is not equipped to burn the excess fat unless we make it use by burning the excess calories. We will need to make an effort to burn this and be rest assured this is not an overnight change; it takes much longer than you anticipate. The positive side is the longer it takes the steadier it is. Coming back to the cause of weight gain, besides fat, carbohydrates or which we know as starchy foods are a significant contributor to weight gain. It is not the starchy food that we consume; it is actually the portion size that matters.
A traditional Indian meal has 2-3 rotis, a vegetable usually with potatoes (Aloo Mutter or Aloo Palak) dal, rice and other ancillary (poppadum, pickle). Now if we look at the contents it comprises mainly of carbohydrates (Roti, Potatoes and Rice) some proteins and fat too. Thinking seriously, do we need this energy each day at each meal : the answer can be a yes if you have trained for longer than two hours each day or had a job like a construction or mine worker. With sedentary lifestyle and jobs that involve low physical activity this additional intake of energy cannot vanish and will be instead stored in your body precisely more around your waist.
Carbohydrates are energy fuel for our body, they provide us the energy to work and perform our daily activities, the more you burn the more you need. An individual with a sedentary lifestyle requires a minimum of 6 serves a day to maintain their body weight with normal physical activity (1 serve is 2 rotis, 1 cup cooked rice or 2 slices of bread) any excess will lead to weight gain again just as weight loss this is not an overnight process, it takes years to accumulate this weight, so an occasional meal with extra carbs will not do overnight harm.
Fat or carbohydrates – both form a major part of our diet, none are bad or worse, it’s the quantity that matters …. so moderation is the key.
This article is a general guideline only. Please see a health professional for individual conditions and needs.
Varsha Asrani is a New Zealand Registered Dietitian. For personal consulatations she can be contacted on 0210524353. For any questions, suggestions or views please email her on info@varshaasrani.com.
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