Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : June 13, 2017 11:58 AM IST
If you have already done your bit of research on how to lose weight, then you might be aware that diet plays a key role. According to experts, weight loss is 70% of diet and 30% exercise. So keeping a tab on your diet can help you go a long way in helping you shed that extra flab. But here is the trick. We tend to increase our protein intake and drastically cut down on fats and limit the intake of carbohydrates. However, this is not right as it is important to maintain the right balance of calories. So if you are planning to lose weight, do not cut down on calories, cut down carbohydrates. Here's what Ms Rina Baliga, Dietician, Mumbai has to say. Also read about how many carbohydrates do you need daily.
Research studies have proved that it is not the calories but carbohydrates, which is the main reason for weight gain. This is because carbohydrates cause a hormonal surge (insulin release) after ingestion, which can put you at risk of weight gain. Hence, cut down on carbohydrates because if insulin levels are kept low at all times, then fat storage would be impossible regardless of the number of calories you consume. Probably this is a reason why certain diets like Paleo diet that restrict carbohydrates and not calories have proven successful in weight loss.
However, according to the laws of thermodynamics, just like the scales of Libra, if you eat more calories than you burn, you gain weight, and conversely, if you burn more calories than what you consume, you will lose weight. Everything said has some amount of truth to it but yes a lot of studies comparing the efficacy of low-fat diets to low carbohydrates diet in weight loss suggest that the latter always wins. Read more on carbohydrates for weight loss.
Low carbs and weight loss - how it works?
One gram of carbohydrate when consumed provides us with 4 calories. Carbohydrates break down to give glucose which is always the brain s preferred source of fuel . In the absence of glucose, when your daily carbohydrate intake dips below 50 gms, the body switches its normal mechanism of using glucose as a primary source to using ketones which are a by-product of fatty acid breakdown. Such a low-carb or No carb (ketogenic diet) is very debatable although plenty of studies have shown its efficacy for weight loss. So talk to your dietician about the pros and cons before blindly opting any fad diet. Here's more on low carb diet.
Image Source: Shutterstock
