Foods high in carbohydrates include breads, pastas, beans, potatoes, bran, rice and cereals. Most of these foods are also high in starch. Charbohydrates are not essential nutrients because the body can obtain it's energy from protein and fats, but they are a simple form of energy.

So why are refined carbohydrates bad for you?

When carbohydrates are refined, nearly all of the vitamins, minerals and fiber are removed leaving only calories. Certain products like flour and sugars are refined, then enriched, meaning about 33 nutrients are removed and enriching adds four to six nutrients back into the product. I used to work at a bread factory going through college and can personally attest to that fact.

By consuming a large amount of refined carbohydrates, we are eating nutrient deficient foods and gaining calories. We fill up our stomachs as we starve our bodies nutritionally.

Sugar statistics which are referenced in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Scientific American and the Lancet are:

1) Sugar can suppress your immune system and impair your defenses against infectious diseases, 2) Sugar causes chromium and copper deficiencies and interferes with the absorbtion of calcium and magnesium. 3) Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function. 4) Sugar can lower vitamin E levels. 5) Sugar can interfere with your absorbtion of protein, 6) Sugar can change the way proteins act in your body. 7) Sugar can make your tendons more brittle. 8) Sugar can cause headaches including migraines. 9) Sugar can alter brain waves which can affect your ability to think clearly. 10) Sugar can cause depression.

So how do you determine if something is a refined carbohydrate?

Look at the ingredients on the label. The ingredients are listed by weight. The higher the weight, the closer to the first ingredient on the list.Words like wheat flour ( as opposed to whole wheat flour), corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and sugar are the most common. These products are typically high in calories and very low in nutrients.

Like exercise, it is the consistency of life style the 365 days of the year that make the difference.

Our office is certified in First Line Therapy which focuses on life style changes and medical foods to improve body composition. Start the year off right and give one of our certified lifestyle educators a call to get you on the road to better health.

Dr. Richard Haas