Whole grains can be eaten in the afternoon, carbohydrate-free diets are bad, and 20 more things to know about "great and not terrible". Trainer, sports nutritionist Polina Vysotskaya debunks "carbohydrate" myths.
Polina Vysotskaya
Trainer, sports nutritionist
"Fast" carbohydrates begin to break down in the mouth
The difference between "fast" and "slow" carbohydrates is the rate of absorption. The "simple" group includes monosaccharides - they consist of one molecule (glucose, fructose, galactose), disaccharides - consist of two molecules (sucrose, lactose, maltose). They are sweet, dissolve well in water, begin to break down in the oral cavity and are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. A few minutes after taking them, the blood glucose level will increase, but after 30-40 minutes it drops again - the person wants to eat again. "Slow" carbohydrates are made up of three or more molecules. They break down for a long time, begin to be absorbed in the intestines, provide a slow increase in blood glucose levels and a long-term feeling of fullness.
When losing weight, the amount of carbohydrates should be reduced, but not excluded from the diet
Normally, the daily volume of carbohydrates is 50% of the diet. How much it is in grams depends on many factors: type of activity, daily activity, presence / absence of training, diseases, and others. But there are also generally accepted numbers. When losing weight, the norm of carbohydrates is 2 g per 1 kg of weight, while maintenance is from 4 to 6 g per 1 kg.
"Fast" carbohydrates are not harmful
"Fast" carbohydrates are macronutrients. We cannot consider them harmful.
For "fast" carbohydrates, you just need to find the right place in the diet. First, there should be much less of them than "slow" ones - from 20 to 30% of the daily requirement. Secondly, it is ideal when the intake of "fast" carbohydrates occurs before training.
A banana eaten 30 minutes before going to the gym will only do good and provide energy for intense physical activity.
Carbohydrates can be eaten at night
On the topic of whether it is possible to eat carbohydrates at night, the debate does not stop. And if earlier everyone was inclined to "prohibit", today most experts do not see anything wrong with their use. My opinion: if during the day you did not get carbohydrates, porridge or, for example, whole grain pasta will only help you sleep better and will not harm your figure in any way. Only without fanaticism! When you consume exclusively protein during the day, you do not need to eat your daily carbohydrate intake before bed.
Lack of carbohydrates in the diet leads to apathy
The first signs of an insufficient amount of carbohydrates in the diet: apathy, lethargy, irritability, drowsiness. This condition can be accompanied by nausea, halitosis, headaches, and muscle cramps. A rational diet should consist of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Honey is a "fast" carbohydrate, but much healthier than sugar
Sugar is an “empty” product that does not contain any useful micro and macro elements. The composition of honey contains folic acid, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, vitamins B2 and B6, iodine. It has excellent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. But from a nutritional point of view, this is the same "simple" carbohydrate as sugar - its use should be limited when losing weight and maintaining weight.
Not all dairy products are high in carbohydrates
All dairy products are high in carbohydrates - that's a myth! They contain lactose - milk sugar, but not much of it. For example, in cheese, cottage cheese, its content is minimized. But in milk, yoghurts with additives, carbohydrates are enough. Baked milk has 2.5% fat content, 3.2 grams of protein, but 4.5 grams of carbohydrates.
With active training, the carbohydrate rate is higher
With intense sports and great physical activity, the rate of carbohydrates is higher than that of those who lead a passive lifestyle. In this case, it is calculated individually, in proportion to energy consumption - there is no single figure and cannot be.
Low-carb diets are temporary
The dangers of low-carb diets can be talked about forever! By giving up carbohydrates, you are depriving yourself of fiber, which is necessary for normal digestion, dietary fiber contained in cereals, micro and macro elements. It is the main "fuel" for the body, which provides energy and ensures the normal functioning of internal systems and organs. With a lack of carbohydrates, the body starts the process of breaking down proteins, and this can cause the formation of ketone bodies in the liver. Long-term failure can lead to irreversible processes - remember this.
The glycemic index and the percentage of carbohydrates in the product are different numbers
Anyone who adheres to proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle needs to “make friends” with this concept. The glycemic index is the rate at which blood sugar levels rise after consuming carbohydrate foods. You cannot calculate it yourself. There are tables on the Internet with the glycemic index of popular foods - use them. We told you more about the glycemic index here.
A high GI is considered to be from 70, low - up to 35.
I want to draw your attention to the fact that besides rolls and chips, I have a high GI of some fruits and vegetables: potatoes, boiled carrots, melon. Do not exclude them from the diet. To make the right menu, look at the percentage of carbohydrates. For example, the GI of potatoes is 95 and the percentage of carbohydrates is 11.5. When calculating KBZHU, take the second digit.
Morning is the wrong time for sweets
The rule "eat sweet for breakfast if you really want to" has nothing to do with PP. Morning is not the best time for fast carbs. Your blood sugar drops overnight, and raising it with a bar of chocolate sets the pace for the day. Having eaten sweets at breakfast, you will want them until the evening. If you can't go without dessert, leave it for lunch, or in the afternoon, when there is a decrease in activity and glucose will be good for the brain.
Carbohydrates help the brain function
This is true, but with some amendments. The brain does not need carbohydrates, but glucose. You can stimulate brain activity not only with candy, but also with buckwheat, “correct” pasta, bulgur and other whole grain products. Any carbohydrate sooner or later breaks down to glucose. In some cases, when there is only a couple of minutes to "turn on" the brain, you can eat a chocolate bar - there is nothing wrong with that.
Carbohydrate addiction exists
Carbohydrate dependence is psychological and physiological. In the first case, this is due to a lack of joy hormones (endorphins, serotonin). When "emotional" hunger occurs, a person compensates for it with sweet. Dealing with addiction is quite simple: increase the amount of whole grains in the diet and the problem will be solved.
Physiologically, things are a little more complicated. Having eaten something sweet, sugar in the blood rises sharply, and insulin is produced in the liver, which is necessary for the transport of glucose to the tissues that need it. After that, the sugar level goes down. The brain again receives a signal about its lack, and the process starts again. It turns out to be a vicious circle. Partially "excess" glucose is deposited in the form of glycogen, most of it is transformed into subcutaneous adipose tissue. To eliminate physiological dependence, you need to involve specialists. Blood glucose normalizes chromium. It is found in large quantities in broccoli, liver, legumes. Try adding them to your diet if sugar cravings are becoming the rule, not the exception.
High-carb foods really make you sleepy
After a meal, blood rushes to the digestive tract. Because of this, blood circulation in the muscles decreases - the body begins to relax. This is the reason why you want to take a nap after a hearty meal.
Food with protein-carbohydrate alternation
BUCH (protein-carbohydrate alternation) is a nutritional system implying the alternation of days when it is necessary to eat exclusively protein foods with days during which the menu consists mainly of carbohydrate products. The diet looks something like this: the first day is mixed, the second and third you rely on cottage cheese, fish, eggs, lean meat. The diet of the fourth and fifth days should consist of non-starchy vegetables and fruits, various cereals, and whole grain bread. Then again you need to return to protein foods for two days. This type of diet for weight loss is not suitable for everyone and works if there is a calorie deficit. You can't eat like that all the time - there should be no more than 4 cycles.
Lack of carbohydrates negatively affects immunity
This is true. For the normal functioning of the immune cell, proteins, water, electrolytes and glucose are needed. With its lack, immunity decreases.
There are foods in which the carbohydrate content is reduced to zero
There are a lot of them. These are fish, beef, chicken, turkey, rabbit meat, all types of seafood, mushrooms and cheese.
"Good" carbohydrates are found in legumes, whole grain bread, bulgur, buckwheat, and bread. Look for “fast” but healthy carbohydrates in fruits.
The concept of "carbohydrate window"
After any physical activity, the metabolism becomes faster. During exercise, the body increases the level of adrenaline and cortisol. It remains high for 20 to 40 minutes, after which it begins to decline. During this period, the body needs to replenish glycogen stores. This requires glucose, which can be obtained from "fast" carbohydrates. In simple words, the "carbohydrate window" is a period when the body can instantly process carbohydrates without transforming them into subcutaneous fatty tissue.
Carbohydrates do not gain weight
We do not gain weight from any macronutrient, be it fat or carbohydrate. Body weight is directly proportional to the daily calorie intake (if we are talking about an absolutely healthy person). This surplus can be found in protein, fat and carbohydrates. The reason that carbohydrates are blamed for excess weight is as follows: a modern person consumes too many "empty" calories obtained from baked goods, bread, white flour, milk chocolate, and pastries. They are high in calories and are not able to satisfy hunger for a long time. And after eating 500 kcal, in an hour you will eat the same amount. And as a result - a regular bust of the daily calorie intake and excess weight.
Protein and carbohydrates go together
The myth that proteins and carbohydrates are not combined has migrated from the adherents of separate nutrition. Our body perfectly assimilates this "couple". There is no need to be a biochemist: there are practically no products containing only proteins or only carbohydrates. In most cases, they contain all the macronutrients. Buckwheat, for example, contains both carbohydrates and proteins. At the same time, it is perfectly digested and gives a burst of energy. Even meat contains glycogen. Calmly combine protein and carbohydrate foods.
Fiber and carbohydrates are different things
Unlike carbohydrates, fiber does not provide any nutritional value - it does not provide energy. But you cannot exclude it from the diet. Fiber contributes to normal digestion with a large amount of protein products, does not allow blood glucose to rise sharply, and contains many useful minerals.
You can not limit yourself in carbohydrates if you exceeded their norm the day before
If you went too far with carbohydrates during the day, in no case do not limit yourself in calories for the next. Failure to comply with the balance of KBZHU is stress for the body. A dietary restriction is even more stressful. Just normalize your carbohydrate content - that's all it takes. You cannot gain weight from a one-time overeating - maximum water, which will quickly go away when the diet is normalized.
