Over the last 20 years people have worked themselves into a frenzy over carbohydrates. The term ‘carbophobe’ was coined to describe those people convinced that carbohydrates are some sort of physique destroyer! Let’s take a closer look at carbs to better understand their role; specifically why we need them for optimal nutrition, what occurs when our body is carb-depleted and how to choose the right kinds of carbohydrates for maximum benefits.


I cannot deny that a diet that omits or severely limits carbs will certainly trigger an initial drop in weight… This weight loss, however, is attributed to a loss of glycogen in the muscles, a drop in the body’s normal water content and a loss of some lean muscle tissue. This initial weight loss leads to a feeling of success and people naturally feel as though they are onto a good thing; that cutting carbs is the secret to weight loss. However, the body is clever at adapting and balancing things out and before you know it the lost weight usually returns and is often accompanied by a few extra kilos.


Carbohydrates are essential for a well-balanced diet and healthy body. They provide the only fuel source for many vital organs including the brain, central nervous system and kidneys. So without carbohydrates certain organs and systems suffer. Carbohydrates are broken down during digestion into glucose and the pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin to help transport the glucose from the blood into the cells. Without glucose our body becomes lethargic, our brain fails to concentrate and dizziness and nausea can set in. It is clear to see that carbs are essential and that by cutting them out, our overall health and vitality is impaired.


Research and population studies around restricting carbs have revealed some rather concerning findings. Very low-carb diets rarely lead to long-term weight loss and if carbs have been substituted with saturated fats (e.g. muesli for fried bacon) than this may lead to some very serious health problems. An increased likelihood of heart disease and bowel cancer are two frightening examples. With a build up of saturated fat in the arteries and a lack of fibre rich wholegrains to keep our bowel moving nicely, opting for low-carb and high saturated fat is not a winning combination.


Carbohydrates are critical when it comes to training and sports performance. It is the preferred source of energy for the muscle cells and for those wanting to increase muscle bulk, it’s the carbohydrates that promote protein retention and synthesis. A lack of sufficient carbohydrates makes exercise more difficult; this is because the muscle glycogen is depleted. By cutting carbs you are more likely to tire faster, your endurance will decrease and you are less likely to engage in regular, daily physical activity. It’s often people who follow low carb trends that fail to return to the gym after a few months of yo-yoing success, because they feel extreme fatigue.


A lack of carbohydrate over time causes the body to become carb-deplete and the body is forced to rely on other sources of fuel such as fat. Now this may sound like a winning scenario, but it can actually lead to the development of ketones in the body, which can make the body acidic. This can lead to metabolic changes, which can be seriously dangerous for some people with diabetes. Carbohydrates have the ability to stabilise our blood glucose levels, or they can send a person through a dangerous series of peaks and troughs. It’s important to know that not all carbs are the same and it’s important to maintain a steady stream of slowly released carbohydrates into the body rather than rapid influxes which overload the system.


The key for maintaining a healthy balance (and sensible weight-loss) is to choose the right carbs, those ‘smart’ carbs. You want to choose carbohydrates that are the least processed - unrefined and closest to their natural state. They include many wholegrains, such as oats, barley, legumes (beans and lentils), buckwheat and quinoa, and wholegrain products such as wholegrain breads and wraps. Many other carbohydrate foods are also slowly released, due to certain characteristics of the food, which slows the process of digestion and absorption eg pasta, dairy products, fruit and certain types of rice. Look for high fibre options and products labeled low GI (these will be released slowly).


If you have been wearing that ‘carbophobe hat’ since 1996, than it is time rethink your motives for doing so. The right kinds of carbs can set you on a path to be the best version of you. Your body will benefit form a diet high in fibre and a steady flow of glucose into your bloodstream will minimize those peaks and troughs in energy. The intensity of your training sessions will improve and as an added bonus your brain will be thinking clearer. For too long carbohydrates have been solely blamed a global increase in waistlines. Instead of cutting carbs completely, opt for minimally processed carbs and wholegrains and ditch the highly refined carbs. Carbohydrates play and important role and should be part of a balanced diet rich in plant foods, lean protein and healthy fat. Incorporate ‘smart’ carbohydrates and feel your vitality soar!

White bread

Made from just the starchy inner part of the grain with all the fibre and many nutrients removed this is the least nutritious bread. 
It almost always has a high GI meaning the carbs are absorbed almost as quickly as if you drank pure glucose in water! 
This gives you big rise in blood glucose levels and needs a lot of insulin to be dealt with. Not good news for heart health, weight control or reducing risk of or controlling diabetes. 
However there are now a few low GI white breads on the market. These are a step in the right direction if you must eat white bread. Sourdough white is also much better having a lower GI. Many also have fibre added but these are still not the same as eating a wholegrain bread.

Wholegrain bread

These are the best types of bread as the grain is processed intact. Usually these have a lower GI, all the fibre and most of the nutrients preserved from the intact grain.

Wholemeal bread

It’s important to recognise the difference between wholemeal and wholegrain. Wholemeal are more processed – often the fibre component is added back, making them more nutritious than white bread, however the GI is often still high.

Multigrain bread

Multigrain bread is often white bread in disguise, dressed up with a few seeds and grains thrown in! Take a bite of a multigrain slice and feel it dissolve in your mouth. It is rapidly absorbed, just like white bread. Go for wholegrain rather than ‘multigrain’.

Flat breads

Joanna loves Mountain bread and Sorj bread – no preservatives and literally just flour water and salt. Joanna uses Tannour bread for making homemade pizza for the kids – made by Old Time Bakery Pty Ltd and described as “first made by Ancient Phoenicians”. There has been a real move back to these kind of old fashioned breads. Good old wholemeal pita is also good and tends to be low GI.

Sourdough bread

Longer dough fermentation aids in restoring the function of the digestive tract and supporting the immune system. Sourdough bread is a low GI food. This has been proven to provide many health benefits for medical conditions such as diabetes while also assisting in weight control by improving appetite control and delaying hunger. These breads are best eaten cut fresh, rather than as a sandwich later in the day. Sourdough doesn’t hold together as well over time.

How to Make a Healthy Wrap!

Bursting with colour, fibre, low GI carbs, lean protein and a dash of healthy fat this wrap will keep the hunger under control and provide loads of nutrition.

Ingredients

1 wholegrain Mountain bread

1 grated carrot

1 generous handful of baby spinach

1 thinly sliced tomato

+ any other salad vegetables you enjoy

100g thinly sliced chicken breast

¼ avocado used as healthy spread

Cracked pepper to taste

Method

Slice up all salad vegetables and place on a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. In doing so this will stop your wrap going soggy by lunchtime!

Arrange your ingredients down one end of the Mountain bread to allow a tight and easy roll. Roll with care and to be environmentally friendly, wrap in some aluminium foil, as it can be recycled.

Enjoy, Lisa xo

Kilojoules, calories, kilocalories, cal, kJ… Huh? 

If that’s you, than you are in luck. A new website has been launched by the NSW Food Authority in Australia to help us all understand a little more about kilojoules. The new website is www.8700.com.au .

kJ (kilojoules) is the Australian measure of how much energy we get from consuming a food or drink. Nearly everything we eat and drink provides our bodies with energy. Some foods provide loads of energy/kJ and other foods provide little energy/kJ.

Energy from food provides fuel for walking, running, skipping and breathing. When we take the dog for a walk we use more energy than when we are on the couch watching the television. If we eat more energy than our body requires, we put on weight and that energy is put into storage (usually as fat).

Simply, active people require more energy than inactive people.

The average Australian adult consumes about 8700kJ a day and that’s why the new website was titled 8700. Large, active men typically require more energy than small, inactive women.  You can work out how much energy your body requires by going to the ‘Your Ideal Figure’ tab on the www.8700.com.au website. This section of the website will estimate your total requirements after you fill in your age, gender, weight and activity levels.

NOTE: kJ are similar to Calories:

• 1 kJ = 0.2 Calories (Cals)
• 1 Calorie = 4.2 kJs

Large restaurants and cafes now prominently display the kJ count where you can see them on their menu boards so you can make the best choice for your requirements. If you want to check how many kJs are in your meal before you head out, you can by using the website. The 8700 database includes many products from the brands affected by the NSW kJ display laws, and a small number of similar, common foods. You can even download the new 8700 phone application for easy reference when out and about…

Tips from the website:

Remember that healthy eating is all about what’s right for your body’s needs and balancing the amount of kJs you take in with the activity required to burn them up.

Make regular physical activity part of everyday: It helps you maintain good health and manage your weight and reduces your risk of chronic diseases.

Get active: You should try being active in as many ways as you can throughout the day. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
 Don’t spend so much time sitting.

Losing weight: 60 – 90 minutes moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week. Start small and within you level of fitness, gradually work your way up.

Finding out how much energy your body requires might come as a surprise, and if it does, you now have a tool to help you understand where the energy in your diet is coming from and make some positive changes.

Take a good look at the website and have a tour. Explore, click and play… But, as always, choose foods close to nature, make informed decisions but don’t get too hung up on counting and calculating.

Eat well, be well… Lisa xo