wellness

CARBS

PROTEINHaitham Khalid, a veteran chef and personal trainer, speaks with us about the ever-controversial subject of carbohydrates versus protein as sources of energy and calories, if and why we need them and how we can best incorporate these macronutrients into our diets.

VS.By: HAITHAm KHAlId, FITNESS wITH FOOd

Most of us have heard the common

myths spread by people on high impact

diets, such as those designed to make

you lose weight rapidly or bulk up by

enlarging muscles. Haitham tells us that

he has seen people drive themselves

crazy over this conundrum throughout his

career as a personal trainer. He suggests

we consider the following:

• Carbohydrates provide a source

of energy but consuming more

carbohydrates than you need can easily

make you gain weight. But don't listen

to people or diets that state you should

cut out carbohydrates completely! This

deprivation cannot be maintained and

the right carbohydrates provide a greatly

needed source of energy and are good

for your body.

• Protein is essential for building and

repairing your body including your

muscles but protein itself will not help you

build the muscle. Consuming too much

protein may put your other bodily systems

under stress.

•Monitor the amount of protein and

carbohydrates that you consume, know

how much you should be consuming

and understand the sources and different

types.

What are Carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates have gained a bad

reputation mainly because excessive

consumption of the wrong type of

carbohydrates can cause weight gain.

Carbohydrates actually provide your

body with the energy it needs to help you

function throughout the day and is like the

fuel that keeps your body moving, similar

to the way gas functions for a car.

Your body converts carbohydrates into

glucose, which is a form of energy that

can be used right away or stored for use

later (as seen in diabetics or long distance

runners). There are two different types of

carbohydrates: refined and complex.

Refined Carbohydrates

Refined carbohydrates are typically

digested and absorbed faster in the body.

Refined carbohydrates are commonly

found in processed foods such as candy,

cookies, fizzy drinks and in the ‘white’

foods that contain large amounts of

starch such as white bread, white pasta

and white rice. Refined carbohydrates

have extremely low nutritional value.

Complex Carbohydrates

Complex carbohydrates are found in the

‘brown’ processed foods such as brown

bread, brown pasta and brown rice.

Foods high in complex carbohydrates

also include beans, lentils, oatmeal, whole

grain cereals and vegetables (such as

peas and corn). Incorporating more of

these foods into your diet will help provide

you with energy.

What are Carbohydrates good for?Carbohydrates are essentially a source of

energy but also play a critical role in the

proper functioning of the immune system,

fertilization, pathogenesis, blood clotting

and human development. A lack of

carbohydrates can impair the functioning

of these bodily systems.

What are Carbohydrates bad for?Excessive consumption of carbohydrates

(especially refined carbohydrates like

sugar or corn syrup which is found in so

many processed foods), without using

the energy that is generated can lead to

serious health conditions such as obesity

and diabetes.

What is Protein?Proteins are basically made up of long

chains of amino acids. There are 22

different types of amino acids and the

body needs all of them to function properly.

What is Protein good for?Protein is required by the body for the

growth, maintenance and repair of all

cells. There are many forms of protein,

which all play an important role in the

functioning of the body. The compounds

contained in protein are vital for keeping

our hair shiny and healthy, our nails strong,

our skin fresh and glowing and our bones

strong and healthy. It is also necessary for

the production of antibodies, which fight

against infection and illness.

What is Protein bad for?Too many people try to do a low

carbohydrate and low fats program

When you restrict carbohydrates, your

body searches for another fuel source

and automatically focuses on protein as

an alternative but your body should not

use protein as a fuel source. Excessive

protein consumption could put additional

stress on the kidneys.

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