Common sense of slimming

Low carbohydrate diets are topical at the moment and also because so many health and fitness professionals talk about potatoes about being a bad carbohydrate choice because of the high Glycemic index. I would like to spring to the defence of the potato understand that Glycemic index is not necessarily the most important factor in choosing your carbohydrates.

While quit rightly, trying to avoid any and all white carbohydrates white bread and refined white sugar, which are two of the worst things we can be feeding our bodies. But potatoes although white are great for you.

Take onions and garlic? They are both white and they are chock full of protective phytonutrients, vitamins, and trace minerals that aren't easy to find elsewhere in a normal diet... such nutrients as allicin, quercetin (an important flavonoid), chromium, and other unique anti-inflammatory nutrients.

Another example of something white is cauliflower. Cauliflower is loaded with vitamin C, fiber, minerals, and special compounds such as glucosinolates and thiocyanates, which are specifically abundant in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage.

Not many people realize this, but surprisingly, even white mushrooms have high levels of unique nutrients and antioxidants. White mushrooms are high in a couple types of antioxidants called polyphenols and ergothioneine.

While a generalization can be made that most low Glycemic index carbohydrate choices will help you lose body fat easier than high Glycemic index choices, it is not all that it's cracked up to be. There are many other factors that determine how your body will react-to and process the carbohydrates you ingest, such as Glycemic load and also how you combine the high GI food with other foods.

Food combinations are important in how your body processes the carbohydrates and the associated blood sugar and insulin response you receive. For example, if you mix a high Glycemic index carbohydrate with an extra source of fiber, healthy fats, or even certain proteins, many times the blood sugar and the Glycemic response will be slowed down considerably by the way you combined the food.

White potatoes are actually a healthy carbohydrate as long as you eat them in the right form... with the entire skin, and please don't ruin them by deep-frying them into french fries! French fries are one of the most evil things ever invented for your health, but only because we ruin them by soaking them in a scorching bath of trans fats in the deep fryer from the hydrogenated oils that are typically used.

Keep in mind that potatoes contain so many vitamins and minerals that the list is way too long to even try. Also, as long as you eat the skins, you get a decent shot of fiber too and you can incorporate it into low calorie and vegetarian recipes

In the food calories list an average sized potato only has about 100-120 calories; combine it with some other fibrous vegetables and maybe a healthy fat and some protein. And you have a healthy nutritious meal.

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Norma Allan is an editor and writer of Itempad.com

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