Fiber Wedding Rings

Alien Bee Ring flash ABR800 in my photography studio

Fiber Wedding Rings

Carbohydrates   by Janet Gershen-Siegel

We've all heard conflicting tales about carbs. Eat them, don't eat them. Watch them, don't watch them. It's all too confusing.

A diet too low in carbs presents its own special problems. After all, fiber only comes from plants, and some plants can be serious carb factories. Low carbs can mean few plant-based nutrient sources, and not enough fiber and then the inherent issues that come with that. Not only are these gastrointestinal issues, there are also satiety concerns.

In order to lose weight, you have to make do with less, and the easiest way to do that is to fill up on fiber. You can't digest it anyway. Hence you need to do your best to marry the carbs you eat (they should make up about 1/2 of your total calories or so) to fiber.

The most efficient way of doing this is to swap out overly processed carbs (think bagels, donuts, white bread) with less processed carbohydrate-rich foods that are also high in fiber. Wheat bread (but check the label!), potatoes with skin, carrots, broccoli and brown rice all fit the bill. A little fat is fine, but try not to get your carbs fried, at least not too often.

For example, a diner might serve any number of side dishes, and many of them may be heavy with carbs. Better choices include things like steamed vegetables and vegetarian chili (if the chili also has beans, that would make it a protein source as well). The less optimal choices could include French fries and onion rings.

A lot of this you probably already know, but it bears repeating: if it's as close as possible to how it grew in the ground, it's probably a "good" carb, one that's wedded to fiber and not to too much fat. But if it bears little resemblance to its natural state, it's more likely to be a lesser choice, and should only be eaten sparingly.

Choose wisely.

About the Author

Janet Gershen-Siegel is a Social Media Specialist and serious weight loser (over 160 lbs. and counting). Visit today for social media marketing information or for weight loss inspiration. Visit her social media blog today for more information.