Dear Coach,
I’ve heard you speak on the benefits of eating a starch-based diet, but I always thought that starches make us fat. Aren’t starches carbs? How can I lose weight if I’m eating starches and carbs such as potatoes? – Karen
Dear Karen,
Thanks for your great question about an often misunderstood topic! Many people are surprised when they hear it’s OK to eat starches and potatoes!
But here’s the thing…
It isn’t the Complex Carbs such as potatoes that make us fat….it’s FAT that makes us fat. Let me explain.
There are two types of carbs:
Complex carbs include whole foods – potatoes, yams, beans, corn, rice, squash, barley, legumes, veggies, fruit, and whole grains. These healthy carbs convert to glucose in our systems, which is our main source of energy and the body’s preferred source of fuel.
Our good gut bacteria thrive on the fiber found ONLY in complex carbs/plant foods, plus our brains depend on getting enough complex carbs as well.
Refined carbs include processed items made with stripped/enriched flours, added fats and oils, refined sugars, and sodium – such as donuts, hot dog buns, snack cakes, cookies, cakes, corn chips, toaster pastries, and soda pop.
Choose healthy, complex carbs but avoid the refined junk carbs:
There’s a big difference between a bowl of black bean chili (complex carb)
and a slice of glazed coffee cake (refined carb).
Consider a baked potato
Only 1% of the calories in a baked potato come from fat. That is, however, until we fry the potato in grease to make French fries (46% fat) or we convert it into potato chips (56% fat). Or until we smother that potato with butter, cheese, sour cream, and bacon bits – adding a BIG dose of fat and lots of cholesterol as well.
So the complex carb potato at 1% fat is NOT adding to our weight struggles. Our troubles begin when we convert that potato into a refined carb junk food, or douse it with high-fat toppings.
Carbophobia…
…is the intense or obsessive avoidance of anything carb related.
Click here to learn the biggest reasons behind Carbophobia, and why it’s important to avoid this condition.
Plus you’ll find two easy potato recipes – Fit Fries and Sweet Potato Wedges! Super easy and delicious.