6
Nutritional Wisdom Makes You Thin
kl ow that we've cleared up some of the misinformation crowding
11 the bookshelves in the diet and nutrition section at bookstores,we can go on to analyze food components. After reading this chap-
ter, you will understand how eating lots of nutrient-dense foods will
make you lose weight.
Unrefined Carbohydrates Encourage Weight Loss
Our bodies need carbohydrates more than any other substance.
Our muscle cells and brains are designed to run on carbohydrate"
Carbohydrate-rich foods, when consumed in their natural state, a
low in calories and high in fiber compared with fatty foods, processe
foods, or animal products.Fat contains about nine calories per gram, but protein and carbo-
hydrates contain approximately four calories per gram. So when you
eat high-carbohydrate foods, such as fresh fruits and beans, you can
eat more food and still keep your caloric intake relatively low. Th
high fiber content of (unrefined) carbohydrate-rich food is anoth
crucial reason you will feel more satisfied and not crave more fo
when you make unrefined carbohydrates the main source of calorie
in your diet.It is usually the small amount of added refined fat or oils that
makes natural carbohydrates so fattening. For example, one cup of