Читать книгу The Joy of Eating - Petia Raeva - Страница 7

In the good old days books were written by writers and read by all. Now all write books but nobody reads

Oscar Wilde

The word “carbohydrates” comes from “hydrates of carbon” as their structure is composed of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. These include glucose, fructose, sucrose, starch, cellulose, pectin, etc. - they are organic substances in the composition of cells and tissues. They are divided of absorbable substances (glucose, fructose, starch, etc.) the main source of energy and non-absorbable (ballast substances) pass through the digestive tract without being digested but helps to reduce high cholesterol, weight gain and to treat digestive disorders.

The main energy for the brain and central nervous system comes from carbohydrates. The process of absorbing carbohydrates breaks down into glucose molecules. When used as a source of energy carbohydrates fuel the brain and muscles. The body converts excess and unused glucose into glycogen which is stored in the liver and muscles as an energy reserve. When the body has more glucose than is necessary for energy, or for processing into the excess supply of glycogen it is converted into fat. Without carbohydrates your brain cannot function but their overuse leads to accumulation of fat. So my diet includes carbohydrates, when I want but in moderation, without combining them with protein.

Let me share interesting facts about the most obese nation and its eating habits. Throughout the 70’s an American scientist Ansel Keyes compared the mortality rate from cardiovascular disease in seven countries and found that people who consume less saturated fat and full fat products and those who eat more fruits, vegetables and nuts have a lower mortality rate.

This research and its results were adopted by the American Association of cardiovascular disease. Their recommendations to millions of Americans have diets including foods low in fat and high in carbohydrates. As a result huge profitable food industries have emerged which produce low-fat foods. So people, believe that were are eating healthier by changing to low fat options of cakes, cookies, ice cream, crackers and more. No one ever thought about the calorie count and the accumulated weight of fat by a carbohydrate-deprived diet. The Shocking fact is that the Keys’ findings changed the American way of eating reducing consumption of fat by 11% and increased their consumption of products with reduced calories from 19 to 76%.

According to a study published in 1997 by two American doctors during this period the number of obese people has increased by 31%. The authors were so surprised by the fact that they called it American paradox.

In the 60s the Ministry of Agriculture of the United States creates a so-called "food pyramid" which became a panacea because the American diet is a response to the sharp increase in cardiovascular disease. The main focus of the "food pyramid" is against fat and the most interesting in it is that the complex carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice and breakfast cereals) dominates food that Americans should consume. The graphical "food pyramid" shows a pseudo nutritional balance of how energy consumption of each meal should consist of 15% protein, 30% fat and 55% carbohydrates. We have already seen what results lead to excessive consumption of these products - obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes - and "food pyramid" of the Ministry of Agriculture, the U.S. is processed. In 2001 one of the most prominent critics of the "food pyramid" American scientist Walter Willett established the "healthy food pyramid" of the Harvard School of Public Nutrition. The Press in the U.S. claimed: The "Food Pyramid" of the Ministry for Agriculture of the United States offers stupid, scientifically unfounded advice on a vital topic - eating. In the worst case, misinformation which offers leads to obesity, ill health and unnecessary early death.”

Willets’’ Pyramid is based on the priority consumption of whole grains and vegetable oils, fruits and vegetables, nuts and beans, fish, chicken, eggs, dairy products. Contrary to the recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture, he stated, bread, pastry, rice, macaroni, butter, red meat should be consumed sparingly and turns the "food pyramid." upside down. The "Healthy food pyramid" of Harvard University even recommends moderate alcohol consumption.