Dimity Harries developed a fear of carbs and calories after she tried several diets, which led eating disorders. She no longer counts her carbs. Picture: SARAH REED Source: adelaidenow
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WOMEN are missing out on the health benefits of carbohydrates because they are fearful of putting on excess weight, experts warn.
Nutrition experts, including the Heart Foundation, are warning that women should be encouraged to eat nutritious low-GI grain foods and fruits and vegetables as part of a balanced diet.
Adelaide nutrition counsellor Vicky Mazzone said the rise in low-carb celebrity diets in recent years had caused a misunderstanding about the health benefits of carbohydrates. She said more women were skipping carbs, leading to a sluggish metabolism and a slowing down of the body's ability to maintain a healthy weight.
"What I notice among clients on low-carb diets is a lack of energy and, very frequently, bowel problems as well as a slow metabolism," Ms Mazzone said.
This also often led to cravings and binge eating of sugary foods with little nutritional value such as chocolate, cakes and lollies.
"Deprivation to extremes, such as fad diets, only creates irregular eating patterns and an imbalance in your diet," Ms Mazzone said.
Heart Foundation SA chief executive Dr Amanda Rischbieth said most low-carb diets had not been scientifically evaluated. She said: "The Atkins diet is among these popular types of diets and is based on the premise that 'carbohydrates make us fat'."
Most people thought of rice, potatoes and pasta as "carbs" but were not aware that fruit, vegetables, breads, cereals and sugary foods contained carbohydrates.
"Very low carbohydrate diets do not provide adequate nutrition, particularly of antioxidants, dietary folate, calcium and dietary fibre and may also raise 'bad' cholesterol levels if followed in the long term, especially when they are high in saturated fat," Dr Rischbieth said.
Dietitian Susie Burrell said women should eat 80g-120g of carbohydrates each day - and more if they have an active lifestyle. She added: "Many low-carb diets restrict intake to under 50g, which is unsustainable."
Cancer Council chief executive Brenda Wilson said the fibre content of carbohydrates was linked with risk reduction for chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and bowel cancer.
Dimity Harries, 19, of North Adelaide, developed an eating disorder because she feared carbohydrates and calories.
Her diet led to binge eating before she sought professional help and learnt which carbohydrate foods should be included in her diet.
"Now, I always make sure I chose wholemeal and low-GI foods," she said.
"I don't have any white refined sugar or white flour."
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