Your body gets energy from carbohydrates like bread, pasta and potatoes. If you don’t use this energy, then your body converts it to fat and you gain weight. To get around this (besides the obvious option of exercising), some dieticians recommend cutting carbs from your diet, and increasing other types of foods such as protein and vegetables. Unfortunately, a diet with insufficient carbohydrate intake means you become constipated (fiber is crucial for digestion).
A Better Option: Consume wholesome complex carbohydrates such as brown rice and whole wheat pasta, which contain fiber to help your digestion. Avoid simple, processed carbohydrates such as cake, white bread and cookies – these have a high glycemic index (GI) which spikes your blood sugar, leaving you irritable and drained — and they end up on your derriere! Make sure the majority of your meals are made up of vegetables and fruit, and practice sensible portion control when it comes to all carbohydrates — i.e. Don’t eat pasta every night.