Can you really lose weight by not eating staple foods? You’re overthinking!

Audit expert: Shen Yingjian

Director of the Nutrition Department of Hebei Yanda Hospital

The dog days of summer haven't arrived yet, but the summer heat is already here. Not only can you take off your heavy clothes to feel the summer heat, but you can also show off your body in this season.

In order to show and maintain a perfect body, various fashion gurus on the Internet share various weight loss methods and impart their personal experiences. Among the many weight loss methods, the method of "not eating staple food" is very popular because of its obvious effect.

Bread source: pixabay

What is the principle of this immediate weight loss method, and are there any harms of not eating staple foods? Let us learn about it today.

Why not eating staple foods will quickly reduce weight

Rice, noodles, steamed bread and other staple foods provide the human body with mainly carbohydrates , B vitamins, protein and dietary fiber. After being ingested, carbohydrates are converted into glucose and directly absorbed by the human body in the small intestine, providing energy for various life activities of the human body.

Excess glucose will be converted into muscle glycogen and stored in the muscles first; when the muscles are full, it will be converted into liver glycogen and stored in the liver. If both places are full, it will be converted into fat, which will directly affect our weight and body curves.

Pasta source: pixabay

When we suddenly start to eat less or no staple food, the human body does not have enough glucose to provide energy for various physiological functions of the body. At this time, the body will successively consume the previously stored muscle glycogen, liver glycogen and protein to maintain the operation of basic physiological functions. If you weigh yourself at this time, you will find that your weight has dropped significantly. But in fact, it is because of the consumption of glycogen and protein in the body, not because of the reduction of fat.

This is why not eating staple foods is so effective in losing weight. Not only does it not reduce fat, but it also reduces the glycogen and protein stored in the body. Over time, our skin will become dull and loose due to the loss of muscle protein and glycogen, and our body's resistance will also decrease.

The harm of not eating staple food

The weight loss method of "not eating staple foods" is not recommended, not only because it will consume the body's normally stored glycogen and protein, but also because it will cause other health problems to the body.

The main component of staple food is carbohydrates, which are the energy source of life activities. If you don't eat staple food for a long time, the human body will have a reaction of hypoglycemia, such as dizziness, weakness in the limbs, etc. If the situation is serious, it will lead to coma and even threaten life safety.

Hypoglycemia source: pixabay

In addition to carbohydrates, staple foods also contain B vitamins and dietary fiber. Some vitamins cannot be synthesized by the human body and can only be supplemented by external intake, and staple foods are an important channel for us to obtain these vitamins on a daily basis.

In addition, insufficient carbohydrate intake will also affect the synthesis of serotonin in the human body. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter in the human body. It exists in large quantities in the cerebral cortex and nerve synapses. It can help control people's emotions and also affect people's appetite and sleep. This neurotransmitter is produced by an amino acid called tryptophan. In our daily food, millet and other staple foods contain tryptophan. Eating less or no staple food will lead to insufficient intake of this amino acid, which will in turn cause a decrease in the body's serotonin content. Modern people are under great work pressure and high work intensity. Insufficient serotonin can lead to low moods, and long-term use may even lead to depression.

Let's lose weight scientifically

In fact, there are still many misunderstandings among people in the process of weight loss. If you use the wrong methods for a long time, weight loss will really only be "on the road", so everyone must not fall into the trap.

Source: pixabay

The more you sweat, the better the weight loss effect is, and the more fat in your body is consumed. This perception is wrong. The sweat discharged during exercise is mainly composed of water and inorganic salts. The weight loss after sweating is because the body's water content has decreased, not because fat has been consumed.

Keep a regular schedule and don't stay up late often. Sleep quality also has a great impact on weight loss. People who often stay up late cannot get enough rest. Over time, the basal metabolic rate of various organs in the human body will decrease, which will cause obesity, edema, high blood lipids and other problems.

Don't over-trust slimming products. In fact, there are no slimming products that can make you lose weight. Slimming drugs are harmful to the body to a certain extent, and most of the slimming products that are labeled as health supplements or tea drinks will cause diarrhea or diet. Long-term use will cause great harm to the body, even irreversible. When you stop using it, your weight will rebound quickly.

Make a reasonable diet plan. Avoid excessive calorie intake during weight loss, such as fried foods, cream, high-sugar foods, etc. They are all on the blacklist of weight loss. Eat more vegetables, fruits, shrimps and other foods rich in dietary fiber and high protein for three meals a day, and reduce the intake of saturated fatty acids.

Rice source: pixabay

It is a mistake to think that you can lose weight just by exercising a lot. For people with a heavy base weight, even running can cause a lot of pressure and wear on the knee or ankle joints. Long-term high-intensity exercise can indeed reduce weight, but it can also easily increase wear and tear on the joints and even cause cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is important to combine different types of exercise according to your own tolerance and fat loss goals.

Having a beautiful figure and a healthy body requires a reasonable diet structure, a regular lifestyle and long-term persistence. Firmly grasp the principle of "control your mouth and move your legs" to achieve both fitness and weight loss!