Jan 2021
Jacqui Lewis - BHSc Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine

Carbohydrates and Weight Loss

Though carbohydrates are often blamed for weight gain, the right kind of carbs can actually help you lose and maintain a healthy weight.

This happens because many good carbohydrates, especially whole grains and vegetables with skin, contain fibre.

Dietary fibre helps you to feel full, and generally comes in relatively low-calorie foods. The plant sources of carbs bring an array of plant based nutrients, vitamins and minerals – processed carb have nothing to add in this category at all.

Carbohydrates Deficiency

Because your body, after a weight loss surgery, could not absorb nutrients like before. Your diet can cause carbohydrates deficiency, which can lead to health issues like headaches, fatigue, lack of focus, weakness, nausea and constipation.

People who do not consume enough carbohydrates may also have gut issues because of the lack of fibre intake.

So, How Many Carbs After Surgery?

You know it’s protein first, every meal.

Well good forms of carbs follow that!

Each meal should be made up of a good source of lean protein, and a healthy serve of complex carbs. Either a stack of veg with brown rice or pasta or just veg. So 50% of each plate should be full of healthy carbs!

Without enough carbs in your diet, protein will be used for fuel.

This can lead to muscle loss, and will slow down your weight loss results. Using protein for fuel instead of carbohydrates also puts stress on the kidneys.

Jacqui Lewis
BHSc Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine