Can you lose weight faster and more effectively by not eating staple foods?

This statement is not accurate.

Staple foods usually refer to foods rich in carbohydrates, such as rice, pasta, bread, etc. Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the human body, especially most of the energy required for brain and muscle activities comes from carbohydrates. In addition to providing energy, carbohydrates also help maintain blood sugar stability and prevent hypoglycemia. A moderate intake of carbohydrates helps maintain satiety and reduce the desire for high-calorie snacks. The key to weight loss lies in the balance between total calorie intake and expenditure. While reducing calorie intake, increasing calorie expenditure through exercise can promote weight loss. Not eating staple foods at all may lead to too low calorie intake, affect the basal metabolic rate, and is not conducive to long-term weight loss. In addition, not eating staple foods at all will also consume protein in the body, leading to hair loss, menstrual disorders, skin deterioration, etc., affecting physical health. Professor Christopher D. Gardner of Stanford University and others conducted a study in which they divided participants into healthy low-fat and low-carbohydrate diet groups and followed a 12-month weight loss diet. The results showed that both diets improved the participants' lipid metabolism, blood pressure, blood sugar and insulin levels, and both could reduce weight to a certain extent, and there was no significant difference in the weight loss effect of the two. In other words, not eating staple foods will not speed up weight loss, nor will it achieve better results. Only by choosing healthy staple foods, consuming them in moderation, paying attention to the balance between total calorie intake and consumption, and maintaining a balanced nutrition can you achieve healthy and effective weight loss.

Author | Master of Doubao Food Processing and Safety

Review | Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center