A popular Australian blogger spoke out about her previous unhealthy relationship with carbohydrates and is now urging the rest of us to embrace them… needless to say we agree entirely. *smug face*
Nutritionist Jessica Sepel recently wrote in her blog about the suffering anxiety she faced for years. She told followers she was extremely insecure about her looks and weight and took to cutting out carbs completely. It may sound odd for someone who studied health science and nutritional medicine, but she admits she was in an entirely different place in her younger years.
In her blog post titled ‘My Fear of Carbs was REAL,’ she talks about how this particular food group was one she ignored as misinformation and the need to be trim were the main deciding factors in what she ate.
“If you know my story – you know I developed a pretty toxic relationship with food and my body. For decades, I feared carbs. Oh and fats, and indulging and basically all the food groups at once stage.
“See carbs are around for a reason – they are a macro nutrient for a reason – our bodies need them, thrive off them and they give our bodies/brains energy! However, most carbs contain gluten – which can be a problemo! Think pasta, cereal, bread, crackers, pizza etc.”
“So I believe in having good quality grains in our diet. However, I do often encourage gluten free grains and starches such as quinoa, rice, beans, legumes, sweet potato, pumpkin, beetroot, buckwheat etc. I have found people do better on these foods – as they are easier to digest.”“I have found that people on these low carb diets don’t realise that they are missing out on a key macro nutrient called fibre. Fibre is essential for a healthy life – it helps to keep us regular as we know. But it also assists with hormonal balance by binding to excess hormones in the gut. It is also amazing for general cleansing as it binds to excess toxins in the intestines and sweeps them out via our faeces. Fibre also helps to keep us full and satiated as it slows down the release of sugar in the blood – which reduces sugar drops/energy drops. Carbs are also essential for thyroid health. People on a lower carb diet seem to strain the thyroid gland!”
In the past, Jessica took to YouTube to talk about how her relationship with food was so complex.
“…food became my enemy and my body became a burden. I really felt like I needed to be thin to be loved and appreciated, I was so out of touch with my body, lost and insecure.”
“I cut out toxic scenes and toxic people, added more greens to my diet and ensured all the foods I ate were real, whole foods. I replaced caffeine with water and it was in my 4th year of study that I had so much I wanted to express to the world.”
“My relationship with myself now is so beautiful, I tune into my body and listen to its needs. I treat food as a source of nourishment. the guilt around food has disappeared completely.”
What would soon become her hugely popular blog was close to not even making it to the public eye. When she began writing her blog was personal—it wasn’t until her fiancé read it and encouraged her to open up and share her story.
Processed carbs like pasta, some breads and white rice are turned to sugar in our digestive system as that’s the only way our body can break them down. They lack nutrients, vitamins and fibre and cause inflammation which propels our skin to age prematurely. Complex carbs on the other hand (the good guys) are much adored by our bodies. They help to improve our digestive system, heart health, bone health, rebuild muscle after exercise, and enhance our overall feeling of wellbeing. They also help us to maintain our weight in the long run as our body knows how to burn them more efficiently. Complex carbs include whole grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, as well as legumes and beans—essentially the goods nature has provided naturally.
Jessica does say that she believes everyone should eat moderately and find balance in eating the foods that contribute to a healthy lifestyle. And now we’re hungry…
