This piece of advice belongs right beside typewriters and the low fat diet. It's surprising there are still practitioners today who continue to embrace this outdated advice. There are multiple problems with this approach, including:
Ignores gut health-The types of foods you eat can influence your gut microbiome, which plays a significant role in how your body processes and stores sugar. Highly processed food can damage the gut, leading to poorer blood sugar control.
Not all calories are equal-A Snickers bar and an avocado have the same number of calories. Choose whole, nutritious foods instead of highly processed food for good blood sugar control.
Quality over quantity-Choose foods that are nutritionally dense to keep blood sugar level. A diet rich in processed foods, even if low in calories, can lead to poor blood sugar control due to a lack of essential nutrients and fiber.
Metabolic differences-Someone with insulin resistance may store more calories as fat and have higher blood sugar after eating the same meal as someone without insulin resistance.
Hormonal influence-High carb, low fat diets may cause increased insulin production that can increase insulin resistance over time, even if taking in the same number of calories.
Behavioral and psychological factors-Calorie counting can be stressful and unsustainable in the long term, may cause disordered eating patterns, and raise cortisol levels. Focusing on calorie restriction rather than overall health can make it harder to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Overlooks Timing and Meal Composition-The timing and frequency of meals affects your blood sugar control.
And that’s why calorie counting won’t improve your blood sugar. Focusing on the quality of foods, understanding the glycemic impact, managing stress, and maintaining a healthy gut are far more effective strategies for improving blood sugar levels.
Are you still calorie counting? Let me know in the comments.
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