Crack The Carb Code

MKR finalist and clean living cookbook author Luke Hines tells Sara Bunny what we need to know about a much-maligned food group.

- Luke Hines

Eating a healthy diet but still crashing at 3pm? Trying to balance blood sugars but battling cravings? Gradually gaining weight despite regular workouts? We hear you. These are all common health complaints, and they could all come down to your approach to one loaded little word – carbs. These days, confusion around carbohydrates is rife, and when you add Insta-trending eating styles like keto and paleo to the mix, it’s hard to know where to start.

In his latest book, Smart Carbs, Aussie fitness expert Luke Hines tackles everything from boosting energy levels to finding your perfect carbohydrate balance to fit your health goals. We caught up with Luke to get his take on one of the most talked about, and misunderstood, food groups.

The confusion is real

“There are just so many mixed messages about carbs,” says Luke. “There are people in the paleo camp, then there’s the strict keto camp, then there’s the low-carb, healthy fat phenomenon. In principle, they are all quite similar, in that they are all about real food, but the carbohydrate levels differ quite dramatically between them.

“First of all, we should be reducing processed and refined foods, then reducing foods that can be inflammatory, as everyone agrees we could do with less inflammation. But what we don’t all agree on, and what individuals differ greatly on, is carb level needs. Some people will lose weight and get lean and toned eating all the carbs in the world – we hate those people! Others have great results with a lower carb approach, but find keto too strict. On the other hand, going low-carb often isn’t strict enough for the people who need to kick-start a change in their habits.”

A balancing act