Eat the carbs that winterize your body to burn fast 500% faster

Stanford University researchers reveal why low-carb diets backfire in the winter—and the comfort carbs that combat the blues, boost immunity and power off 10 pounds every week!

Back in our grandmothers’ time, diets naturally shifted in the winter months: Meals were shaped around the potatoes, carrots, onions and apples stored in the root cellar, hearty beans and grains, and any local farm produce that was canned during the autumn harvest. Nowadays, though, grocery stores have tomatoes, spinach and berries shipped in year-round from countries with warm climates, so we no longer have to wait for spring’s fresh bounty to fill up on lighter offerings like green salads and fresh-fruit smoothies—but new research suggests that maybe we should.

Bye-bye, rolls and

folds!

A breakthrough study from Stanford University reveals that our bodies actually need more carbs in the winter to optimize weight loss and wellness. The study, published in the journal Science, showed that the makeup of bacteria in the gut changes with the seasons. As the days grow darker and colder, a genus of bacteria called Prevotella flourishes. These beneficial bacteria are uniquely suited to break down the high-carbohydrate fare that has traditionally been eaten throughout the winter months (like beans, sweet potatoes, parsnips and whole grains) and to help the body process the nutrients that boost well-being, like the immunity-boosting zinc in winter’s bounty.

Forgoing carbs in favor of salads and smoothies in an effort to slim sets up a cycle of creeping winter weight gain. “We’ve taken seasonality out of our eating, and that is one of the contributors to our current obesity epidemic,” asserts Vincent Pedre, M.D., medical director of Pedre Integrative Health in New York City. The reason: When we don’t eat the wintertime foods that Prevotella are designed to digest, those beneficial bacteria begin to die out. As a result, digestion becomes sluggish and food waste begins to build up in the colon. Fat-promoting bacteria feed on these undigested food particles and produce harmful metabolic waste that, over time, creates a toxic load in the body. And because these toxins have to be filtered through the liver, the organ can become too overworked to optimally perform its other important

“Grains, root veggies, legumes…these are the foods we crave now anyway, so give yourself permission to eat them—and

lose weight!”

—John Douillard, D.C.

duties, including fat burning. In effect, says Dr. Pedre, “We’re building a microbiome that favors weight gain and inflammation.”

Eat more of the winter comfort carbs the body is designed to digest, though, and weight loss is effortless. Winter carbs help Prevotella bacteria thrive and multiply, enhancing the body’s ability to break down and absorb slimming, energizing vitamins and minerals. “When you feed your microbiome, it positively impacts all sorts of body functions—including your metabolism,” says Dr. Pedre. The payoff: In a study published in the International Journal of Obesity, adults with a higher ratio of Prevotella lost 63 percent more weight while enjoying a highfiber diet than those who had lower levels of the beneficial gut bug. And women FIRST spoke to report that this translates to dropping as much as 10 pounds per week!

Weight loss is just the beginning. “Enjoying more winter-friendly carbs has also been shown to strengthen immunity, decrease heart disease risk and boost mood,” says John Douillard, D.C., director of LifeSpa, a holistic health center in Boulder, Colorado And since most beneficial bacteria

(not just Prevotella) thrive on highcarb fare, eating more fiber-rich beans and grains also helps foster the growth of other immunity-and digestion enhancing bugs that will help you sidestep the irritated sinuses and aching joints that can be caused by dry winter air. Read on for the seasonal strategies that will help you look and feel your all-time best this winter.