Jennifer Aniston on the red carpet. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Jennifer Aniston says bring on the bread basket.
In a recent interview with People, the Friends star shared that she is changing up her longtime lower carb diet in favor of cutting herself some slack.
"[I] started to give myself a break, allowing yourself to have pasta, a sandwich," Aniston told the outlet. "Everyone's very afraid of the bread basket, and I'm no longer afraid. As long as it's all done in moderation."
Anistons protein and vegetable-heavy diet is one shes talked about at length before. In a 2016 article for ELLE, she spoke about how a typical day of eating includes salad, egg whites and avocado. She admitted that it was her then-husband, Justin Theroux, who finally convinced her to indulge in pasta as a rare treat. "I don't know whether I should thank him or hate him for that, she joked at the time.
That same year, she explained to Yahoo of her diet, Im good at keeping my starches to a minimum. I dont like white foods, and Ill always cut back on some breads if Im trying to slim down for something special.
Now, however, pasta and bread arent the occasional treats they once were and experts gave a thumbs up to Anistons decision.
Its important to eat a variety of foods that contain protein, carbs and fat because each macronutrient plays a unique role in helping our bodies and brains function optimally, Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD, nutrition therapist, and the author of Unapologetic Eating, tells Yahoo Life. Plus, carbs are satisfying, and they taste good! If you try to avoid carbs, youll likely find yourself constantly craving them, which is distracting and leads to an unhealthy relationship with food. On the other hand, when no food is off-limits, any intense cravings or obsessive thoughts you have about food will likely fade. Chances are, youll end up eating a balanced diet without overthinking it.
Dr. Amy Lee, Head of Nutrition for Nucific, adds, Carbohydrates are our bodys main source of energy, but you need to feed your body the right carbs in order to fill it with the right fuel. Returning to a more balanced diet can help you feel more energized and ensure youre getting the right amount of nutrients every day, but understanding portions is important to actually have a balanced diet.
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While theres certainly no reason to fear the bread basket, Dr. Lee points out that in order to get the most satisfaction out of eating carbs, you should focus on ones that are high in fiber.
There is nothing wrong with bread in general, she notes, but sometimes, it is the type of bread we end up eating that is the issue. Bread made from white flour and sugar which makes up the majority of our meals isnt the healthiest option. And when we are at a Mexican restaurant, we may end up eating the basket of chips and salsa followed by three to four more tortillas that come with our entre. It is this mindless eating of carbs that gets us in trouble.
Still, Rumsey warns that its never a good idea to cut out any food group completely.
She tells Yahoo Life, While someone may be able to restrict carbs in the short term, eventually this restriction causes a boomerang effect and our body's starvation response wins out, typically leading to binge-type behavior on carbohydrate-rich foods.
Fortunately, Aniston doesnt have to worry about that anymore: There are no food rules in place for this star.
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Jennifer Aniston is eating bread again and thats a good thing, say experts. Heres why. - Yahoo Life
