Ever tried a fad diet? If so, you’ve probably heard that carbohydrates are your enemy.
Not only is this scientifically untrue, but it’s the fodder of yo-yo dieting for a reason- it’s not sustainable.
Carbohydrates are not the enemy- if anything, they can be your best friend.
If you want to have a balanced diet with long-term weight loss, it’s important to know:
- what are carbs?
- what do they do for your body?
- why you can't afford to live without them?
1. Carbs are in everything– for a reason.
Carbohydrates have been humans’ main energy source for thousands of years. Carbs are your body’s ideal type of fuel, and you don’t want to give your body anything but the best, right?
A balanced diet based off of healthy carbs is essential to long-term weight loss. What’s important is not how many carbs you consume, but what kind of carbs you consume.
When choosing your “good” carbs, look for carbs with high fiber and low carbohydrate density.
This means not relying only on pasta and bread. Instead look for wholesome vegetables and unrefined grains like maize, rice, and quinoa.
When we think carbs, we tend to think of processed food. When you’re looking for healthy carbs, avoid anything with:
- refined flour
- white sugar
- processed food
Go for complex carbs like:
Choosing the right kind of carbs can help you meet your weight loss goals, and stay there.
Carbohydrates are an entire food group, and they are in almost every food your body needs to survive.
If you’ve ever tried to cut out carbs, as many health-conscious dieters have, you'll notice how difficult it is.
A more sustainable plan is cutting out:
- artificial food additives
- chemicals
- toxic dyes
These are what makes processed food so bad for us.
2. Carbs are not the same as sugar.
Despite what every fad diet will tell you, carbs are NOT the same as sugar. Carbs are just a food group.
Carbs include complex and simple sugars. Carbs are in bagels, bread, pasta, carrots, and bananas.
All these foods get converted by our bodies into glucose and glucose is the source of our energy.
Glucose is your body’s operating fluid, and you need it to function.
There’s nothing unhealthy about that.
3. Carbs preserve muscle mass.
It is impossible to build and maintain muscle mass while depriving your body of carbohydrates. If you exercise regularly, this is essential.
Every distance runner swears by that plate of pasta for a reason. Carbs help your muscles heal from the micro-tears caused by intense exercise.
For long-term weight loss, it’s important to build muscle so the body can burn fat on its own. You can’t do this without a healthy, steady intake of carbohydrates.
4. Carbs don’t make you fat.
Almost every diet for “quick weight loss” that you’ll find will tell you to cut out carbohydrates.
Cutting out carbs is perfect for quick weight loss, but it does absolutely nothing for long-term weight loss or overall health.
When you cut out carbs, you are depriving your body of an essential resource:
- your muscles grow weak
- you become dehydrated
- you quickly shed water weight
However, as soon as you re-introduce carbs into your diet- which you inevitably will have to- all that water weight will come right back.
Cutting out carbs will make your body lose water weight.
If you cut out carbs for long enough, your body will go into hunger mode. As soon as you eat carbs again, you will gain that weight right back.
5. Low-carb foods are sometimes worse for you.
Foods marketed as “low-carb” often have more artificial fillers, additives, and chemicals.
These foods are designed to have low carb counts on the label. Many people just read nutrition labels, find something that says “low-carb,” and assume it’s healthy.
If it’s got words you can’t understand in the ingredients, you can rest assured that that’s not the case. You’re much better off eating whole foods as part of a balanced diet.
6. Carbs are a natural, nutrient-rich energy source that curb cravings.
Wholesome carbs are rich in vitamins and nutrients like:
- folic acid
- magnesium
- iron
- potassium
- Vitamin C
Carbs are also an important source of fiber. Fiber helps stabilize blood sugar, reduce your cholesterol, and promote healthy bowel function.
A diet with “good carbs” also reduces your risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular cancer.
TweetBesides, carbs keep you feeling full and energized throughout the day. Carbs curb cravings and low blood sugar spikes which leave you feeling weak and irritable.
Without carbs, your body thinks it’s starving!
Don’t sabotage your weight loss goals and health by forgetting the importance of this valuable food group.
There are many healthy foods with carbohydrates. What’s unhealthy is processed food with additives and sugars.
While additives can increase a food’s carb count, it’s not the carbs themselves you should be wary of- it’s the kind of carbs, and what's in them. Focus on eating whole, natural foods.
Focus on balance, not on restriction. Your body loves carbs, and that’s for a reason.
Yours in health and happiness,
Danette
P.S. Please help me spread the word about carbs by sharing this article and I welcome your comments below!
