There is a misconception a big misconception on whether all carbohydrates are bad for dieters who want to maintain a healthy weight. The popular belief is that eating carbs makes you look fat. However, this statement is not all true because the carbohydrates you eat are used to provide energy for the body and is actually the source of all your energy. It is being stored in the muscles and liver for late use. Carbs is essential for your body cells as well as the brain and your moving muscles. In fact, the glucose in the blood from carbohydrates is being used up to fuel the activity.
Why carbs is not your enemy
Carbs are actually nutrients that are needed by the body in large amounts. According to nutritionists and health experts, carbohydrates intake need to occupy the 45 to 65 percent of our calorie intake. The only problem with this is on what type of carbohydrate you are regularly ingesting.
Types of Carbs
There are two types of carbs – simple and complex. Because carbs are just the same as table sugar, fruits, soft drinks and sweets, they are digested much quicker and often cause weight gain when consumed in large amounts. It may even cause diabetes and other health illnesses. If you want to stay healthy, you need to decrease your intake of carbs together with all the processed and refined foods such as pastas, white breads, white rice and foods with lots of sugar contents. Processed foods have less nutrient density which makes it an empty calorie, and contributes very little to the function of our cells.
The proper type of carbs you should eat is from the complex group which contains more vitamins, minerals and fiber. These carbohydrates are not only rich in insulin-friendly substances; they also give the body its needed compounds for enhancing the body’s metabolic function. A lot of the vitamins and minerals from the carbs are co-factors assisting the body’s fat burning functions. Some of its parts are also antioxidants which keep the body’s optimal work on the go. The fiber on the other hand promotes satiety in the body and lessens the urge of overheating.
Examples of complex carbs:
- Brown rice
- Whole grain pasta
- Whole grain bread
- Vegetables
- Legumes
- Fruits
- Soy milk made from soy beans
- Low fat yogurt
- Skim milk
So now you know that carbs is not your worst enemy for your dieting. It just takes choosing smart with foods that you should avoid and should go for. Keep the list of the healthy complex carbs so you don’t get confused. Anyways, they are very easy to take note of.
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