There is so much controversy on whether or not to eat carbs. There are low carb diets, no carb diets, specific carb diets....all these different eating philosphies can be very confusing!! What's the best way to eat? Are carbs bad for you?
Well, first let's talk about the different types of carbs. The three main types of carbohydrates are sugars, starches, and fiber. They're called “simple” or “complex” based on their chemical makeup and what your body does with them. But since many foods contain one or more types of carbohydrates, it can still be tricky to understand what’s healthy for you and what’s not.
Simple Carbs- Some simple carbohydrates are in healthy foods, such as milk and whole fruits, that contain a variety of necessary vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. But some simple carbohydrates are also in foods with low nutritional value, such as sugary drinks. So, when it comes to simple carbs, you want to focus on fruits, vegetables and milk. You want to avoid simple carbs that offer no nutritional value such as candy, sugary drinks, syrup, table sugar, baked goods and many cereals.
Complex Carbs-Complex carbohydrates such as whole grains tend to be highly nutritious. Refined grains are also complex carbs but do not have the nutrition of whole grains. They are stripped of the bran and germ of the grain making them easier to digest. These go through your bloodstream quickly which gives you a quick spike of energy and then a crash of fatigue. For complex carbs, focus on the whole grains and try to avoid the refined grains as much as possible.
Healthier carbs actually have many heatlh benefits. They are your body's main source of energy. Research has shown that whole grains and fiber can help reduce the risk of heart disease as well as help protect against obesity and type 2 diabetes. Evidence also shows that eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help. Their bulk and fiber content aids weight control by helping you feel full on fewer calories.
My philosophy:
A good balance of protein, fat and carbs in your diet can provide you with the nutrients you need. Carbs in whole are not bad for you. You just need to eat the right kind of carbs. Focus on whole grains, fruits and veggies and avoid refined grains and added sugar.
Although you can live without carbs in your diet, they are your main energy source and they provide nutrients that you benefit from. You can lower your carbs by reducing or eliminating unhealthy carbs from your diet. It is recommended to speak to your doctor before completely eliminating carbs from your diet.
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