Carbohydrates have gotten a bad rap in recent years.
No carb. Low carb. Keto. Atkins.
So many trendy diet plans advocate eliminating carbs.
I wholeheartedly disagree. And this is why.
Our body, particularly our brain, requires carbs for energy. They’re the most important source of energy for our cells. We need carbs to function.
A little more info about carbs…
Carbs can be complex or simple and are generally classified as either, a sugar, starch or a fiber.
Simple carbs are digested and turned into sugar quickly. They cause rapid blood sugar spikes, then rapidly decrease, causing us to feel hungry again. Simple carbs are in processed foods, such as sugar, white bread, white pasta, juices, etc.
Complex carbs are unrefined, have fiber and take longer for the body to break down, which limits the rapid spikes and valleys in our blood sugar. They’re found in vegetables, legumes, brown rice and anything that has ‘whole’ in front of it.
The goal with carbs is to limit, preferably eliminate, simple carbs and sugars and eat complex carbs which contain starches and fiber.
The problem with these low carb diets is that it’s not sustainable for the long term. And if you know me by now, I’m all about creating change that we can maintain for the long term.
Sure, many people have lost weight by cutting or eliminating carbs. But as soon as they go back to their old eating patterns, it all comes back. And, again, our bodies need carbs to function effectively.
A healthy diet includes adequate carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats. That’s the way to eat for optimal health and for the long term!
That’s what I teach!
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