In recent years there have been so many people saying that Carbs are bad. That carbs are what’s keeping you from losing weight and if you want to lose weight then you’ll need to go on a low carb diet. But, those statements can be very misleading when you really think about what carbs are.
I’m not really sure most people really even know what a carbohydrate (carb) really is. If you don’t know what it is then how are you going to determine what you supposedly should or shouldn’t be eating?
What are carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients required for your body to function properly. The other two are fat and protein. Like I said, carbs are required for proper functioning of the body. The body turns carbs into glucose in order to use them as energy. Glucose, or blood sugar, is the main source of energy for your body’s cells, tissues, and organs. Without carbs our bodies start burning muscle for energy.
If we start burning muscle for energy, then yes we will lose weight, but that’s not the type of weight most people are looking to lose. We lose muscle mass, we become weaker, more prone to illness, and our metabolism slows down. The opposite of what you want if you’re trying to shed some fat and feel good.
After the body burns muscle for energy it will burn fat. This is what is referred to as being in ketosis, which is the goal of people on a Keto diet/low carb diet. Burning fat seems like a great thing, right? But it does not come without consequences this way. During this process, ketones build up in the body, which can cause headaches, nausea, difficulty focusing mentally and bad breath. You might lose some fat, but you probably won’t be feeling that great.
If you aren’t eating carbs you’re also missing out on a lot of vitamins and minerals that your body needs to maintain optimal health. Losing excess fat is great, but is it really worth the expense to your overall health?
Foods that are Carbs
Now you know what they are and why your body needs them, let’s think about what carbs are in terms of what foods are considered to be a carbohydrate. You probably first think about breads, pasta, and rice. Those are all grains, and yes they are carbs, but grains are not the only things that are carbs.
Did you know that all fruits and vegetables are carbohydrates? Can you imagine cutting out all or most fruits and vegetables from your diet? That means mostly eating proteins and fats every time you eat. Sounds pretty boring to me and really not healthy in the long term.
Your diet should consist of foods that will promote health throughout your life not just a way to live in the short term for quick results. You will be healthier, feel better, and get more sustainable results by not cutting out whole food groups.
What You Need to Know
I’m not saying that all carbs are created equal though. If you are looking to get healthier and drop some fat, you’ll want to focus on eating more of the nutrient dense carbohydrates and limit the ones that are overly processed and heavily sweetened. Fruits and veggies are not the problem. Making a change to higher quality food instead of limiting the quantity is the only way to achieve sustainable health goals and not feel deprived, restricted, or tired.
If you’re ready to make simple changes for long term results, but need some help getting started, I’d love to chat with you and help you find out what might be keeping you stuck.
