We all have a love hate relationship with carbs, after all you find this macronutrient in almost all foods healthy and unhealthy, but do we actually know why carbs are essential for your body?
I personally never realized the importance of carbs for the human body until I started doing bodybuilding shows, it was one of those eye opening moments that made you say, "now that makes sense".
Yes, carbs get an awful rap in general since most of us can blame our weight gain on carbs, but lets take a step back and realize one thing, there are such things as good and bad carbs.
How unfair is that???
It was miserable learning that warm chocolate cookies wouldn't fit the bill with my health goals, damn it!!
Well, What is a carbohydrate and where are they found?
A majority of carbs are found in naturally occurring plant based foods such as grains, however as time evolved manufacturers started to add more and more into our food in the form of starch and added sugars.
Good carbs can be found in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and legumes.
Carbs are broken down into three segments; Sugars, Starch, and Fiber.
Sugars can be naturally occurring in such things as fruits (fructose), milk (lactose) and table sugar (sucrose).
Starch is a type of sugar that is bonded together and mainly found in foods such as veggies, grains,and beans.
Fiber is a complex carbohydrate found in grains, fruits and beans.
Carbs can also be classified by their glycemic index, simply based on the foods ability to raise your blood sugar level. Most of us have seen or read about the importance of maintaining a good diet with low glycemic carbs such as fruits and veggies.
There is also talk about NET CARBS, which is done by subtracting the fiber and sugar alcohol values from the overall carb value. Although this has become popular when watching your carb intake it is not approved by the FDA as a standard.
Why do we need carbs?
Even with all the bad talk carbs are essential for many reason but the three most important are ENERGY, CONTROLLING WEIGHT, and FIGHTING DISEASE.
OK, so are we confused, carbs help control weight?
That's right, even after hearing all of the hoopla with these no carb diets, which let it be said, can not prove in any fashion their claims, it clearly is not healthy in any way. In fact, there is plenty of documentation that states exactly the opposite and why carbs such as fruits, veggies and grains will control your weight.
As for energy, sustained energy that is, comes from carbs, not the 4 coffees you consumed today or the preworkout you took before the gym. Ever notice how lethargic you can be when you don't eat, or why you were able to lift more the week before, well without carbs your body can not produce energy.
How do I choose?
When choosing any carbs you want to make sure that you are choosing whole grains, limiting added sugars, and high fiber options. Try also to eat more beans and stick to low fat dairy products.
In conclusion, carbohydrates are essential for many reasons but again you need to choose wisely.
If you have any questions, I can always be reached at [email protected].
Fuel the machine!
I personally never realized the importance of carbs for the human body until I started doing bodybuilding shows, it was one of those eye opening moments that made you say, "now that makes sense".
Yes, carbs get an awful rap in general since most of us can blame our weight gain on carbs, but lets take a step back and realize one thing, there are such things as good and bad carbs.
How unfair is that???
It was miserable learning that warm chocolate cookies wouldn't fit the bill with my health goals, damn it!!
Well, What is a carbohydrate and where are they found?
A majority of carbs are found in naturally occurring plant based foods such as grains, however as time evolved manufacturers started to add more and more into our food in the form of starch and added sugars.
Good carbs can be found in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and legumes.
Carbs are broken down into three segments; Sugars, Starch, and Fiber.
Sugars can be naturally occurring in such things as fruits (fructose), milk (lactose) and table sugar (sucrose).
Starch is a type of sugar that is bonded together and mainly found in foods such as veggies, grains,and beans.
Fiber is a complex carbohydrate found in grains, fruits and beans.
Carbs can also be classified by their glycemic index, simply based on the foods ability to raise your blood sugar level. Most of us have seen or read about the importance of maintaining a good diet with low glycemic carbs such as fruits and veggies.
There is also talk about NET CARBS, which is done by subtracting the fiber and sugar alcohol values from the overall carb value. Although this has become popular when watching your carb intake it is not approved by the FDA as a standard.
Why do we need carbs?
Even with all the bad talk carbs are essential for many reason but the three most important are ENERGY, CONTROLLING WEIGHT, and FIGHTING DISEASE.
OK, so are we confused, carbs help control weight?
That's right, even after hearing all of the hoopla with these no carb diets, which let it be said, can not prove in any fashion their claims, it clearly is not healthy in any way. In fact, there is plenty of documentation that states exactly the opposite and why carbs such as fruits, veggies and grains will control your weight.
As for energy, sustained energy that is, comes from carbs, not the 4 coffees you consumed today or the preworkout you took before the gym. Ever notice how lethargic you can be when you don't eat, or why you were able to lift more the week before, well without carbs your body can not produce energy.
How do I choose?
When choosing any carbs you want to make sure that you are choosing whole grains, limiting added sugars, and high fiber options. Try also to eat more beans and stick to low fat dairy products.
In conclusion, carbohydrates are essential for many reasons but again you need to choose wisely.
If you have any questions, I can always be reached at [email protected].
Fuel the machine!
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