The fear of carbohydrates is an actual phobia and not one that should be underestimated. We have a string of fad-diets and irresponsible media hype to thank for its existence. Unfortunately, those that have fallen prey to the hype are having a very real and difficult time deprogramming themselves from the misinformation and are denying their bodies of the macronutrient needed in largest amounts.
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The truth is, carbohydrates provide the body with the energy it needs for physical activity and proper organ function and they are an important part of a healthy diet. The trick lies within choosing the right carbs, rather than opting for no carbs!
Whole-grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruit are considered the right carbohydrates for weight loss, because they are digested slowly. A slower digestion process enables your blood sugar levels to remain more stable, which tells the brain that you've satisfied your hunger. A few of my favorites are oatmeal, brown rice, sweet potatoes, broccoli, black beans, edamame, and green apples.
The wrong carbs, on the other hand, are the ones you should steer clear of. They consist of sweeteners, such as refined sugar, honey and corn syrup, and foods made with refined flour, such as white bread, cookies, crackers, etc...Simple refined carbohydrates are the wrong carbs for weight loss because they get absorbed into the blood stream quickly, thus raising blood sugar levels, which first creates a surge of energy and then a low, leaving you unsatisfied and craving more of the same. These "wrong" carbs provide empty calories because they lack vitamins, minerals, and fiber and therefore can lead to weight gain.
That being said, it is safe to say that a fear of carbohydrates is unwarranted when you are empowered with the information necessary to make the right carbohydrate selection!
What usually comes to mind when the word carbohydrates or carbs for short is mentioned? Rice, wheat, mashed potatoes and pasta comes to mind and to the diet conscious, cellulite and fat. Technically speaking, carbohydrates are basically natural compounds composed of carbon, water and oxygen. Carbohydrates are present in all plant life. Plants process carbohydrates to live and grow and since most of our diet is composed of plants, we ingest these carbohydrates. So what do carbohydrates do? The following is the truth about carbs.
Carbohydrates are a main source of energy for the body. How is that? What do carbohydrates do to the body? Starch, sugars and cellulose are composed of the above elements that make up carbohydrates. These compounds vary in complexity. Sugars are the simplest type of carbohydrates, they are generally sweet and crystalline in structure; starches are more complex than sugars and are commonly found in rice, wheat and tubers and finally, the most complex is cellulose. The human body makes use of the simplest form of carbohydrate, a sugar called glucose. Table sugar is called sucrose. Sugar from milk is called lactose. Glucose is processed into energy by the body. The rest of the more complex carbohydrates are processed or broken down into glucose and other simple sugars by the digestive system. So the first thing that carbohydrates do is provide energy for the body to function. So the body can take all the vitamins it needs but will not live because the muscles and organs won't have the energy to function.
What else do carbohydrates do? Carbohydrates do not only give us energy but also indirectly gives us other nutrients. Cellulose, the most complex form of carbohydrates is mainly the indigestible tissue of plants, mainly fruits and vegetables. After getting the sugars from the plants, what we're left with is cellulose. Humans do not have the digestive enzymes to deal with cellulose. Other animals like cows and insects can directly digest cellulose but good carbs and brain function bacteria in our intestines can process cellulose. Additional nutrients are by-products of this process so cellulose is not really worthless. Cellulose is also a good source of fiber that aids the digestive system in eliminating waste.
So what is this thing about carbohydrates and obesity? What do carbohydrates do? There is a bad side to having too many carbohydrates. Excess sugars processed from carbohydrates that are not used by the body are converted into fats that is meant to be used by the body should there come a time of increased activity and less carbohydrate intake. In English, we need a very active or straining lifestyle to actually make use of the sugars we take in, otherwise, the fats will continue to accumulate the longer we stay on the couch and watch television. Basically, all that fat is stored energy. To get trim fast, exercise regularly and use that stored energy.