Carbs are NOT your Enemy

If I see one more person pass the bread basket and announce that their on a low carb diet I'm gonna SCREAM!!! Okay, not really. But when I hear this, I hear that they are poorly informed and sharing misinformation (and what's up with talking diet when out to dinner with friends LOL).

The truth is, your body needs carbohydrates! The health benefits that come from carbohydrates are important to your survival. Let's learn about them.

1. Energy. Plainly said, carbohydrates provide your body with the energy it needs to function. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose. Glucose is a sugar that is used by your body for energy. When you consume carbohydrates such as: whole grain cereals and breads, fruits, vegetables, beans and nuts, you are providing your body with an unprocessed form of carbohydrates.

These carbohydrates are then broken down into glucose and are transported in your bloodstream to your cells to provide your body with energy.

2. Fiber. Unprocessed carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables are loaded with fiber.

Fiber is necessary for your body and has many health benefits. Foods that are high in fiber help you stay full longer. Therefore, you will not eat as much and you will carry less body fat. Fiber also promotes regular bowel movements so that you are not constipated. Fiber helps your body absorb the nutrients that are found in your food, providing you with the vitamins and minerals that you need to support a strong immune system.

 

3. Stability of blood sugar levels and insulin. The carbohydrates that you eat from your fruit, vegetables and whole grains break down during digestion. The glucose, or sugar, that comes from these carbohydrates is used for energy. If you eat too many processed carbohydrates, such as: white bread, cereals, rice and pasta, your body will try to get rid of the extra sugars by releasing insulin from your pancreas.

 

If you have excess sugar, your body will be unable to process it and it will be deposited as extra fat on your body.

 

By avoiding products containing white flour and focusing on whole grain, fruits and vegetables, your body will be able to digest these carbohydrates slowly, thus stabilizing your blood sugar and insulin levels. This means that you will have an even amount of energy and no extra sugar to be deposited as fat on your body (provided you eat a proper serving size).

As you can see, carbohydrates are a necessary food for your body to survive and to maintain proper heath. The benefits of carbohydrates such as: increased energy, a good source of fiber and the stabilizing of your blood sugar and insulin levels make good, healthy carbohydrates an essential part of your diet.

Try these five quick tips for adding good carbs to your diet:

1. Start the day with whole grains. Try a hot cereal, like steel cut oats, or a cold cereal that lists a whole grain first on the ingredient list.
2. Use whole grain breads for lunch or snacks. Confused about how to find a whole-grain bread? Look for bread that lists as the first ingredient whole wheat, whole rye, or some other whole grain —and even better, one that is made with only whole grains, such as 100 percent whole wheat bread.

3. Bag the potatoes. Instead, try brown rice, bulgur, wheat berries, whole wheat pasta, or another whole grain with your dinner.

4. Choose whole fruit instead of juice. An orange has two times as much fiber and half as much sugar as a 12-ounce glass of orange juice. Looking for juice alternatives. Eat the fruit, don't drink the fruit

5. Bring on the beans. Beans are an excellent source of slowly digested carbohydrates  as well as a great source of protein.