Do Not Avoid Carbohydrates!

Carbohydrates (or carbs), are one of the hidden pitfalls when it comes to losing weight, and why? Because they make you gain extra pounds without even being aware of it!

With today’s media coverage on living healthier, there have been plenty of myths thrown around warning the public to watch out for this, and stay away from that! One of the most frequent myths is that if you really want to lose weight then you must avoid carbohydrates. People today are auspicious and scared to eat anything that has ‘carbohydrates’ on the label. They have come to believe the item will make them gain weight and therefore spoil all their hard work at losing it.

Avoiding carbohydrates is a really bad dieting strategy. They are in fact one of the fundamental ingredients used by the body for it to function properly, i.e.,they give it energy, and a well-functioning body is better able to help you lose weight than one that is not.

Carbohydrates are typically divided into two different types, known as simple and complex, or sugar and starch.

Simple Carbohydrates (simple sugar)- The refined ones include sugars found in fruits, honey, malt products, milk, and vegetables, but also in less nutritious foods like refined sugars ( the white sugar we buy at the supermarket), and ice creams etc.

Complex Carbohydrates (starches)- The other type of carbs is the natural unrefined type, known as complex carbohydrates. These include starches which are found in foods such as grain products,i.e.,bread,crackers,pasta,rice,some fruits, and leguminous plants.

It’s probably fair to say that most refined carbohydrates are jam packed with energy but contain very little nutrition, while the majority of unrefined carbs are the much healthier options, and should be included as a part of your healthier diet.

When you eat carbohydrates they are broken down into something called glucose. Glucose is a simple sugar and an important source of energy for the body. It really is a crucial nutrient that must enter the cells. You might already know that your cells are responsible for keeping your body functioning properly.

A healthy diet should contain at least 50% of unrefined carbohydrates and the rest should come from protein. Don’t forget to include fat as well as Polyunsaturated sources. None of the ingredients are of any use without carbohydrates, because they must exist in order to hold it together, make it strong, and truly functional.

So, don’t buy into the myth that carbs are something to be avoided, because it’s just not so!