The simple truth is our bodies need carbohydrates as a vital basis of fuel, as well as delivering much required nutrients.
Carbohydrates have experienced some flak over the last 10 years and is still receiving criticism to this day,with many of the most prominent diets (which will be left nameless) in fact restricting the intake of carbs completely,
this has resulted in a mass exodus by millions of fad dieters to move in the direction of low/no carb, high protein diets on the endless objective to conquer the bulge.
The reality is that our bodies need to have carbohydrates as a vital basis of fuel, as well as keeping our muscles and organs (e.g. kidneys, nervous system and brain) operating efficiently, and delivering much required nutrients. So when you deny the body of carbohydrates what you’re in fact doing is getting rid of a vital power source.
A carb is not just a carb, and a distinction ought to be made between alleged "good carbs" and "bad carbs" and how they have an impact on our inner workings. Processed or refined carbs are foodstuffs that have been in in a certain way altered by man or machine and in the process reduce a large amount of their dietary value, nutrients and natural fiber. These foods are what is known as “empty calories” and are not easily ingested by our bodies, these basic carbohydrates are converted into energy very quickly and leave you feeling flat, lethargic and hungry and consequently these empty calories can have a significant effect on the accumulation of unwanted body-fat. These foods can even result in an irregularity within our natural hormone levels and also insulin production. Bad carb foods include,products including white flour such as white bread, muffins, bagels as well as white rice, sugar, cakes, biscuits, soft drinks, alcohol and so forth.
Good or complex carbohydrates in contrast vary in the fact that they remain as near to their natural state as possible and for this reason maintain a high nutritional value. Complex carbohydrates are easily digested by the body but break down a good deal slower and give an extended release of energy throughout the day. Complex carbohydrates include whole-grains (such as wholegrain bread and cereal) fruit and vegetables, nuts, legumes and beans.
What we are ultimately attempting to gain by consuming good carbs is to present the body with a slow working food source that carries on doing the job for hours offering continuous energy while maintaining normal blood sugar levels and providing vital nutrients. The flip-side of this is when we consume "bad" refined carbohydrates our blood sugar levels go through the roof thanks to higher glucose production and subsequently cause a raft of issues including reduced energy, dehydration, headaches, blurry vision and general tiredness.
Of course common sense has a huge role to play with relation to the kinds of foods we eat, and I strongly disagree with excluding particular food groups altogether and think the actual answer to nutritious eating is selecting a harmonious balance.
Maybe the term “bad” carbs could be changed to “unhelpful” carbs, so while that serving of cake or can of coke isn’t helping much (when talking about weight loss) it’s probably not going to kill you. I seriously believe that red meat, dairy, seafood and eggs should have a spot within ones diet to maintain a nutritional balance. This has to be set inside absolute limits e.g. lean/no-fat cuts of meat and low/no fat dairy and of course eaten in moderation using sensible portion control. It’s only when these sorts of unhelpful foods are devoured in excess,and for long term periods of time while not adhering to an exercise regimen that really serious health and weight concerns develop.
If you exercise common sense and balance within your diet there’s no reason why you can’t benefit from a total array of food types and still preserving a healthy existence.
