Carbs are one of the hottest topics in the nutrition industry. Just like fat that was once criticized for unhealthy weight gain, carbs are demonized by plenty of people for obesity and cardiovascular diseases. People indeed have to limit their carb intake when they want to lose weight; however, the horror around carbohydrates should be put to an end now.
Many people out there feel guilty after eating the slightest amount of carbs, but they forget that carbohydrates bring many health and fitness benefits. Carbs are in our diet for a reason, and we should now eliminate the fad around removing carbs. In this article, we have gathered enough reasons for you to stop fearing all carbs and eating balanced meals.
4 Reasons to Stop Fearing Carbohydrates
- Carbohydrates Won’t Make You Fat
Some social media gurus believe that carbs accelerate weight gain by raising the level of insulin hormone in the body. Insulin is essential for the body to break down glucose and provide energy. It’s also said to promote fat storage and prevent fat from being broken down. A low-carbohydrate diet should result in more fat loss, according to the hypothesis that elevated insulin levels cause fat storage.
According to a recent study, participants who followed a diet which enabled them to consume less carbs lost weight, which was very similar to those with a high-carb diet. So the notion that carbohydrates make people fat should now be rejected.
- Carbs are Unlikely to Cause Brain Damage
A few people accuse carbohydrates of causing brain damage and inflammation. This accusation, however, is entirely false. There are no scientific studies that back this theory. In contrast to refined grains, high in fiber magnesium are whole grains, which is associated with less inflammation.
- Carbs Keep Your Gut Bacteria Healthy
Good bacteria greatly influence our health and well-being in our intestines. You need to do more than just take probiotic supplements or eat probiotic foods to keep the balance of bacteria in your gut healthy. What do gut bacteria eat to thrive in your gastrointestinal tract? They consume fermentable carbs. Dietary fiber-rich carbohydrate foods provide gut bacteria with a food source—they ferment what we don’t digest for their food source. In the end, eliminating foods high in fiber and carbohydrates reduces the food source for beneficial bacteria, which is not great for gut health.
- Healthy Carbs Add Nutrition to Your Diet
It goes without saying that not all carbs are created equal. A bag of lollipops is entirely different from an apple in terms of nutrition. A bowl of sweet, refined oat differs from a bowl of porridge. However, a variety of vitamins, antioxidants, phytochemicals, minerals, and dietary fiber found in whole foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains provide the nutrients we need to stay healthy.
Even though we can live without carbohydrates, there is no reason to avoid eating foods high in carbohydrates because they can have many positive effects. Additionally, a more diverse diet generally provides a greater variety of nutrients. Remember that carbohydrates can also taste pretty good!
Key Takeaways!
Nutrition doesn’t come in black and white, but unfortunately, many people over the internet think it is! Cutting out an entire food group can be an extreme step that one can take in their eating habits. While many people are happy and satisfied with a low-carb or even carb-free diet, it can be challenging to cut out carbs entirely from their food.
It is true that refined carbs are terrible for health, and they can trigger diseases and weight gain. On the other hand, unrefined, healthy carbs can be your best friend and provide you with sufficient nutrition for your brain and body. So next time you’re afraid of eating carbs, remind yourself that they’re not diet demons.
