To Carb or Not to Carb…
“Lose 25 pounds in only 2 weeks!”
“Boost Metabolism, Increase Energy, Initiate Strength
Thermogenesis, with one bottle of Hydroxycut!”
“I lost 20 pounds of stomach fat in one week by
obeying this easy diet rule!”
The list goes on! We have all seen these diet ads that promise phenomenal results over night. I have to admit, they are very alluring. However, when it comes to health/wellness, nothing good comes this easy!
What does “being healthy” actually mean? From my perspective, optimal health is derived from a combination of the following factors: nutrition, exercise, sleep, and emotional/mental well-being. In general, my blog posts are intended to define health/wellness and to provide advice on how to achieve optimal, long lasting health in the most safe and effective way possible. Let’s examine how consumption of carbohydrates plays a critical role in achieving optimal health!
I was talking to a friend of mine over lunch the other day who said that she avoided carbs like the plague. She insisted that all carbs were bad and that they caused her to gain weight. Meanwhile, she proceeded to eat a spinach salad with peppers, broccoli, cucumbers, and quinoa. I bit my tongue and decided to write a blog to clear up this misinformation.
Carbs are the primary source of fuel in the human body and according to the Institute of Medicine, 45%-65% of total caloric intake should be derived from carbohydrates! Gaining weight depends largely on the type of carbs that you are consuming. Ironically, in this case, my friend’s salad was composed of carbs!
There are two different types of carbs: simple and complex.
Simple carbs are refined sugars that have very little nutritional value and are digested by the body more quickly than complex carbs. The rapid digestion of these carbs is responsible for peaks and valleys in blood sugar levels, which often results in a spike of energy followed by a crash. This crash will often times leave you feeling tired and increase your appetite. The key to any successful diet plan is to maintain a stable blood sugar level throughout the day. So steer clear of these carbs and consume complex carbs instead.
Unlike simple carbs, complex carbs are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals and take longer for the body to break down. As a result, blood sugar levels are more consistent throughout the day, resulting in steady energy levels and less food cravings. Kev’s Advice: Choose “good” carbs over no carbs. A healthy way of eating is to consume natural, non-man-made carbohydrates from vegetables, fruits, nuts/seeds, beans and legumes. Kev