A lot of people are under the impression that carbohydrates are bad for you and that taking them will cause you to gain more weight. In fact, some people go so far as to avoid eating any carbs at all because they believe it will help them lose weight easier. However, this is utterly untrue.
Carbohydrates are one of the many important food sources that your body needs to survive. Cutting off from it completely will cause many damages to your body. Even if your body adjusts to the lack of carbs eventually, you will become weaker and have less energy
than normal.And like most things in life, there are good as well as bad carbohydrates. Good carbohydrates are the kind that your body uses to get nutrition and energy while the bad ones are the kind that you should steer clear of. Lack of proper research and understanding results in many people not knowing about this and thus, giving birth to unhealthy misconceptions.
Good Carbohydrates
Good carbohydrates are the kind found in natural foods, such as wheat, grains, fruits and vegetables. The carbohydrates found in these foods are still in their natural state and have not been altered in any way or form through human or mechanical means.
The characteristic of good carbohydrates that makes them healthy is actually the level of fiber it contains. Unlike bad carbohydrates, good carbohydrates are rich in fiber. Fiber is good, as it is filling and helps you feel full for longer periods of time, so you don’t eat as many times as you would if you took in bad carbohydrates.
Fiber also provides you with more energy and foods high in fiber and carbohydrates usually have low-calorie content. They also help with removing toxins from your
body.Bad Carbohydrates
As opposed to good carbohydrates, bad carbohydrates are the kind in processed foods that have many additives. Examples of such foods are salty chips, sodas, instant noodles and baked goods with refined flour.
Foods with bad carbohydrates are admittedly tastier and are usually packaged in bags or containers with attractive colours. However, they are extremely unhealthy as they are not easily digested and may raise the blood glucose levels of an individual.
These foods are also low in fiber and are therefore easily converted into fat deposits in your body instead of energy sources. Besides that, they also contain many calories known as ‘empty’ calories that are virtually useless to your body as they have no nutritional value.
What little energy bad carbohydrates provide you also lasts for limited amounts of time. Eating bad carbs will make you hungry shortly afterwards, prompting you to eat more later. In the end, you’re only piling up the fat inside your body, causing you to gain more weight.
People who take bad carbs often run the risk of developing diabetes, heart diseases and obesity.
Hence, if you’re looking to lose weight or to practice a healthier diet, don’t give up carbohydrates all together, as it will only backfire on you. What you should do instead is to determine which foods you buy have good carbs and which ones have bad carbs. Needless to say, you should avoid taking in the bad carbs!
