Eating carbs for your personal goals isn’t a hack—it’s just knowing the right kind to eat
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Rumor has it that if you want to get leaner, the easiest way to do it is to stop eating carbs. But it’s not that simple. Carbohydrates, just like all food groups, have a purpose, and it’s not possible to completely cut of all foods from your diet. It’s possible to follow a healthy diet while eating carbs—here’s why.
Carbs help you feel full
One misconception you may have heard is that carbs make you feel hungry, but the right carbs actually don’t. Complex carbs and fiber are unrefined, so it takes time for your body to digest them. In effect, they make you feel full. And since fiber can’t be digested, it would clean your colon in the process. On top of that, these types of foods are also low-calorie.
Carbs maintain blood sugar level
The key of every good diet is to eat consistently to maintain blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar levels are bad for your overall health but eating the right carbs can help raise and normalize it. Even people with diabetes need these carbs because their medication can cause their glucose levels to drop too low. Compared with complex carbs that are more regulated, bad carbs, like added sugar, spike your blood sugar to extreme highs. Keep in mind too that carbs accompanied by fats and protein have slower impact on glucose levels.
Bread and pasta aren’t the only sources
When people say carbs, the first things they think of are breads, pasta, and rice. A lot of people don’t realize that carbs are also found in fruits and vegetables. Completely cutting off all carbs means depriving yourself of food like berries, bananas, and oatmeal—most of which are essential nutrient-dense and energy-boosting food necessary for an active lifestyle.
Avoid empty carbs
When people talk about cutting off carbs, what they really mean is the simple or refined carbs. These are composed of sugars and refined grains, and many of these foods have little to no nutritional value and increase health risks.
Your main source of energy
Most of our energy sources come from carbs, which is why 60 percent of calories should come from them. Whether you’re active or not, you need energy to fully function. Eating just enough carbs to maintain energy is actually an effective strategy. If you limit your carb intake to match your energy consumption, your body would eventually go to a state of ketosis and start breaking down stored fat.