Anyone who knows me can attest to how I carry a pitchfork and a burning stake against carbs. Refined carbohydrates found in most of the food we eat every day such as flour pasta and white rice inhibit us from living a healthier lifestyle. How? I asked the same question over and over along with “But why does it taste so good?”
The answer came to me in splitting headaches every afternoon. The spike in sugar caused by refined carbs in my blood stream allows for energy crashes that can be a bit extreme, depending on your genetics as well. Overall, experts agree that most refined carbohydrates (Note how this is different from complex carbohydrates found in whole wheat products that can be good for you) are what cause most of our modern health problems. They tend to vary from person to person but there are a few general effects that is perhaps already manifesting in your life. Check out this list and reconsider how your diet needs a carbs purge.
#1 You’re constantly hungry
Refined carbs provide a quick fix for when you feel hungry. But what truly nourishes you isn’t found in them. According to Time, refined carbs aren’t like fibers, fat, and protein that give you a satiated feeling for longer period of time. Simple carbohydrates give you quick bursts of energy that leave you hungrier every time it’s over. Hence, the need for constant snacking and quick fixes like fastfood meals.
#2 It raises your blood sugar
When simple carbohydrates break down, they become sugar. Constantly eating carbohydrates by the pasta bowl full is almost the equivalent of eating just sweets for breakfast. You run the risk of increasing your chances of getting diabetes and overusing your storage of insulin that triggers more health problems, accodring to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
#3 They make you gain weight fast
Carbohydrates aren’t bad for you. You always need a good amount carbs to get your body functioning properly. What’s bad is how most people snack on products that aren’t just loaded with refined, fiber deficient carbs but also preservatives and added sugars. Eating these products is a weight watcher’s nightmare and doesn’t completely translate into energy you burn over time. Why? WebMD explains that the lack of fiber is what causes them to hang around in your body. Fiber is optimal to make sure whatever you don’t need gets expelled when your body gets what it can from you have as consumed. Otherwise, you get fat.
#4 They don’t help you absorb what you need
Unlike fat, refined carbohydrates don’t facilitate in the absorption of vitamins and minerals from the other food your eat. As your energy levels from refined carbs spike up, your body sends a signal to the brain that you are full. In turn, the brain will send back a signal to rest of your body that it doesn’t need to process whatever you are eating after it. So that healthy steak and fish combo served with rice goes to waste.
#5 You don’t build muscle
Since carbs hinder you from getting what you need, your muscle mass decreases, making you unable to store energy when you need it the most. According to Live Science, this is why you get tired a lot or have that sluggish feeling. Simple physical activities drain you immediately. So what more if you are fueling up to exercise every morning? Simple carbs won’t give you the sustenance you need for exercise and are why you’re easily winded after a few flights of stairs. If carbs give energy, fat and its healthier alternatives give your long-term strength. Think about that next time you reach for some pasta.
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