| What do Carbohydrates do? |
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There are three types of Carbohydrates: Simple sugars, Complex (starches), and Fiber. Not all carbohydrates are created equal so let’s explore some choices. Simple carbohydrates are considered “simple” because they require little to no digestion before the body can use them. FRUITS contain simple sugars that we can use for energy along with fiber and other nutrients. This makes them better for us than less healthy choices like soda and candy and anything that has high-fructose corn syrup in it. These products should be limited because unlike fruit they offer little to no nutritional value outside of calories. Fruit on the other hand provides many vitamins and minerals along with carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates give you energy.The best energy foods are pasta, bread, potatoes, rice and cereals. These have half the calories of fat, so they are good for you.
One of the main jobs of carbohydrates is to provide fuel for the body to do its job. So if we want to run or walk somewhere or play sports or even work -- all of these activities use carbohydrates. It is our main energy source.
In the end, it's proven that cutting carbohydrates leaves us more tired, irritable, and prone to sleepless nights. Yeah, those are symptoms that every dieter needs! It's hard enough to find the time and motivation to do these things without zombification symptoms. We need carbs!! Now all we need to know is what kinds and how much.
Carbohydrates are the working fuel in our body. They are the cheap gas that makes us go, but some gas is better than others -- and the same goes for carbs.
We may get energy faster from simple carbs, but our body can only handle so much at one time. If we consume too much candy, soda, and other things absolutely loaded to the brim with simple carbs (sugars), our body will use what it can (sugar high!!!), but most of it goes straight to fat.
Our body has a much harder time breaking up and refining complex carbohydrates for good fuel. This is good because slower absorption gives our body a constant flow of energy over a longer time span.
Let me pin-point one thing: Carbohydrates can be bad IF you have too many. Isn't that true for anything? If you give your body too many carbs, it stores the extra for later. And we all know what a chipmunk looks like when it stores its food for later.... So let's do our best not to have our cheeks (either set...) look like that. We want to eat just enough carbs to fuel us for each day, but not so many that our body stores it for later. Although finding the balance is easier than you think.
The main difference with using carbs to our advantage is the change and weight loss is lasting. Once you lose it, it will stay gone and you'll actually lose pounds and gain energy throughout your days (something we all could use!).
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