You probably heard about the new craze about low carbs diets. After the fat phobia, now people who wants to lose weight turns themselves against carbs. But what exactly are carbs and what do they do to your body. Are they as evil as the low carbs dieters say?
Understanding carbs
Carbohydrates supply your body with energy by converting it into glucose. There are two types of carbs: complex carbohydrates, which are made of hundreds of molecules, and simple carbohydrates, which usually contain up to three molecules.
Simple carbohydrates are sugar sources we mostly find in processed foods, like white sugar, as example. Complex carbs are rich in fiber and starches, and are found in vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts and seeds as well as in whole and unrefined grains.
How carbs affect your health
Since your body converts carbohydrates to glucose, eating carbs has a direct impact on your blood sugar levels. Too much sugar or sugar absorbed too fast could both lead to obesity, diabetes and premature ageing, so the key here is to avoid creating peaks in your blood sugar levels.
Which carbs to eat to lose weight, avoid diabetes and slow down premature ageing
Replacing simple carbs such as cookies, crackers, desserts, white bread, and other refined flour based goods by complex carbs such as whole grains, sprouted grains, beans and legumes and vegetables is a good way keeping your blood sugar under control. A diet containing lots of vegetables (good carbs) like sprouts, cauliflower, kale, and cabbage helps to supply your body with the nutrients it needs to keep your liver healthy and to detox naturally. They aid fat loss by detoxifying excess estrogens while fighting bloating and constipation.
So let’s not turn ourselves against all carbs yet! Simply choosing the right type is part of the key to a long-lasting health and weight management.