Are You Confused About Carbs?
By Tom Herrin
There is a lot of talk today about what is good and what is bad about carbs. Some diets focus on trying to eliminate them almost completely. Those diets seem to try to force the body to convert to using fats in place of some carbs. Some other diets work on the basis of managing carbs in various ways in an effort to get the most out of what we take in. For diabetics, understanding carbs is a critical part of maintaining sugar levels so that it can be kept in check. Whichever is the case for you, understanding carbs is pretty important if we want to have the best health possible.
Does Simple Mean Basic?
Sometimes we hear some kind of reference to simple carbs. It is a big deal to know what this means. The term is usually referring to those that easily convert to sugar. This means that whatever it is may dump sugar into the system faster. Some of us have heard people talk about a sugar rush, meaning that someone takes in a large amount of sugar that goes straight to the bloodstream and bumps up their energy level. A 2019 study found that this is not actually what happens. It is more of an illusion. It seems that, instead of boosting our energy, it leads to a lull in energy shortly after we take in the sugar. Our minds think we had a rush because we have such a low afterwards.
Complex Are Those That Last
When we refer to complex carbs, it is generally those that break down much slower. The point is to have energy as the day goes on. Some of these may still be on the list of those foods that many of us try to avoid. Particularly foods such that may be considered to be starchy, such as white rice and potatoes, we have to be careful. It is important that we include some complex carbs in our diet because, if they are good ones, they have greater staying power.
Juice or Whole Fruit
Whether or not we choose to drink juices may actually be important choices. For the most part, juices have more sugar. Whole fruits may have more fiber. We all need to take in fruits daily, but we may also need to take a careful look at just what kind of fruit we consume. We all need carbs, but we should learn all we can about them.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Newnan, Ga.