Carbohydrate Myths You Need to Know
By Sara Butler
A lot of people feel the need to limit the amount of carbohydrates they eat. For several years, carbohydrates have been seen as the "bad" macronutrient. People relate carbs to negative things such as weight gain and feeling sluggish. But that's not necessarily true. Here are some of the biggest myths out there about carbohydrates that you need to know about in order to ensure that the right kinds of carbohydrates are a part of your balanced diet.
Myth No. 1: Carbohydrates Are Fattening
Many people are under the impression that carbohydrates are easily stored as fat, but that's not how the body functions at all. Your body is all about taking the path of least resistance when it comes to function. When you eat carbohydrates, the easiest thing for your body to do is to break it down and use it as fuel for important functions in the brain and muscles.
If it can't use it for those purposes, then the next easiest thing to do is to increase your metabolic rate to burn them off. Next on the list is storing the glycogen in your liver for future use. But if you've had too many carbohydrates and your body can't find a use for them, the final (and most expensive in terms of energy) is creating fat to store it.
Carbohydrates are about balance and if you're eating a balanced diet with healthy carbohydrates as a part of it, then your body won't turn it into fat.
Myth No. 2: All Carbohydrates Are the Same
Highly processed carbohydrates, such as pasta and white bread, are not the same as whole carbohydrates such as beans, fruit, and vegetables. Limit highly processed carbs in your diet and opt instead for the whole, unprocessed sources and you're providing your body the fuel it needs to stay healthy.
Myth No. 3: Processed Carbohydrates Are Addictive
Many think that you can become physically addicted to sugar and the carbohydrates that deliver them to your body, but that's not really true. Humans eat for a variety of reasons, many behavioral and emotional. Your body may not physically be addicted to sugar and processed carbohydrates, but your mind can be. If you want to eat less sugar, think about why you eat sugar in the first place. Chances are it's an emotional or habitual response to stress or some other factor, so weed it out and put a stop to it.
You need carbohydrates to survive, so make sure not to deprive your body.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Shiloh, Ill.