Myths About Carbohydrates
By Sara Butler
It’s time to set the record straight about carbohydrates because they’re not as bad as you may have been led to believe. In fact, your body needs carbohydrates to function optimally and keep you in good health. Here are a few of the major misconceptions about carbohydrates you need to know so that you can eat the right kind of carbohydrates to stay healthy.
Myth No. 1: Only Pasta, Bread, and Potatoes are Carbohydrates
Your body breaks down carbohydrates into sugars that it uses to fuel your brain and other organs. There are two kinds of carbohydrates: complex and simple. Complex carbohydrates are things such as whole grains that helps to sustain your energy. Simple carbohydrates are found in vegetables and fruits, but also in other processed foods such as cakes and grains.
Myth No. 2: Every Kind of Carbohydrate is Unhealthy
It’s OK to remove some carbohydrates from your diet. Things such as refined grains and added sugars are perfectly acceptable to limit or eradicate from your diet. But carbohydrates are important to your body’s ability to function, so you want to make sure you’re getting unrefined, whole grains that contain fiber to get you through the day.
Myth No. 3: Carbohydrates Cause Weight Gain
According to nutritionists, the opposite may be true. Certain types of carbohydrates can help you to achieve and maintain a healthy weight because they provide fiber to keep you full and feeling satisfied. If you have a diet full of fiber-rich foods, then you’re probably going to eat fewer calories over the course of the day because you’re left feeling fuller for longer from your meals.
Myth No. 4: Carbohydrates Have a Lot of Sugar
If you’re trying to keep tabs on your sugar intake (which isn’t a bad idea), it’s important to stick to natural sugars in your diet as you cut out added sugars. Carbohydrates such as whole grains may be turned into sugar by your body, but that doesn’t mean that you should avoid them to avoid sugar. The sugars in whole grains won’t spike your blood sugar and cause a crash later that will leave you feeling lethargic and hungry.
Don't forget, your body needs carbohydrates. So make sure you're getting what you need to stay healthy and don't fall victim to the myths that seem to persist. If you have questions, talk to the chiropractors at The Joint.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Cypress, Tex.