Many people have learned to become scared of carbs and try to eliminate them from their diet at every moment - even fruit (we're looking at you, keto diet). The fact of the matter is that carbs are the body's main source of energy, which helps fuel your brain, kidneys, heart muscles, and the entire central nervous system. The point is your body NEEDS carbs!
There are three main types of carbs, which are starches, fiber, and sugar. Starches are typically referred to as complex carbs, while sugars are seen as simple carbs. The difference between complex and simple is that complex typically contains more nutrients than simple carbs, which is why people who are watching their weight are more apt to pick complex carbs over simple carbs.
A carb-deficient diet can make you feel pretty awful, and if you've done a strict keto diet before (or any other low-carb diet), you probably know how awful it truly feels. You may experience things like headaches, fatigue, weakness, difficulty concentrating, nausea, constipation, bad breath, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Reidhealth.org provides some of the best healthy carbs we can indulge in according to serving size:
● Whole grains: quinoa, amaranth, barley, brown rice, oatmeal, whole-grain pasta, and whole-grain breakfast cereals
● Fruits: berries, citrus fruits, melons, apples, pears, bananas, and kiwifruit
● Starchy vegetables: sweet potatoes, yams, corn. peas and carrots
● Legumes: lentils, black beans, pinto beans, navy beans, chickpeas, and soybeans
● Milk products: low-fat milk, plain yogurt, and soy yogurt
Official health guidelines for Americans suggest that most adults get 45 to 65 percent of their calories from carbohydrates. This may vary depending on health issues such as diabetes or if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Otherwise, ensuring that you’re providing your body with the necessary nutrients from carbs will benefit your health and make you feel good.
The Bottom Line
Carbs aren’t bad for you, period. They are an essential part of your diet, just like fat and protein are. Especially since they are the main energy source for your body, taking that away will only give you some gnarly side effects that you won’t even have the energy to deal with! You can find any of these foods at your local supermarket, so embrace the carbs!
~Shelly