The Dirty "Carbs" Word

Most of the time, if you mention the dreaded “Carbohydrate” word to people trying to lose weight, they will tell you they’re talking about bread, pasta, sweets (desserts like cakes, pies, ice cream, candy, etc.), potatoes, rice – and they would be correct.

However, talking about carbs isn’t as simple as you might think.

Broccoli is a carb.

Strawberries are carbs.

Beans are carbs.

Almonds are carbs.

When it comes to carbohydrates I think we, as the general population, have gotten a lot of mixed messages over the years – as research has continued and studies have been conducted – and our understanding of carbs has become a bit skewed.

We have lumped certain unhealthy foods into the general category of “Carbohydrates” and by association, a lot of healthy – even NECESSARY – foods have gotten a bad rap.

The most common sources of carbohydrates include Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Milk, Nuts & Seeds, and Beans, Peas & Lentils.

And all of these food sources – even the unhealthy, processed ones – break down into 3 Categories: Sugars, Starches, and Fiber.

So, I think the question that gets overlooked by people who are trying to eat healthier and/or lose weight is more about “How are Carbohydrates breaking down in my body?” versus, “Should I eat Carbs?” And the second question that should be asked is “What nutritional value am I getting from the carbs I’m eating?”

The body’s preferred fuel source is glucose – a simple sugar. If the body isn’t getting glucose from the food you eat, it will literally break down any substances available in the body (fats, proteins like muscle or bone, organs) in order to get the energy it needs to survive. That’s a little bit of a dramatic way to put it, but that’s the bottom line. The body PREFERS glucose, but it will use whatever is necessary.

45% to 65% of the total daily calories you eat should come from carbohydrates. And that is when you apply the ACTUAL important questions – “How are these carbs breaking down in my body?” and “What nutritional value am I getting from them?”

45% of your carbohydrate needs can come from cupcakes, if that’s what you want. But then you have to ask the important questions. Because cupcakes are going to breakdown into simple sugars – glucose – very quickly, hit your bloodstream very quickly, and cause issues within your body from the flood of glucose molecules and the body’s ability to manage them properly.

But when those sugars hit the bloodstream SLOWLY because they have to be broken down from complex carbohydrates (starches) or slowed down by fiber, then the body has time to deal with the slower stream of glucose in a more efficient manner.

As well as the other nutrients (fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals) that healthy carbohydrates also offer.

So, before throwing “Carbohydrates” around like it’s a dirty word when it comes to eating healthier, think about the types of foods you’re actually referring to – do you mean heavily PROCESSED foods that have been stripped of nutrients, or do you mean whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, barley), whole fruits and vegetables, nuts & seeds, or milk products (milk, cheese, yogurt)?

Your body absolutely needs carbs to function, but the type of carbs and the quality are what matter most to your health and wellness.