I Would Quit Carbs......

..... But I am no quitter!!

We seem to get into these on again, off again phases of low carb, no carb, keto.. and whatever witch hunt the diet culture has against the one macronutrient our body NEEDS for energy.

Before I defend the macronutrient we love to hate, let's break it down. First of all it's simple - we cannot live without carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are your body's main source of energy. They fuel your brain, kidneys, heart muscles, and central nervous system. Fibre is a carbohydrate, needed to aid digestion, maintains satiety and keeps cholesterol and blood sugar levels in check! Your body needs this nutrient so much, that it stores carbohydrates in your muscles and liver to use when you're not getting enough carbs in your diet. Fun Fact - your body will MAKE carbohydrates through a process called glycogenesis if you don't consume enough carbs for energy, so you truly can never go without it!

Not enough carbohydrates in your diet may cause headaches, fatigue, weakness, difficulty concentrating, bad breath, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

There seems to be a false narrative for many years that carbohydrates are "bad", or they make you "fat". This couldn't be further from the truth. You CAN lose weight, tone, build muscle AND have optimal health consuming carbs everyday!!

Now, that being said, if you are choosing to consume nutrient poor, white, refined, sugary breads, pastas and pastries - that has been over processed and has fat added to them , in over abundance in your daily diet, then yes - carbs are going to be a problem for you. In more ways than just your waistline.

Even fruit and some starchy vegetables, have been given a bad carb rap . Are you kidding me? Think about this - whole food, close to the source full of nutrients is bad??? No.

They key to consuming carbs, is choosing nutrient dense, high fibre sources of carbs, and consuming them in moderation like whole grains, quinoa, oats, brown rice, whole grain pasta, and breads. Adding fruits berries, citrus fruits, melons, apples, pears, bananas and kiwi. Bring on the starchy veggies - the sweet potatoes, yams, corn, peas and carrots. High fibre legumes, lentils, beans, chickpeas, and low fat dairy.

If you are diabetic, talk to your doctor or registered dietitian. They can help you with your meal planning and diet in conjunction with your diabetes management.

Cutting may seem like a great response in the body in the beginning. Initially, the weight loss you experience is water weight - this is because cutting carbs wipes the glycogen stores in your muscles. You may also lose salt in this process. The long term effects of a low carbohydrate diet over time does not have enough data, but what is a sure thing - low carbohydrate diets are often high in fat. The higher presence of fat can worsen an existing heart, liver or kidney disease - so before you decide to cut carbs, better have that conversation with your doctor. Low carb diets, although satisfying with how quickly you lose weight, in the longer term are also not sustainable for long term weight loss and health goals.

What is a sure thing, once you go back to eating carbs - you WILL gain weight back, all of it, if not most of it. So if you're looking for long term weight loss success, focus on the balance of incorporating all macronutrients in your diet, choosing foods closer to their food source in their whole food state, and practice portion control.

I'd rather dig into a tasty bowl of fruit or some mashed potatoes that will give me the most in nutrients for my body, than a low carb, processed box of something off the shelf.

..... I also hate cauliflower. It smells and tastes like feet.

xoxo

Amanda