Why Carbohydrates are Key to a Healthy Diet!

Carbohydrates as a whole have somehow developed a terrible reputation the "carbs make you fat. They don't. Sure, if you were to eat an unnecessarily large quantity they could contribute to weight gain, but, then again, so could too much of any food. They are just as important to slimming down and toning up as any other food. They are very important for your body for a variety of reasons: they are used for maximizing energy, speed, stamina, concentration, recovery and better fluid balance. They are vital for athletes and active individuals because they are the primary fuel for your body.

Think of carbohydrates as the gas needed to fuel a car. Without gas, a car won't run. Likewise, without carbohydrates, your body will not have the fuel it requires to support your daily mental and physical activities. Another way to put this is to think of your metabolism as a fire. In order to keep it burning strong, carbohydrates act as kindling on the fire. They are used as the primary source of energy for the body. When people decide to cut out carbs from their diet, protein is then burnt for energy instead of going to the muscle for growth and/or recovery. By making sure to have the right ratios of Carbs, Protein, and Fat, you are allowing your body to run itself AND recover as necessary. It is in this sweet spot that you will find yourself moving towards your goals.

Here are some reasons to keep carbs in your diet:

Reason 1: Carbs can help prevent weight gain—and even promote weight loss.

Researchers at Brigham Young University in Utah followed the eating habits of middle-aged women for nearly two years and found that those who increased their fiber intake generally lost weight. Women who decreased the fiber in their diets gained. Many carbohydrates contain dietary fiber, which is actually an indigestible complex carbohydrate.

Reason 2: Carbs will help you trim your waistline.

Swapping refined grains for whole grains may help reduce total body fat and belly fat, according to research in the Journal of Nutrition. In the study, adults who ate about 3 servings of whole grains a day had about 2.4 percent less body fat and 3.6 percent less abdominal fat than those who ate less than a quarter of a serving.

Reason 3: Carbs will help you blast fat.

Eating a breakfast made with “slow-release” carbohydrates, such as oatmeal or bran cereal, 3 hours before exercise may help burn more fat, according to a study from the Journal of Nutrition. Here’s why: in the study, eating “slow-release” carbohydrates didn’t spike blood sugar as high as eating refined carbohydrates, such as white toast. In turn, insulin levels didn’t spike as high and because insulin plays a role in signaling your body to store fat, having lower levels may help you burn fat.