Carbohydrates - Do we need to avoid them totally?

How important is carbohydrates?

Now a days, People look at the Energy and Carbohydrate levels in nutritional labels. This shows that they are conscious about eating a high amount of carbohydrates. But the effects of cutting out a vital amount of carbohydrates from diet will lead to missing out on key nutrients including B vitamins which convert food into energy, to fight tiredness and fatigue.

Types of Carbohydrates:

1. Simple Carbohydrates: Found in sugary foods and drinks, they are quickly absorbed and can lead to energy spikes and crashes.
2. Complex Carbohydrates: Found in whole grains, legumes, and vegetables, they are digested more slowly, providing sustained energy and maintaining blood sugar levels.

Simple Vs Complex

Athletes needs carbohydrates, because they need to replace energy in muscles. Complex carbohydrates have high amout of fibre, which has less of an effect on your blood glucose levels. So, Include carbohydrates in your diet, but also include whole grains and pulses and beans because they are a valuable source of fibre, which protects against illnesses like colorectal cancer.

Putting weight due to carbohydrates is a partial reason for the fear in consuming carbohydrates.

Simple carbohydrates based food products like pasta or white bread will fill you but are broken down quickly, so they’ll make you feel hungry and quite sluggish. But simple carbohydrates can be beneficial for some including young children who don’t need too much fibre.

Putting weight due to carbohydrates is a partial reason for the fear in consuming carbohydrates. That can be handled well in what kind of carbohydrates are we consuming. Eating more vegetables and fruits will fill the stomach, but will not support to gain weight because of fibre.

Sugar and refined carbohydrates hit your blood stream quickly causing a high rise in blood sugar and the result is higher levels of insulin being released from your pancreas. One role of insulin is to tell your body to store fat. That leads to obesity . All carbohydrates break down into glucose, but at what speed it breaks down matters are lot.

Unrefined or complex carbohydrates give you greater, longer-lasting energy and stable blood sugar because your body digests them more slowly. These come in the form of whole grains, pulses, beans, fruits and vegetables.

Millets are tough but still cooks up like rice so they can be used like a form of starchy carbohydrates. Millets are high in protein and rich in vitamins and minerals. These ancient grains are a super addition to our regular diet, providing plant-based essential omega-3 fats, fibre and protein.

Should We Avoid Carbohydrates?

No, but Choose Wisely: Instead of avoiding carbohydrates, focus on choosing the right types. Prioritize complex carbohydrates over simple ones.

Moderation is Key: Balance your intake and avoid excessive consumption of sugary and refined carbs.

Listen to Your Body: Individual needs can vary based on activity level, health conditions, and metabolic rate. Tailor your carbohydrate intake to your specific requirements.

Carbohydrates are important, but choose and consume wisely !!!