Hey Guys! Hope you've all had a wonderful week! This week's article goes back to the myths as we tackle the dreaded "Carbs make me gain weight" theory. At some point, we've all heard of carbs making people gain weight and have even seen some fad diets based off a low-carb idea to losing weight, but are carbs to blame for weight gain? Once and for all, here we are setting the story straight.
First Off, What are Carbs?
Carbs, or carbohydrates are "the sugars, starches and fibers found in fruits, grains, vegetables and milk products." They are a macronutrient (one of the main ways the body is fueled) and are called carbohydrates because they contain oxygen, carbon and hydrogen. Macronutrients are important because they body cannot produce them on their own and they are a main way the body functions properly.
What does this all mean?? Carbs are a part of every food you eat and thus, you can never be totally rid of them. Carbs enable fat metabolism and prevents your body from using protein (usually from your own muscles) to make energy. There are 2 kinds of carbs: simple and complex, which is the basis of all diets. Simple carbs are found in pastries, processed foods, candies, sodas, and syrups while complex carbs are found in beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, potatoes, corn, parsnips, whole-grain breads and cereals. When you limit carbohydrates, you deprive your body of a main source of fuel — and many essential nutrients that you need to stay healthy. This can cause many risk factors such as:
gastrointestinal disturbances
vitamin and mineral deficiencies
heart arrhythmia
kidney damage
Read more: What are Carbohydrates?
So, What Causes Weight Gain?
It is the excess of nutrients that causes weight gain. This does not apply to those who have hormonal imbalances and certain medical conditions. Genetics can also play a factor but regardless, it is the excessive intake of calories, even healthy foods, that make you gain weight. When one consumes more calories than they burned for the day, the excess calories get stored as fat, causing weight gain. However, when one burns more calories than they consume, body fats goes down causing weight loss.
Can I Eat Carbs and Lose Weight?
Yes, you can! Although eliminating carbs may bring your overall daily caloric intake down and result in weight loss, doing this long term can be harmful to your health. A well-balanced low-calorie meal that includes carbs is not only beneficial to your healthy, but it can also help you lose weight. The key is to simply make sure that you burn more calories than you consume each day.
Read more: Carbohydrates - Good or Bad for You?
So, what's an example of what a well-balanced low-calorie meal? Click here to find out.
Happy Eating and remember, YOU CAN AND YOU WILL!
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