In recent years, low carb diets have become all the rage. And, while there’s definitely some truth to the fact that the typical American diet is too high in some carbohydrates, many of the information floating around about carbohydrates is, simply put, false. Here are seven common myths about carbohydrates and the truth behind them.
1. Too many carbohydrates make you fat – Too many calories make you fat. Now, that said, limiting bad carbohydrates (white flour and sugar) is a great way to lower your calorie intake and keep your blood sugar stable.
2. All carbohydrates are bad – This is a popular belief among Atkins fanatics. However, if you really read the Atkins diet, it allows carbohydrates added back into the diet after the first 10 days or so of the diet. Many people, however, never move beyond the first phase of the diet because they see great results which make them afraid of carbohydrates altogether. Again, white flour and processed sugar are bad for you and will help you put on weight. That said, whole grains, fruits and vegetables are all carbohydrates that are very healthy. Carbohydrates are only a problem when you eat more than your body needs.
3. Carbohydrates are not necessary – Carbohydrates are an essential part of a healthy diet. They provide the most energy of any type of food. Our brains, kidneys and central nervous system all require the glucose made from carbohydrates to function properly.
4. Carbohydrates cause diabetes – Type II (adult onset) diabetes is caused by an insulin resistance that can the result of genetics or obesity, or both. Type I diabetes is caused by an autoimmune attack that destroys the beta cells which produce insulin.
5. It’s possible to eliminate all carbohydrates – You couldn’t even if you tried. Even eggs, considered a protein source, have about ½ gram of carbs per egg.
6. Fats block carbs – Many people believe that eating fats along with your carbohydrates will block the absorption of the carbohydrates. The truth is that if you eat essential fatty acids like Omega 3’s along with carbohydrates, the absorption of the carbohydrates will slow down. This can help you feel full longer and hopefully prevent the conversion of those carbohydrates to fat cells.
7. Low carbohydrate junk food is ok – Junk food is junk food regardless of the number of carbs. The low carb dieter’s favorite snack is often pork rinds, because they contain little or no carbohydrates. But, on what planet could that possibly be healthier than eating an apple?
The secret to losing weight is reducing the number of calories you eat and burning off some of those calories through exercise. Period. Reducing the number of bad carbohydrates you consume is a great way to help reduce the calories in your diet and keep you feeling full longer, too. And, ensuring that you don’t go over the daily recommended amount of carbohydrates is another great way you can help lose weight. But, the notion that we need to eliminate carbohydrates from our diets is nonsense.
Phyllis Zerkle blogs about various job issues in the health care field, including how to study to obtain an online masters of health administration (MHA).