Some things you knead to understand about carbs 😆🥖

Emma Fillmore
Feb 2, 2018
2 min read

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Ahh the poor misunderstood carbohydrate, so often blamed for weight gain and slashed from our diets! Carbs come in many different forms (rice, bread, pasta, vegetables, fruit, cakes, crackers, biscuits) but they all end up being converted to the same substance – glucose (sugar). This fact alone is the reason people so often point an accusing finger at them and it is true that consumption (or more importantly overconsumption!) of carbs triggers hormonal responses in the body that can lead to fat storage.

However, carbs also play a vital role in the smooth running of your body. All cells in the body require glucose, it is the preferred fuel source for exercise and the brain and nervous system are obligatory users of glucose. Ever tried to go low carb? You likely experienced fatigue, poor training recovery, irritability and lack of ability to concentrate. No fun!

Here are 5 simple ways to keep carbohydrates on your side for good health and sustained energy:

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Take it back to basics get your carbs from the ground as often as possible. Nutrient and fibre dense fresh fruit and vegetables should make up the bulk of your carbohydrate intake. Fibre helps keep you full between meals and is crucial for digestive and bowel health.
Eat them as close to their natural state as possible for maximum nutritional value. Certain nutrients may be destroyed through heat, boiling and blending so try to consume most of your veg raw, unprocessed, lightly sautéed, steamed or stir-fried.
Avoid processed, packaged carb sources as much as possible. Natural foods contain the fibre and enzymes necessary to break that food down and release the nutrients. These enzymes are destroyed through heating foods, processing or adding chemicals to preserve them, thus making them very difficult for us to digest and putting unnecessary strain on our bodies digestive and immune systems.
Go green! Get as much green veg as you can on your plate. Spinach, kale, green beans, broccoli, peas, cucumber, courgette, asparagus - try to make sure most of your meals contain something green!
Select brightly coloured foods, such as, beetroot, berries, spinach and broccoli as these are generally the most nutritious and contain the highest levels of antioxidants, vital for good immune function and disease prevention.

So, you can see carbohydrates are actually not so bad - as with fats and proteins there are simply some that are better than others and a few bad guys have given them a bad name! 🙌

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