5 Reasons We Shouldn’t Fear Carbs from Wall St. Cheat Sheet
Thanks to low-carb weight loss plans such as the South Beach Diet, carbohydrates have been wrongly vilified by dieters as being unhealthy. But new studies support the role of carbohydrates in one’s diets, and countless health organizations have recommended eating carbs for decades. A new article published by The Wall St. Cheat Sheet reminds us of 7 Reasons Why We Shouldn’t Fear Carbs. We pulled out five of these reasons and highlighted them below:
1. Carbs Give You Energy
Ever wonder why so many athletes have “pasta parties” the night before a big game? Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for our bodies —they fuel everything that we need to perform well. Carbs such as pasta provide glucose, the crucial fuel for our brain and muscles. These carbs are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates, which provide a slow release of energy. In turn, this allows us to stay energized throughout the entire day.
2. Carbs Help You Maintain Your Weight
Unlike what some diets may have you think, carbs have been proven to help dieters maintain their weight as long as they are choosing the right ones. The great thing about carbohydrates like pastas and other grain-based foods is that they fill you up and keep you satiated, which will deter you from binge eating later on. According to Health.com, carbs should make up to 64% of your total daily caloric intake, or 361 grams. Many low-carb diets limit people to fewer than 30% of total calories from carbs, which researchers believe is why so many people following a low-carb diet will crash.
3. Carbs Help Prevent Diseases
According to Med-Health.net, complex carbs, which are packed with fiber, help your body fight certain diseases. Fiber also has been proven to help indigestion and keeps cholesterol and heart diseases at bay. WebMD also states that fiber rich foods can help treat and prevent a handful of conditions such as severe acid reflux and obesity.
4. Carbs Help Keep Your Memory Sharp
A study conducted by Tufts University found that after overweight women followed a “low-carb” diet for a week, they did worse on tests of working memory than their counterparts who followed a “low-calorie” diet did. The women who followed a “low-carb” diet also did worse on tests of visuospatial memory (remembering locations on a map) than their “low-calorie” counterparts.
5. Carbs Are Good for Digestion
Finally, carbohydrates are necessary for digestion and speed up the whole food absorption process. The dietary fiber found in carbs moves food quickly through intestines which helps prevent digestive disorders. Also carb-rich foods that have a low Glycemix index such as pasta, have a slower rate of digestion, which helps suppress appetite.
Still confused about carbs or want to find out more information? Visit our Nutrition Page, our FAQ, or www.grainsforyourbrains.org. to learn more.