Will Carbs Do You In?
By Tom Herrin
For many people, there are lots of things to fear. They don't have to look around very far in order to find something someone says they should avoid. One of the biggest trends recently is carbs, that is, avoiding them. Diets have rolled around for years going heavy on one kind of food and light on some other. The key nutrients that are mentioned most are proteins, fats, and carbs. They all have an important role in health, but many diets advocate taking in excessive amounts of one of these while severely cutting another. Many of the current diets focus on cutting carbs and forcing the body to use other nutrients in a different way.
Some Carbs Can Be Tough on Health
Like so many other things, all carbs are not made alike. Breaking them into somewhat different categories may help to identify which ones need to be included in a healthy diet and which ones should be avoided as much as possible. Those that are primarily from sugars can have some serious effects on the body. Some recommend that women should consume no more than 100 calories per day from these and that men should take in no more than 150. Without really being diligent, it is easy to go over that limit, especially when eating a steady diet of packaged foods that come ready-to-eat. There is a price to pay for convenience.
Some Carbs Keep the Body Healthy
No matter what is said, carbs are necessary for the body to function well. Those that come from fruits, vegetables, and good grains are considered to be the best. They are easily digestible. They also fuel the body. If people lack a sufficient supply of carbs, their body will begin to use muscle as fuel, thus depleting it. This is what happens in starvation as well. While there is no need to overload on carbs, there is also no need to deprive.
Be Educated on Your Own Needs
Each of us has needs that may be a little different from others; we each have many of the same basic needs. We must be able to evaluate what is needed and when. As we plan, it will not hurt for us to be better at counting calories and identifying the different kinds. Knowing the source of something such as our carbs will help us to devise a good plan. In order to maximize our diet and keep our bodies working efficiently, we must be aware and be educated. It can make all of the difference.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Brentwood, Calif.