Many of Us Worry About Carbs
By Tom Herrin
There always seem to be some kind of trends in health, particularly in our diets. Whether it is high fat, low fat, high protein, or some kind of manipulating of carbs, someone is constantly trying something new. It is not necessarily bad, but it may be to accomplish some different objective.
In recent years, carbs have been near the top of the chart for many people. It is pretty certain that reducing the number of carbs we take in may help us to manage our weight. Carbs may do a lot more than that, and it can help us overall if we have a better understanding of just what they are.
Simple or Complex?
Many people refer to carbs in terms of whether they are simple or complex. The short definition of this is that simple carbs can be digested faster than complex. Sugar is a simple carb. For many years, they were considered to be the source of some kind of quick energy that would wear off. A study in 2019, however, found that rather than this, the fact was that there was no real immediate burst of energy but instead a lull after a period of time. This was contrary to what many had been thinking was the case. The thing with complex carbs is that they remain in our systems for a longer period of time, thus, they provide us with sustained energy.
How About Milk
Some are concerned about drinking milk because it has sugar in it. Milk contains sugar naturally, unless we are referring to some kind of flavored milk. This simple sugar is not all bad as it also contains some other things that are useful. Its protein content makes milk a really healthy food source. In this case, we drink milk more for the other benefits without concern about the sugars. Now ice cream, on the other hand, may be a bit too much for those of us concerned about too many sugars.
The More Nutritious Carbs
While it may not be true all of the time, complex carbs are considered to be more beneficial to our health. They usually provide a longer lasting source of good energy. This is where we find many foods that are whole-grain. Brown rice, whole wheat, oats, etc., are all on the list of these kinds of foods. If we have the opportunity to choose, it is best for us to choose complex over simple.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Huntersville, N.C.