Are Carbohydrates Really That bad?

​Did you know that for every 1 gram of carbohydrate (glycogen) stored in the body, there is approximately 3 grams of water retained?

Carbohydrates seem to have an extremely bad reputation. A lot of people consider them “bad” and try to eliminate them from their diet as much as possible.

The idea that carbs are”bad” or that they make you gain weight, isn’t true. There are carbohydrates that contain excess amounts of refined sugar which aren’t good for your health in general, but consuming a small amount occasionally won’t kill you or make you fat. It is an excess amount of food that will cause fat gain.

Carbohydrates are the body’s primary source of energy. They help fuel your brain, kidneys, heart muscles, and central nervous system.

There are two kinds of carbohydrates:
1. Simple carbs: These are sugars. Some occur naturally in milk, but most of the time are added into foods. Examples are raw sugar and corn syrup.

2. Complex carbs: These contain a lot more nutrients compared to simple carbs. They are higher in fibre and starch and digest a lot slower, which makes them more filling. Examples are fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, whole grains. 

Carbohydrates are made up of three components; fibre, starch and sugar. 
Fibre and starch are complex carbs, where as sugar is a simple carb. Depending on how much of each of these is found in a food will determine the quality. 

The key is finding the right carbs, NOT avoiding them completely.
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Nicola