5 Myths About “Those Pesky Carbs”, Debunked.
Last night I was talking to a friend about diets and she confessed to completely cutting out rice and potatoes from her meals. I tried to tell her that it was a ridiculous move since the body needs a healthy source of carbohydrates, it is, after all, a major nutrient. But this went in vain since her definition of “healthy” and “fit” had already been tainted with widely believed misconceptions. When in reality, they are just ruining the good name of carbohydrates.
Which got me thinking…everyone nowadays seems to think that the key to shedding weight faster is to cut out carbs from their diet. But this is a misconception, and so is everything else you know about carbs. Read on and it will change the way you perceive this nutrient.
Myth: Carbs Are Fattening
When it comes to myths about food, this one is actually ranked the highest. Almost everyone believes carbohydrates make you put on weight. When the fact is that the high fiber content in carbs help you maintain or even lose weight! Fiber gives you the energy you need to get through the day. The “fattening” misconception stems from the fact that most of us don’t know how much carbs we really need per day (should ideally be between 130-150 grams) because obviously overeating anything doesn’t do you any good.
Also Read: 7 Misconceptions About “Healthy” Food That You Need To Stop Believing RN
Myth: All Carbs Make You Feel Sluggish And Bloated
While this may be true for some people, it isn’t the case for everyone. Studies show that feeling sluggish after a meal is not solely due to the carb content. Food portions and salt content also play a major role. Keep that in check and you will be fine. You might feel stuffed and bloated after you have gorged on a bowl of pasta, yes. But if your diet includes the right kind of carbs i.e. the ones with high-fiber content like fruits and legumes then you will only feel satiated and not uncomfortably stuffed.
Myth: Low-Carb Diets Are Healthy For You
All right, this one is a doozy! Just because you have lessened your carbohydrate intake doesn’t mean you are now “healthy”. Carbs are your body’s preferred source of energy when taken in the form of healthy carbs like fruits, veggies, and legumes. They provide your body with B vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and iron. Instead of completely nixing a major nutrient out of your diet, try having a balanced meal instead. Cut down on unsaturated fats and sugar and try getting 40-50 percent of your calorie intake from healthy carbohydrates. Make this tiny tweak and trust me it will do wonders for your weight loss plan.
Myth: Protein Is More Important Than Carbs
Of course, proteins are extremely important for your body, especially if you are trying to build muscles. But saying that one nutrient is more important than another is very wrong. Both protein and carbs work symbiotically to process sugar which keeps your glucose levels in check. There is also a study that shows that because carbs are turned into energy by your body, they help jump-start your metabolism faster and better than proteins. The baseline, there is no one nutrient that is better than the other. All of them are equally important in their appropriate quantities.
Also Read: Don’t Believe Everything You Hear. Here Are 9 Veganism Myths Debunked
Myth: All Kinds Of Carbs Are Unhealthy
This is another huge misconception that I have come across. It is essential to know that there are two kinds of carbohydrates- refined and unrefined. The kind that you need to keep as far away from your diet as possible is the refined carbs. They have been stripped down of all nutrient content and are called “empty carbs”. Unrefined carbs are what you need to double-down on. They are rich in all the fiber and vitamins you need to break down sugar and turn into energy effectively. There you have it, all kinds of carbs aren’t unhealthy, take note, ladies!
https://thehauterfly.com/fitness/5-foods-that-youve-been-told-to-avoid-on-a-diet-but-actually-could-be-healthy/
