Going on a diet can be such a pain. We feel deprived and unhappy because we have to replace the foods we love with green leafy stuff. All of this strife because someone claimed that eating greens is the only way to lose weight!
One of the most resented diets is The Low Carb/No Carb Diet. Read: No BREAD, No SUGAR (aka CHOCOLATE) and No Cake! What this diet forgot to mention is that there are carbs that are actually good for you. Here’s the breakdown of simple vs complex carbohydrates.Simple Carbohydrates/ Simple Sugars: They are chemically made up of one or two sugars and we usually ingest them in the processed version. The processed version (soda, cand and most sweets) adds no nutrients to the bod and leaves it craving for more. This results in over-consumption and weight gain . Instead of completely cutting out simple carbs, choose ones that are less refined. Items like fruit and milk contain fiber and vitamins and also provide the body with important nutrients like calcium. (Note: this also includes chocolate milk!)
Complex Carbohydrates/Starches: These take longer to digest than the simple carbs, so they will leave you feeling more full. Yet the same reasoning would apply here because the refined/processed starches (white bread) have little nutrients, and the cravings also result in weight gain. The solution is to choose less processed and more nutrient dense starches like whole grains, steel cut oats and legumes. They contain fiber which is great for dietary purposes and provide the body with the energy you’ll need for a great gym workout!
Today’s lesson is to Eat your Carbs. Carbohydrates are energy producing foods (perfect for consumption before and after workouts) and contain valuable nutrients and vitamins. So why are we not eating them? Say it with us: Not All Carbs Are Evil!
