Carbohydrates—The Good, The Bad, and The Necessary

The consumption of carbohydrates, or the lack thereof, has been the focal point of many diets over the last several years. Certainly, fast results can be noted for those who nearly rid their diets of carbohydrates completely and follow a strict dietary regimen. If this particular diet isn’t followed consistently, however, the weight is quickly regained and the cycle must begin anew.

Carbohydrates are one of the three essential macronutrients, and are vital to maintaining your body’s health and nutrition. Red blood cells get all of their energy from carbohydrates, which is the body’s main carrier of oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Additionally, carbohydrates fuel our brains and central nervous system, and are of paramount importance for neonatal development.

Of course, overconsumption of anything can be bad, including carbohydrates. If a person’s diet is both high in fat and high in carbohydrates, obesity may ensue. In 2002, a study of people following a high-carb, low-fat diet demonstrated that most of these people fell within the normal weight range.

Again, a high-fat, low-carb diet as the recent trend tells you to follow may help to achieve some amazing results in the short term, but the side effects could be worse for you in the long run. A diet that is too low in carbs can lead to malnutrition, even when supplemented with vitamins, fiber and other supplements.

Some foods are higher in carbs before digestion than they are once the cycle is complete, which is attributed to many factors, among them dietary fiber content. Dietary fiber is a form of carbohydrates that cannot be digested, but provides other health benefits.

A new trend in meeting the needs of both sides of this debate is taking a look at the glycemic index value of the food in question. The glycemic index measures how the food item in question specifically affects blood sugar levels, rather than calling foods either simple or complex carbohydrates. To find out the glycemic index of many of your favorite foods, visit http://www.carbs-information.com/glycemic-index.htm.

The best thing we can all do for ourselves is eat a well-balanced diet. Food is our fuel and can be the source of our energy, vitality, and even pleasure. Consuming higher-quality organic and whole foods, controlling portions, and doing so several times throughout the day is going to help you become more in tune with your body than any fad diet ever will.