What Do Carbohydrates Do to Your Weight?
It would seem that half of all dieters in the world would contend that carbohydrates cause more weight gain than protein and fat, while the other half would contend the reverse.
To know what carbohydrates really do, we'll need to see what carbohydrates are really made of, and how the body utilizes this nutrient.
The Kinds Of Carbohydrates There are basically two kinds of carbohydrates: simple and complex.
To make it a little easier to make the connection, we can call them sugars and starches respectively.
What these carbohydrates do is pretty much the same thing - the body turns them into glucose, and the pancreas secretes insulin to help the glucose move from the blood to the cells.
Glucose is the body's preferred source of energy, and is important for the function of vital organs such as the brain, the kidneys, and the central nervous system.
Simple carbohydrates, or sugars, are much more easily absorbed by the body.
This is the reason why a lot of sugary foods, like candy and soda, can give you a quick boost of energy, but can ultimately leave you tired once the temporary surge of energy wears off.
Complex carbohydrates, or starches, take much longer for the body to break down, and are used more efficiently by the body.
Carbohydrates And Weight Gain The idea that carbohydrates are the primary source of weight gain is vague at best, even if there is evidence that supports it.
But weight gain isn't what carbohydrates do primarily - many experts still believe that carbohydrates is the most important source of energy for the body, and recommend that 60% of the diet should be composed of good carbohydrates.
This is the reason why carbohydrates make up the largest section of the new food pyramid.
Actually, weight gain has more to do with the number of calories we take in than with what carbohydrates do.
When the body receives more calories than it can burn, regardless of whether it comes from carbohydrates, protein or fat, it takes the excess glucose from the bloodstream and stores it as fat reserves.
What Low-Carbohydrates Diets Do Low- Carbohydrates diets like the Atkins diet help people lose weight by helping them achieve ketosis - that is, the fat-burning phase of the body.
When the body runs out of its preferred energy source (glucose), it begins to break down fatty tissue and burns it as a reserve fuel.
Ketosis has shown to be effective in shedding weight, despite certain discomforts.
It's often the last resort for people who have tried many different diets without much success.
But for the rest of us, a realistic, holistic diet approach is often best to reduce weight without having to resort to drastic dietary and lifestyle changes.
For instance, instead of taking in soda, drinking more water and fruit drinks can help keep your calorie intake low.
Substituting some carbohydrate sources like white bread with whole-grain alternatives is also a good idea, as is taking in more fruits and vegetables in the diet.
So in the end, it doesn't really matter much what carbohydrates do for weight gain.
You'll still need a good measure of carbohydrates in your diet to keep your energy levels up, but a good dose of healthy dietary practices and regular exercise will give you the most of what life has to offer.
To know what carbohydrates really do, we'll need to see what carbohydrates are really made of, and how the body utilizes this nutrient.
The Kinds Of Carbohydrates There are basically two kinds of carbohydrates: simple and complex.
To make it a little easier to make the connection, we can call them sugars and starches respectively.
What these carbohydrates do is pretty much the same thing - the body turns them into glucose, and the pancreas secretes insulin to help the glucose move from the blood to the cells.
Glucose is the body's preferred source of energy, and is important for the function of vital organs such as the brain, the kidneys, and the central nervous system.
Simple carbohydrates, or sugars, are much more easily absorbed by the body.
This is the reason why a lot of sugary foods, like candy and soda, can give you a quick boost of energy, but can ultimately leave you tired once the temporary surge of energy wears off.
Complex carbohydrates, or starches, take much longer for the body to break down, and are used more efficiently by the body.
Carbohydrates And Weight Gain The idea that carbohydrates are the primary source of weight gain is vague at best, even if there is evidence that supports it.
But weight gain isn't what carbohydrates do primarily - many experts still believe that carbohydrates is the most important source of energy for the body, and recommend that 60% of the diet should be composed of good carbohydrates.
This is the reason why carbohydrates make up the largest section of the new food pyramid.
Actually, weight gain has more to do with the number of calories we take in than with what carbohydrates do.
When the body receives more calories than it can burn, regardless of whether it comes from carbohydrates, protein or fat, it takes the excess glucose from the bloodstream and stores it as fat reserves.
What Low-Carbohydrates Diets Do Low- Carbohydrates diets like the Atkins diet help people lose weight by helping them achieve ketosis - that is, the fat-burning phase of the body.
When the body runs out of its preferred energy source (glucose), it begins to break down fatty tissue and burns it as a reserve fuel.
Ketosis has shown to be effective in shedding weight, despite certain discomforts.
It's often the last resort for people who have tried many different diets without much success.
But for the rest of us, a realistic, holistic diet approach is often best to reduce weight without having to resort to drastic dietary and lifestyle changes.
For instance, instead of taking in soda, drinking more water and fruit drinks can help keep your calorie intake low.
Substituting some carbohydrate sources like white bread with whole-grain alternatives is also a good idea, as is taking in more fruits and vegetables in the diet.
So in the end, it doesn't really matter much what carbohydrates do for weight gain.
You'll still need a good measure of carbohydrates in your diet to keep your energy levels up, but a good dose of healthy dietary practices and regular exercise will give you the most of what life has to offer.
