Are carbs good or bad? – Nics Nutrition

As a nation – we Adore to demonise specific foodstuff and meals groups! Over the previous couple a long time, there is been a pattern for ‘cutting carbs’ fuelled by diet programs this kind of as Atkins, Keto, Dukan to name a few, as effectively as phrases these as ‘no carbs before marbs!’ or ‘carbs make you fat’.

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Quite a few of these phrases and diet programs have puzzled folks with the importance of carbohydrates, creating them out to be ‘bad’ or a driver of bodyweight gain. But in reality, no foodstuff is inherently ‘good’ or ‘bad’ – it is dependent on the part and frequency in which we consume them (+ of course how we cook them and what we include to them!)

Carbs also comprise the Same sum of energy for every gram as protein (4 kcal/g), in comparison to 9 kcal/g for fats!⁣

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𝗪𝐇𝐘 𝐃𝐎 𝗪𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐁𝐒?⁣

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1️⃣ Strength – Carbs are the body’s most important supply of energy. When we eat them, our entire body breaks them down into glucose which is then transported into the bloodstream to our organs that call for it. It can also be saved as glycogen in the liver and utilised when our system demands it – e.g. for movement!

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2️⃣ Cognitive Functioning – Our brain involves approx. 120g of glucose a working day to support optimum psychological overall performance – including attention, memory and studying. A food plan deficient in carbohydrates may possibly lead to tiredness, ‘brain fog’ and head aches.

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3️⃣ Calorie consumption – Carbohydrates (together with grains, potatoes, fruit, dairy, starchy veg and some protein meals these types of as beans) have a tendency to make up all around half of an common adult’s calorie ingestion if this is not met, there may perhaps be a depletion of vitality to support fat administration, our mind and other organs in the human body. ⁣

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4️⃣ Spare protein and fat for their utilizes! – Consuming plenty of carbs tends to make confident our system does not resort to working with (far too considerably) protein or fats rather, which are needed for bodily features this sort of as growth, fix and nutrient absorption.

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5️⃣ Fibre – Fibre from complex carb sources these kinds of as complete grains, fruits and veg are important for a healthful digestive system and supporting possibility reduction of some illnesses these kinds of as variety 2 diabetes and heart disease.

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🤔 What are your fave carbs?!