Driving home one day you look down and the dreaded petrol light that was flashing on your way to work in the morning is still flashing away. You are two streets away from home and you run out of petrol. If only you had stopped to fill up!
Why do we need carbohydrate?
What happens to your car when you run out of petrol is what happens to your body without carbohydrate. It is important to include carbohydrate at each meal as carbohydrate is the body’s petrol and without it you cannot function efficiently and become tired and cranky. When you eat carbohydrate it is broken down into glucose to provide the energy that powers your body. It is the main source of fuel for the brain and other vital organs. Unused glucose is stored in the muscles as glycogen to be used later.
Which carbohydrates do I choose?
Carbohydrates have received a lot of bad press lately. Although most people know that carbohydrates are important for health, they are often viewed as “fattening”. Choose smart carbohydrates (fruit e.g. apples, oranges, strawberries, wholegrain bread, sweet potato, corn, pasta, or Basmati rice) over not so healthy carbohydrates (soft drink, lollies, cakes, potato chips, biscuits, table sugar). By choosing smart carbohydrates you are filling your body up with premium petrol, and topping up your body’s stores of vitamins and minerals. Smart carbohydrates also come packed with fibre, which is essential for bowel health and assists in lowering cholesterol.
What about low-carbohydrate diets?
Low-carbohydrate diets are a hot topic. These diets achieve rapid weight loss. However most of the immediate weight loss is fluid because glycogen is packed in to the muscles with water and you lose this first. Once you stop following a low-carbohydrate diet you regain glycogen and the water. A lower carbohydrate diet can give your weight loss a kick start and provide motivation but should not be followed long term as they are so restrictive that they lead to fatigue, a lack of B vitamins and constipation.
So carbohydrates are good for me?
Yes! Making smart carbohydrate choices and eating appropriate amounts are important for healthy eating. Wholegrain breads and fruits are always better choices than soft drinks and cakes. Watch your portion of smart carbohydrates if you are trying to lose weight, two slices of bread for lunch is better than eating six slices. Don’t be afraid to eat smart carbohydrates as they will keep your body’s petrol tank full and travelling along. Remember having petrol in the tank gets you through your day, but running out of fuel or over-filling the tank is not enjoyable.
3 Posts in Total
