Carbs are bad for you is an all-inclusive statement that is causing people to go off the chain with senseless and extremely low-carb dieting.
Women are even shaming one another for eating carbs. Summing up all carbs as bad is misleading.
It’s a rookie mistake to lump all carbs together. Not all carbs are bad. Some are highly nutritious.
Thousands of bloggers around the world, including myself, have made the mistake of not being specific when talking about carbs.
It is causing widespread ignorance.
For those who grew up in the low-fat dieting era as I did, it is easy to misunderstand what our bodies need when it comes to nutrition.
Low-fat diets are not as healthy as we once thought. We now have a whole new level of understanding when it comes to distinguishing between good fats and bad fats, but people my age may have once thought all fats were bad.
For this reason, we need to be specific when addressing carbs. It is easy to think that all carbs are bad but they are not all the same.
Complex carbs and simple carbs are much different.
When it comes to carbs, moderation, and distinction are key.
In moderation, most complex carbs are good for you.
Even starchy carbs are not all bad, but they should be strictly limited due to causing an insulin spike when you eat them.
They can cause junk food cravings. But complex carbs like certain vegetables such as red potatoes have a high nutrition count so a small portion of them can be nutritious, depending on how you cook them and what kind of diet you're on.
As a matter of fact, some complex carbs can help you lose weight.
Black beans, for example, do not raise your insulin levels and can help keep you full, yet they are high in carbs. Black beans are rich in antioxidants that help fight heart disease and cancer.
For 1/2 cup of black beans, you get a whopping 8 grams of fiber plus 8 grams of protein. They are high in micronutrients. The health benefits of black beans outweigh the carbs.
They are high in nutrition and definitely part of a nutritious diet. They are not ideal for the keto diet but otherwise adding a little to your meal may be beneficial to your health.
Complex carbs have gotten a bad rap because do not understand the difference between complex carbs and simple carbs. People are throwing carbs under the bus without taking into account the nutrition they’re throwing away.
Let’s be clear, most complex carbs are not bad for you if you don’t overdo them. Cutting out all carbs is a bad idea as many complex carbs are high in nutrition and essential to good health.
Extreme low-carb dieting can cause you to lose out on necessary vitamins and minerals. I’m not knocking the keto diet, I just don’t feel it is a healthy diet to remain on for a long period of time. It's great for quick weight loss but otherwise not as healthy as the Low Carb Mediterranean diet.
Keto restricts or removes healthy organic food that is high in nutrition and can help you lose weight.
The Much Misunderstood Food Pyramid
The first food pyramid came out around 1974. I think it was based on what people needed when they worked out in the field all day (carbs for energy).
Based on today’s desk job standards it is WRONG.
The largest portion of our diet should be vegetables and fruits with 100% whole grain or 100% whole wheat bread, grains, rice & pasta being the next.
We no longer need loads of carbs for energy unless we are doing a power workout, some type of labor job that requires strenuous activities, or have cheetah-like metabolism like my husband's.
He can eat whatever he wants. But, it's not like I'm jealous or anything. 🙄
The current food pyramid 👇🏻, thanks to Michelle Obama, shows a well-balanced meal.
When I was a child we were also told to eat less fat. They said fat is what makes you fat, according to the nutrition experts of that time.
It is true. If you overdo any part of your macros (carbs, fat, or protein) it can increase body fat or cause health issues.
But good healthy fats do not make you fat when used in moderation. Good fats are actually necessary for a well-balanced diet and help reduce inflammation and avoid many health issues.
Simple carbs are referred to as bad carbs but there are organic simple carbs that are not bad for you when used in moderation.
These can be healthy fruits such as bananas, mangos, and raisins. A bit of honey is also good for you and has a lot of health benefits.
I was once convinced that all carbs were the devil but that extreme low-carb dieting can have bad side effects if not done correctly.
I am now convinced most of us need complex carbs in order to thrive.
I've finally found the diet that works best for my body type and I truly believe it will work best for all body types. The modified version of the Mediterranean diet that Dr. Don Colbert talks about in his book is an anti-inflammation diet.
He also has a keto diet book, if you're interested in temporary fast weight loss. However, I don't recommend the keto diet for more than a couple of weeks. A well-balanced diet is better. If you need to lose weight just simply lower your calories and include intermittent fasting into your lifestyle.
Dr. Todd's superfood pyramid shows how your veggies, proteins, and omegas should be balanced for immune system support. 👇🏻
Some superfood has to be limited because of their high vitamin & mineral content. It is important to eat a variety of food for this reason. Too much of one thing can result in health issues.
Moderation is Key.
If you're doing the keto diet you will want to avoid simple carbs. If you're not doing keto, some simple carbs like bananas or apples provide a lot of vitamins & minerals your body needs for good health.
The key to getting these essential nutrients is to keep your overall calories low.
Plus, they can help you keep sugar cravings at bay. Simple carbs like most organic fruits are good for you when eaten in moderation. Simple processed sugars like white bread, pie, cake, and candy bars are what you want to stay away from.
Refined carbs are bad for you.
Simple carbs can also be defined as refined carbs. Refined carbs are highly processed food like boxed goods, baked goods such as white bread, and most sweets.
Manufacturers have added so many unhealthy ingredients to some store-bought food, it is unbelievable. Now that I understand the unhealthy ingredients they add to our food, I completely get why heart disease is the top health issue in America.
Cancer-causing MSGs, high salt content, high-fructose corn syrup, and many other preservatives cause much of our food to be depleted of nutrition.
Don't be afraid to eat complex carbs in raw organic form. They are suitable for weight loss and provide the nutrition your body needs.
Eat organic when you can afford to do so. And limit all of the bad stuff. You can't go wrong with a well-balanced diet.
Complex carbs are a good addition to a healthy diet. The secret is in the old saying I've heard all of my life. The secret is in eating a well-balanced diet.
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