Carbohydrates...BUSTED!

I've come across many people that still believe that carbohydrates are all bad, and there's also people that no matter how much research is done and how much they read or hear on the subject, they will always feel that all carbs are bad. Let's start with some questions you might have...

What is a carbohydrate?

A carbohydrate can be any member of a wide variety of natural compounds that includes sugar, starch and cellulose. Cellulose, however, is classified as a "complex carbohydrate" and consists of 1,000-3,000 or more glucose units per linear chain and is not digestible by mammals, including humans.

            Sugars are classified as "simple carbohydrates" and are any of many sweet,                                colorless organic compounds that dissolve in water and are derived from seed plants                  and the milk of animals. Sugars (who's names end in -ose) are the simplest of sugars                  and the most common (that you may recognize because of their frequency of use) are                  sucrose, glucose, fructose and of course the ever so popular lactose which you may                    know due to the frequency of it's intolerance in many human bodies. 

             Starches are any of many white, granular organic compounds that are produced by all                  green plants. Commercial starch is made from corn, wheat, tapioca, potato and rice                    starches. Starch not only has many uses in the food industry, but is also used in paper,                personal-care products, adhesives, explosives and others.

Aren't all carbohydrates bad for you?

No. Carbohydrates actually play one of the largest parts when it comes to our bodies energy supply. Truth is, you may think you can live without carbs but your body knows you can't. If your body consumes zero carbohydrates it could lead to hindered brain function/focus, lethargy, overall decreased performance and other health problems. If you're planning on living a healthy lifestyle, whether you're looking to lose weight, maintain your weight or just work on becoming more fit and lean, then you will need to incorporate "good carbs" instead of the bad ones. 

What are the good and bad carbohydrates?

Good Carbs consist of whole grains, beans, fruits, vegetables and other forms of intact carbohydrates and deliver essential vitamins, nutrients and fiber while promoting good health. These are also known as the "complex carbohydrates" because it takes the body longer to process the sugars which helps keep the blood sugar levels stable as oppose to constantly spiking to highs and dropping to lows.

Bad Carbs are any easily digestible carbohydrates consisting of white bread, white rice, pastries, sugary sodas/soft drinks and other highly processed foods that can interfere with weight loss as well as contribute to weight gain and diabetes(which can be linked with many other serious health conditions). These are also known as "simple carbohydrates" because the body processes them easily and causes fast, high spikes in blood sugar levels.

What's the deal with whole grain anyway?

Whole grains should be exactly as it sounds... WHOLE! Instead you probably find yourself walking up and down what seems to be countless isles at the grocery store reading labels of 100's of products that claim to be whole grain. Truthfully, I'm not sure what about Lucky Charms is whole grain and I will most likely end up trying to ask GE what the deal is with that. You can take whole grains how you want to and do your own research on it if you'd like, but my opinion is that whole grains are things such as rice, quinoa and the like - Grains that are legitimately in their whole form in front of me, not whole at a factory then ground to be used in my food.

I don't know about you, but I absolutely LOVE salad! I must have been a rabbit in my previous life... I have to tell you though, one thing I hate more than anything is when I order a salad or say I like it to someone and they say, "Eating salads doesn't make you skinny". Has anyone else had that happen to them or am I all alone here? I feel like asking them, who said I wanted to be skinny? I can faithfully no longer say that I want to be skinny but instead want to be healthy, fit and lean. I want to have curves... Curves of muscle for days girl! So many girls(and even some women) feel that skinny  is in fact sexy and that when they are skinny nothing else matters because they're beautiful. If I ever went to a runway show I would sneak backstage and sneak the girls some FOOD. I understand that some people are indeed underweight and have a really hard time putting on weight for a few different reasons, however, there's a difference. So many women in the fashion industry are told that if they are larger than a size 0 or 2, then they don't make the cut, or someone that's a size 4 or 6 is considered a plus-size model... REALLY? 

Well that escalated quickly...........

Moving on... The other thing I hate when someone says that to me is it just makes me start thinking; Are they calling me fat? What did they think I would say/order? What makes them think I'm on a diet? Do they know that not ALL overweight women are on "diets"? Does this person think I'm ignorant? I mean in all seriousness, I consider that disrespectful on all levels.

I brought this up because some people think that salads are unhealthy or they think that salads are healthy no matter what. Both of the statements are actually false. A salad can be a great source of fiber, vitamins, nutrients and energy when made with the proper ingredients and topped with a light dressing(not the bottle in the store that says fat free). However, let's say you have a nice bed of greens with cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, carrots, etc and then you go ahead and top it off with crispy fried chicken, ranch dressing and croutons; While this does sound ever so delicious and believe me when I say I've done this at least 100 times before, you've just killed your salad and the fettuccine alfredo is now calling your name. Opt for a small piece of lean fish(or no-added sodium tuna packed in water, not oil) topped with a homemade vinaigrette or a organic light dressing that isn't creamy instead!

While you should still be paying attention to what you're eating while trying to lose weight and change your lifestyle just remember that the good carbs are great (especially the fruits and vegetables) but don't go overboard. Eventually, you will be picking out snacks and making delicious, healthy meals without a flinch because you'll be so use to it. Don't give up! 

Question of the Day: What are your thoughts on carbs? Let me know in the comments below!

As always,

xoxo

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