Carbohydrates get a bad rap. When we want to lose weight they are always the first thing to go. “If I could just stop eating carbs I would lose weight.” “I am addicted to carbs.” These are the common phrases I hear from clients, friends and family alike. The truth is, your body needs carbohydrates to function. If you choose not to eat any, after a period of time your body undergoes a process called gluconeogenesis where it breaks down protein stores (muscle) and converts them into glucose (carbs) for energy. What your body is essentially doing is eating itself in order to survive. You can lose a lot of body fat this way, but you will end up losing a lot of muscle too. It is far from ideal.

If you want to include carbohydrates in your diet (which I highly recommend you do), then you need to identify the right ones, while eliminating the fat-storing, insulin-spiking ones. Carbohydrates can be broken down into two categories: complex carbs (good) and simple carbs (bad). Complex carbs are great because they are loaded with fibre. They move through the digestive system slowly, keeping you fuller for longer, making it less likely you will need to snack in between meals.

Simple carbs break down quickly into glucose once they enter the body. This leads to a surge of sugar into the bloodstream, followed shortly by a sugar crash. It is that feeling you get after you eat a big meal and all you want to do is take a nap. Not long after you will start to crave these simple carbs all over again. It is a vicious circle. Best to keep these to a minimum with one exception. That is fruit. Fruits are considered a simple carbohydrate, but they are loaded with nutrients and fibre as are complex carbs, which makes them a good carb to eat throughout the course of the day.

Next week, I will provide you with a list of the best carbohydrates that you can add into your diet to keep you lean, healthy and strong, going forward.