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Food for Fitness: Say No to a No-Carb Diet

posted by ChickSpeak
Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 4:45pm CDT

A diet that says you should not eat carbs is ludicrous. Carbohydrates are necessary to life. “Carbohydrates are our main source of energy and provide the ideal fuel (glucose) for your body to function optimally, as well as many essential vitamins and minerals. They are also the only form of energy used by the brain” says eatingdisordersonline.com.There are two different types of carbs, simple and complex. The difference between the two is the molecular make-up of each. Some simple carbs are found in processed food like white sugar which is used in lots of candies and confectionary treats. Simple carbs have been named as “bad” carbs because many of these carbs do not get burnt away rather they get stored as fat.

However, there are some foods that contain simple carbs that are good for you. Think of your favorite fruit, chances are it is full of simple carbs along with many other vitamins and minerals that are great for you.

Complex carbs give you energy that lasts longer, and are the better choice to consume when you need to muster up a lot of motion from your body.

Here are some quick treats you can eat that will give you a healthy dose of carbohydrates:

Oatmeal

Plain oatmeal with no added sugar is easy to make and delicious. Oatmeal also helps in maintaining a healthy cholesterol level.

Baked Potato

With just a little bit of butter and salt, this food is tasty and healthy! It contains high levels of vitamins A and C as well as potassium.

Corn

Corn on the cob contains high amounts of vitamin B1 which supports a stable memory.

Whole Wheat Bagel

A whole wheat bagel has a low fat content, but in addition to being an excellent source for complex carbs it is also a wonder source of protein.

Be sure to balance out what you eat. If you want to lose weight, do not cut out foods that provide healthy nutrients such as carbohydrates to your body. If you stop eating carbs all together, your body will eventually fail to produce ATP (adenosinetriphosphate) which transports chemical energy within cells for energy. This is a very important nucleotide within your body.

Not eating carbs will cause you to become sluggish, irritable, tired. Without carbs to support your metabolism, it can also inhibit your immune system making you more susceptible to getting ill.

You may think that a no-to-low carb diet is all that will work for you. However, eating the foods mentioned above will give you energy and the ability to burn calories more effectively. So if you want to lose weight, you will need to burn calories and you need carbohydrates to help you do that.

Fatima Meadows attends Appalachian State University. She has experimented with many types of diets, even a no-to-low carb diet. This resulted in chronic exhaustion and irritability. Many of her favorite foods are full of carbs and vows to never part from them again.