Search

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Español
  • English
Swallow the World
  • ED Recovery
    • My story
    • Recovery life
    • How to help
    • Mental health
  • Fitness
  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Nutrition
    • Diet culture
  • Faith
    • Christian life
    • Christian art
  • About me
  • Contact me
Diet culture, Food, Nutrition  /  September 5, 2019

In defense of carbs: why science says they’re good for your health

Nutrition myths and fad diets really irritate me. All of them. But I must admit there’s one that’s lately driving me mad with a special intensity: the demonization of carbohydrates.

Look, I get it: the massive consumption of ultra-processed fast food is making people fat and unhealthy. And those are mainly carbohydrate-rich foods. Or rather, high-sugar foods (not all carbs are equal). Oh, and they also happen to be usually high in added fats, including trans fats.

Hopefully, by now you’re already seeing that “carbohydrates” as a macronutrient aren’t the real problem. Words like massive, ultra-processed, sugar and trans fats should point you in the right direction to understand the issue.

But if you’re still suspicious of carbs… keep reading.

I know what you might say: “but we don’t need carbs”. It’s true. We don’t need carbs. BUT. We should eat them. Or, to say it in an elegant and easy to remember way: we don’t need them to survive, but we need them to live.

Let me explain this further. While we have no physiological requirements for dietary carbohydrates, they have so many benefits that make a positive impact on our health that it would be silly not to eat them (especially taking into account how great they taste!). Anywhere from 1 up to 10 grams of carbohydrates per kg of body weight will do you good.

The brain

To start with, your brain and central nervous system use glucose as their primary fuel, and require a continued supply of it. Carbs are our body’s preferred source for glucose. We can obtain glucose through another process called gluconeogenesis, by which other nutritional compounds are turned into glucose, but it’s not as effective as just eating the *darn* carbs. So it’s a good adaptive mechanism for periods where there aren’t carbs available, but it’s not meant to be used just to satisfy your whim of being a cool low carb idol.

Don’t worry, I won’t take the route of bashing this position (well, I might throw some remarks… #sorrynotsorry). Instead, I will now highlight the amazing benefits of including a good amount of carbs in your diet!

Note: this only applies to a diet whose main sources of carbohydrates are whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits. Refined grains are fine but shouldn’t be a staple. And the ultra-processed foods I described earlier should be exceptional.

in defense of carbs rice

KEEP READING

Post navigation

The theology of the light in the Bible

Share your thoughts Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Recent Posts

  • In defense of carbs: why science says they’re good for your health
  • The theology of the light in the Bible
  • Top 10 High-Fat Foods for a Healthy Heart, Brain and More
  • Stanzas about the Death of his Father, a classic that is quite alive
  • My box of fears: why I was scared of anorexia recovery (II)

Recent Comments

  • Fitoru mct on Top 30 best healthy fitness recipes. II: Lunch ideas
  • Aditi Singh on 10 triggering comments you must never make to someone with an ED
  • Paola on My box of fears: why I was scared of anorexia recovery (I)
  • Sutha Mohanadas on My box of fears: why I was scared of anorexia recovery (I)
  • Paola on Goddess Ana: the religious longing of pro-anorexia communities

Archives

  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018

Categories

  • Christian art
  • Christian life
  • Diet culture
  • ED Recovery
  • Faith
  • Fitness
  • Food
  • How to help
  • Mental health
  • My story
  • Nutrition
  • Recipes
  • Recovery life
  • Uncategorized

Recent Comments

  • Fitoru mct on Top 30 best healthy fitness recipes. II: Lunch ideas
  • Aditi Singh on 10 triggering comments you must never make to someone with an ED
  • Paola on My box of fears: why I was scared of anorexia recovery (I)
  • Sutha Mohanadas on My box of fears: why I was scared of anorexia recovery (I)
  • Paola on Goddess Ana: the religious longing of pro-anorexia communities

Pages

  • About me
  • Contact me

Categories

  • Christian art
  • Christian life
  • Diet culture
  • ED Recovery
  • Faith
  • Fitness
  • Food
  • How to help
  • Mental health
  • My story
  • Nutrition
  • Recipes
  • Recovery life
  • Uncategorized

Recent Posts

  • In defense of carbs: why science says they’re good for your health
  • The theology of the light in the Bible
  • Top 10 High-Fat Foods for a Healthy Heart, Brain and More
  • Stanzas about the Death of his Father, a classic that is quite alive
  • My box of fears: why I was scared of anorexia recovery (II)

Archives

  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • Elara by LyraThemes
  • © 2018 Swallow The World | All rights reserved.