Let’s Talk About Carbs: Simple vs. Complex

Diet fads have taught us to despise carbohydrates. Dieting is essentially depriving. It is the wrong path to take toward healthy living. Dieting is about weight loss. The belief that weighing less makes life better is a misunderstanding. A healthy happy lifestyle that will last is formed from the inside out, not the outside in. Focus on feeling energized, full, and happy on the inside. Carbs required.

During the last decade or two, cutting carbs has become known as the key to weight loss. Carb bashing is a terrible misconception. Carbohydrates are imperative to our health and happiness. Our bodies depend on carbs to function properly. Enjoy carbs, love carbs, and be sure your family eats them daily.

You are not dismissed from carb awareness. All the carb dissing hype does stem from some truth. There are two types of carbohydrates- simple and complex. Simple carbs is really what all the fuss about. Manage your carbohydrate consumption properly by cutting simple carbs adding complex carbs to the intake list.   

What is the difference between simple and complex carbs?

Simple carb foods are high in sugar and low in fiber. They are highly processed and have no nutritional value. Simple carbs are simple to digest. They break down quickly. Therefore, eating simple carbs keeps us feeling hungry. Usually, we crave more simple carbs. Even worse, simple carbs provide our body’s with small bursts of energy which leads us to crash feeling tired and fatigue.  

Complex carbs are packed with nutritional value because they are high in fiber and low in sugar. They have larger sugar molecules which take more time to for our bodies digest. Complex carbs keep us feeling fuller longer. Our bodies gain consistent energy from complex carbs, and do not experience quick ups and downs.       

What foods should I go for, and avoid?

Simple carbs food is sugary “junk food”. Stay away from cakes, brownies, cookies, chips, and candy to avoid simple carbs.

Complex carbs come from whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Oatmeal, brown rice, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas, and green veggies are full of all sorts of essential nutrients. Of course that is where we will get our complex carbohydrates from too.

Eating healthy foods should not be a chore or a punishment. Nutritious food is nourishing and fulfilling, and can be prepared in so many scrumptious recipes. Every so often it is more than okay to indulge in a delicious simple sugary treat.

Are there more benefits of cutting simple carbs and eating complex carbs?  

Fiber helps our bodies regulate digestion. Regularity helps us to feel comfortable and function throughout our day. Stomach aches caused from irregular digestion are extremely uncomfortable and can really put a damper on your plans. Fiber fills us up and keeps our digestive system regular. My favorite sources of fiber are apples and spinach.

Aside from providing consistent energy, complex carbs can reduce anxiety, and help you sleep better too. A mineral called tryptophan is found in some complex carbs. Oatmeal, brown rice, and bananas name few. Tryptophan helps our bodies relax. Oatmeal assists melatonin production as well. Melatonin is a sleep regulation hormone. Let’s avoid energy highs and lows from simple carbs. Go after long lasting energy and peaceful sound rest that complex carbs offer.

Carbohydrates are our main source of energy. Without carbs, our metabolism slows down. We need to consume complex carbohydrates to keep are metabolism working to burn energy. Kick your metabolism in gear by eating complex carbs, and don’t feed it any simple carbs to burn first.

Learn to love healthy whole foods. Teach your family to do the same. Create a happy healthy whole life!

References

McClees, H. (2016, Novembet 6). Retrieved from onegreenplanet.org: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan/fod/benefits-of-complex-carbs-and-the-best-ones-to-eat

Rodriguez, D. (n.d.). t & nutrition. Retrieved from Everyday Health: http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition-basics/good-carbs-bad-carbs.aspx