Are Carbohydrates Fattening?

There is a popular misconception that carbohydrates are fattening. Thus people who want to lose weight immediately decide to cut down on pasta, rice and bread. The truth is that eating a lot of carbohydrates can lead to weight gain however because the body needs them for energy, it is not wise to completely eliminate it from one’s diet.

Carbohydrates are one of the main components of a healthy diet. If we limit our intake of carbohydrates, we will not be able to have the energy to make us last through the day. In order to avoid weight gain through the consumption of carbohydrates, dieters need to know more about this organic compound.

To better understand what they do to the body, let us first have a look at the two types of carbohydrates. The first one are the simple carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are immediately converted into glucose after being ingested making them readily available for use by the body. Simple carbohydrates often contain three types of sugars which include fructose or fruit sugar, sucrose or table sugar and lactose or milk sugar. The other type are the complex carbohydrates which remain in the system for a longer period of time and are converted into glucose at a much slower pace. Foods that have high fiber content such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, bran and oats belong to this second type. Diabetics who desire to lose weight need to eat more of such foods because fiber helps in normalizing blood glucose levels.

Our body needs fuel for its various functions therefore carbohydrates are essential. When it comes to the amount of carbohydrates to consume, it is best to practice moderation. Carbohydrates are meant to be used thus if you are sedentary, you should be very careful that you do not eat more than you can burn. As for the type of carbohydrates to eat, complex carbohydrates are healthier and more filling than simple carbohydrates. Because they stay in the stomach longer, you have a lesser tendency to snack between meals.

Making wise food choices really makes a big difference. You can avoid eating too much of the fattening type of carbohydrates by making simple adjustments. For instance, eat brown rice instead of white and whole grain bread and pasta instead of white. It is also beneficial to try eat other less familiar grains such as millet, bulgur, quinoa and teff. In addition, keep away from cookies, cakes and pastries and other treats that use white flour and refined sugars. These are the very foods that give carbohydrates a bad reputation.

Charles Volcolatte is a health and weight loss researcher for http://www.skinnyasap.com/. He writes and researches actively on Weight Loss Reviews and shares his knowledge at http://www.skinnyasap.com/ where he works as a staff writer.