What do you need to know about carbs?
Carbohydrates are the body’s primary source of energy
Carbohydrates come in many different forms
Carbs are not evil or bad.
Let’s dig into this more.
When we consume Carbohydrates into our system, our body immediately begins breaking them down. The food we eat get digested and broken into what is called glycogen. Glycogen is stored within the muscles and liver so that it is ready to use at all times.
Having an adequate amount of glycogen in your system can and will affect the intensity, duration and effectiveness of your workout.
Carbohydrates are present in a large variety of foods and can be broken up into two categories, low glycemic and high glycemic foods.
Examples of low glycemic carbohydrates are: fruit, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, kidney beans and quinoa to name a few. These sources of carbs are slower to digest, and will give you a more satiated feeling after eating. It's important to consume a variety of these foods in general, but even more important for weight loss.
Examples of high glycemic foods are: cereal, white rice, candy, doughnuts and popcorn. These foods are going to digest and be distributed through the body at a much more rapid rate. They will also be a less sustainable form of energy since they are digested so quickly. Which makes these types of foods (in moderation) really good workout or activity fuel, but not ideal as a long term fuel source.
Carbs are not bad for you. Carbs are simply easy to over eat. We can all consume more calories from potato chips than we can from chicken breast.
The source of the carbs are also important to your intended fitness goal. Be careful of over consuming the high glycemic carbs if your goal is to lose weight. You'll want to consume more low glycemic index foods to keep yourself fuller, longer.
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