When you want to slim down or just eat healthier in general, it’s tempting to try to ditch carbs entirely. After all, we grew up in an Atkins diet-loving world, and its carb-free philosophy somehow managed to stick with us throughout the years. But here’s the thing: You need carbs (the good, healthy ones, at least). Your body depends on them to function properly. Here, Keri Gans, R.D., author of The Small Change Diet, takes you through the reasons whole grains, fruits, and veggies aren't an optional part of your eating plan. Show They Help Your Brain Work Better This one is huge, and we can’t emphasize it enough: Your brain needs carbs to function properly. "That’s because your brain runs on glucose, and you get glucose from carbs," says Gans. "If you don’t have enough of them, your ability to think, learn, and remember stuff will decrease because neurotransmitters in your brain will not have enough glucose to synthesize properly." They Help Reduce Bloating "Good carbohydrates, like whole grains and fruits and veggies, contain a lot of fiber—and fiber helps keep your bowel movements regular," says Gans. That means that you’re less likely to feel puffy because your body will naturally eliminate waste more efficiently. There’s definitely some truth to the old "pasta makes anything better" adage. Why? Most carbohydrates contain tryptophan, which helps produce the feel-good hormone serotonin in your brain. "Without enough tryptophan—and therefore serotonin—you’re more likely to get depressed and have sleeping difficulties," says Gans. MORE: 5 Healthy Foods That Have More Carbs Than a Slice of Bread Think about trying to run a car without gasoline; it’d be pretty hard, right? That’s basically what happens when you try to run your body without carbs, says Gans. "Carbs are fuel for your body because they contain glucose, which is your body’s number one source of energy," she says. "Protein and fat work, too, but carbs are definitely number one." MORE: When It's a Good Idea to Carb Up Before a Workout They Contain Good-for-You Vitamins Whole grains contains lots of B vitamins, which help your body make energy from food and help you make red blood cells, says Gans. And fruits and veggies, of course, are loaded with essential nutrients like vitamins B and C. MORE: The Best Carbs for Weight Loss They Help Prevent Heart Disease Sure, you may be worrying more about a broken heart than heart disease right now—but that doesn't mean your long-term health isn't affected by decisions you make now. "Research shows that whole-grain carbs, like breads and pastas and rice, help reduce your chance of heart disease and lower your cholesterol levels," says Gans. Face it: Most people love carbs because they’re delicious. "And if you banish anything from your diet, you’re more tempted to binge on it later," says Gans. "So why deprive yourself of a delicious and healthy thing?" Annie Daly Annie Daly is a fourth-generation freelance journalist based in New York City. Carbohydrates are one of the most misunderstood food groups and often get a bad rap. Recently, someone told me they were confused about carbohydrates because they been told by a low-carb advocate that there is no dietary requirement for carbohydrate at all. While it’s true that we can survive with a very low carbohydrate intake, there’s a huge difference between surviving and thriving! What are carbohydrates for?Our bodies need carbohydrate for energy. Carbohydrates are broken down to glucose which is used for energy by our body’s cells. The biggest consumers of glucose are our brain and muscles – our brain alone uses around 120g of glucose a day just to function. As a backup, our body can use other sources of fuel. When there is a lack of glucose, our bodies can use protein or fat for energy. Fats are broken down into fatty acids and ketone bodies. Our brain uses ketone bodies in the absence of glucose. Technically we don’t need carbohydrate for energy but using fats and ketone bodies isn’t our bodies’ preferred source. What happens when you avoid carbohydrates?By avoiding carbohydrates, you cut out a large group of foods that provide a wide variety of nutrients and dietary fibre. Legumes, whole grains, fruit and vegetables all provide different types of dietary fibre which keep our bowels healthy and fuel our gut bacteria. They also provide a wide range of nutrients our body needs to be healthy. When you remove carbohydrate-rich foods, it can become more challenging to get the fibre and nutrients our body needs. Most people enjoy foods that contain carbohydrates – they taste good! Of course, food is a source of fuel and nutrition, but enjoyment and satisfaction are also an important part of our eating experiences. While individual needs for carbohydrates will vary because of factors such as activity levels and health status, saying carbohydrates are not needed misses the bigger picture. Many carbohydrate-rich foods are nutrient dense and play an important part in a balanced, sustainable and nourishing diet. © Healthy Life Media LimitedAll rights reservedReproduction without permission prohibited Why does life need carbohydrates?Why do you need carbohydrates? Carbohydrates are your body's main source of energy: They help fuel your brain, kidneys, heart muscles, and central nervous system. For instance, fiber is a carbohydrate that aids in digestion, helps you feel full, and keeps blood cholesterol levels in check.
What are the 3 main reasons we need carbohydrates?Here are a few reasons that carbohydrates are important for our mind and bodies: Glucose (breakdown of most carbohydrates) is what our brain utilizes for energy. Fiber (source of carbohydrate) plays an important role in digestive health. Your brain and gut communicate – the brain is part of the control system for the ...
What are 5 importance of carbohydrates?There are five primary functions of carbohydrates in the human body. They are energy production, energy storage, building macromolecules, sparing protein, and assisting in lipid metabolism.
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