Unfortunately, carbohydrates have got a pretty bad rap over the last few decades and they are often associated with weight gain.
However, cutting out carbs is not the answer to a healthier you. Rather, a grumpier, tired, unhealthier version of you. Generally speaking. Scientists from the CSIRO, South Australia University and Flinders
University recently compared a low-carbohydrate diet that was high in fat and protein with a low-fat diet rich in carbs. The study found that while both diets produced similar weight loss, those eating the more carbs were much happier.
Besides the unfortunate mood swings that cutting out carbs can cause, they are essential for the human body to function correctly.
The human metabolism is designed to run primarily on carbohydrates and they fuel our major organs, including the blood, liver, kidneys and brain.
The healthy fuel we need can come in various forms such as whole grains (brown rice, oats, millet, etc), legumes, fruit, vegetables and nuts.
Once you eat them, digestion by intestinal enzymes disassembles these chains back into the simple sugars, which then pass easily through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream, where they journey to the body's tissues. Metabolic processes change these simple sugars into energy, which provides fuel for the body's activity.
So you NEED those carbs ladies and gentlemen. As always, a plant-based diet with lots of variety is the key to optimal health. Be love – Be peace – Be vegan.
