Carbs 🌾 and Your Health
- Brian Dooreck MD
- Nov 19, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2023
What are Carbs?
Carbs (or starches) are not bad. They are not the "enemy," nor should they be avoided in a balanced and healthy diet. Federal Dietary Guidelines recommend that 45% to 65% of daily calories should come from carbohydrates. In simple terms, carbs are a form of sugar molecules that your body relies on for energy.
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Carbs are broken down into your blood sugar in the form of glucose, which can trigger your body's insulin levels, putting you at risk for diabetes. This is why overconsumption of carbs can cause the development of type 2 diabetes. This is why a healthy balance must provide enough energy for your body while staying healthy enough to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.
Here's a video titled "How do carbohydrates impact your health?" by Professor Richard J. Wood
Carbs and Weight Loss
Low-carb diets lead to water weight loss.
With a reduced carbohydrate intake, your body goes to its carbohydrate reserves, which are stored in water. The problem is that the weight comes back on, although maybe slowly, once you start eating carbohydrates again.
The real goal is the long-term sustainability of weight loss. Those mentioned above "extreme" low-carb diets are not likely maintainable for the long term. Yes, you may lose weight initially, but you will probably put it back on again in time.
Carb Recommendations
Fiber-rich carbs are highly recommended over processed carbs. Fiber-rich carbs, such as fruits and vegetables, are more natural, whereas processed carbs are much higher in sugar, which can have adverse health effects.
Go for fiber-rich sources of carbs such as:
Whole grains
Fruits
Vegetables
Avoid refined and processed carbs such as:
White bread
White flour-based foods
Crackers
Bottom Line
Carbs are not bad. It is usually our choices regarding what carbs we consume; how much we eat; when, and our overall diet.
Personally
I eat a high-fiber, mostly plant-based 🌱 diet, no red meat, drink 4 liters of water a day, exercise, and am focused on keeping nutrition simple. I am sharing what works for me and what I routinely recommend to my patients.
"Balance. Portion control. Keep nutrition simple. Eat Smart. Eat Healthy. 🌱 🌾 🌿"
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If you were looking for information about Private Healthcare Navigation and Patient Advocacy from Executive Health NavigationClick here for Executive Health Navigation✴ Connect with Dr. Dooreck on LinkedIn, where he focuses his sharing on Health, Diet, Nutrition, Exercise, Lifestyle, and Balance.
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