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7 Myths About Carbohydrates Busted!

By Padmapreetham Mahalingam

Being a fitness enthusiast, you would have heard people saying an umpteen number of times not to eat Carbs if you want to lose weight.

Carbohydrates is one such name that has been having a bad reputation for quite some time now, especially after several health and fitness experts have espoused that it is bad for your health.

Carbohydrates were at the height of their popularity during the 90's; yet over the years, it has become one of the biggest enemies, as people who are health-conscious have disdained it, and it still continues even now.

People are mostly confused about what good carbs are and how different they are from bad carbs; yet on the other hand, this variation makes them consider both as unhealthy. Well, those things aren’t true.

There are plenty of myths surrounding carbs. However, the prevailing truth is that, you need to choose healthier carbohydrates that are whole grain and try to limit the ones that have no nutritional value.

Moreover, the truth about carbs is that not all carbs are unhealthy. These days, many health organisations are urging people to take healthy sources of carbohydrates.

So, here are the 7 myths about carbohydrates that you need to know about. Have a look:

Myth #1: Carbs are not bad for your health

Myth #1: Carbs are not bad for your health

There may be some carbs bad for us; however, there are some that are essentially good for our health. There is only one part of carbs that is bad, like simple or refined carbohydrates.

Refined carbohydrates are sugars, juices and starches (present in white rice, white bread, potatoes and pasta).

On the other hand, there are complex carbs such as fruits, veggies and whole grains that can be eaten more, as they won't allow you to pile on your calories.

The truth is that just because there is one type of carbohydrate that is bad for us, it doesn't mean all of them are bad for us.

Myth #2: Carbs are mostly bread or pasta

Myth #2: Carbs are mostly bread or pasta

Carbohydrates come in a range of forms such as sugars, fibres and starches.

You can find them in bread, milk, corn products, potatoes, soft drinks and cookies. On the other hand, the healthiest forms of carbohydrates are beans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

However, the truth is that people are not aware that non-starchy carbs do contain fewer calories than starchy carbs such as potatoes, corn and peas. This is one of the 7 myths about carbohydrates that people believe in.

Myth #3: Carrots and fruits are unhealthy due to the carbohydrate content

Myth #3: Carrots and fruits are unhealthy due to the carbohydrate content

It is always essential to limit these foods, if you want to stick to a low-carb diet. Yet, it doesn't mean that there is anything wrong in consuming these foods.

People just assume a food is either bad or good. However, most of the nutrition usually depends on the context and how healthy it can be.

If a person prefers to eat junk food then it is important that he/she replaces the same food with pieces of fruit per day to keep himself/herself healthy.

Myth #4: All carbs are sugars

Myth #4: All carbs are sugars

There has been disingenuous talk that carbs are broken down into simple sugars. Theoretically, sugar can be considered glucose, fructose and galactose.

The starches you get from grains and potatoes mostly breakdown into glucose in the digestive tract and this tries to raise the blood sugar levels. Yet, if you are diabetic, the starches that you eat can turn into sugar and this in reality raises the sugars in your blood.

It is important to remember that not all carbs turn into sugar because there is a vast difference between a potato and a candy bar. This is one of the 7 myths about carbohydrates.

Myth #5: Protein is better when compared to carbs for diabetes

Myth #5: Protein is better when compared to carbs for diabetes

Carbs have a chance of affecting the blood sugar levels quickly; and due to this fact, most people get tempted to substitute more protein into their diet.

However, eating protein never solves the problem. Proteins should be consumed carefully, as they come with too much saturated fats and this in turn can affect your heart's health. These are the must-know myths about carbohydrates that most people are unaware of.

Myth #6: I can lose weight if carbs are chopped down from my diet

Myth #6: I can lose weight if carbs are chopped down from my diet

The good news is that there are chances of you losing weight, if you cut down on the amount of carbs that you consume, especially if it happens to be white bread or candy bars or sweets with whole grains.

If you cut carbs from your diet, then there are chances that your body will slowly start craving for the missing food very badly. And cutting down will end-up making you to gorge on unhealthy foods. More importantly, focus of adding healthy carbohydrates to your diet.

Myth #7: My body doesn’t prefer carbs

Myth #7: My body doesn’t prefer carbs

Carbs are mostly consumed so that your body gets the basic energy to allow your body functions to run. Carbohydrate-rich foods provide glucose for your body.

This helps your body's basic functions as well as supports the overall physical activity. The truth is that every cell in your body desires it.

Story first published: Thursday, February 4, 2016, 15:57 [IST]
Read more about: carbohydrate wellness