Why you need to eat carbs

Ok so my last couple of blogs have been a little bit longer than I would have liked so let's make this a short one. I promise I'll be quick.

I'm going to tell you 5 reasons why you need to eat carbs, and why low carb diets don't work.

1. Carbs make you happy

Who has seen the movie Bruno? Ok although I don't condone anything that went on in that movie (although it did make me laugh, and cringe, a lot) there is a scene where Bruno talks about committing 'carbicide' ie. he binges on carbs. Then when he ends up in an intimate situation with his gay friend, he blames it on the carbs, saying he had his 'carb goggles' on. Hilarious.

So what's my point? My point is that carbs do make you happy. It's scientifically proven that when you eat carbs, neurotransmitters are released which give you a warm feeling inside, ie. you feel happy!

Ever tried starving yourself of carbs? Chances are you may have felt down, depressed or moody, this is likely because you weren't getting that wonderful natural high from eating carbs. You also might have just been starving which is why you were moody.

2. Carbs are an essential source of fuel for the body. 

Carbs fuel your body like petrol does to a car. Carbs are the most important fuel source your body can get and carbs provide energy to the brain and muscles to function effectively. It's that simple.

3. Carbs keep you feeling fuller for longer

Ever had a salad for lunch and wondered why you're hungry an hour later? 

Chances are that salad may have contained plenty of healthy vegetables but no carbs.

What foods contain carbs?

• Breads, Cereals, Rice, Pasta & Noodles
• Fruit
• Starchy vegetables such as potato, sweet potato and corn
• Legumes 
• Milk, yoghurt and milk alternatives

So now think about that salad you ate and how you could increase the carb content. Maybe you could add some potato, sweet potato, corn, chickpeas, lentils or rice? Or maybe you just might have it with a slice of multigrain bread on the side?

The point is, if you don't consume some carbs at each meal, you will feel very hungry soon after, and you'll be inclined to snack on higher sugar, higher fat foods such as lollies, cakes or biscuits.  

This salad contains chickpeas which are a great way to 'carb up' a salad.
Find out what else I added here.

4. Carbs contain fibre

Fibre is essential for so many reasons. Other than keeping you regular, it has a role in reducing cholesterol and reducing your risk of certain cancers. Fibre like low GI foods also helps keep you fuller for longer. So it's for this reason we recommend having brown or multigrain bread over white bread, choosing brown rice over long grain white rice, and choosing wholemeal pasta over regular pasta. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also a fantastic source of fibre. The skins have a special type of fibre called insoluble fibre which has very special health properties, so make sure you eat the skin (when it's edible to do so). My favourite is roasted pumpkin with the skin on. Yumm. 

5. Carbs contain essential vitamins and minerals

Other than fibre, carbs contain a range of vitamins and minerals which are essential for the body every day. Some of these include your B vitamins, folate and iron. Starving yourself of carbs means you won't be getting the fibre or vitamins and minerals to get you through the day. Deficiencies in these can be dangerous, especially for groups that have higher micronutrient requirements, such as pregnant women.

Why do low carb diets not work?

Check out my post on Detox Diets. The same principles apply.

Recently I spotted some more misinformation on The Biggest Loser. The Commando prescribed a highly restrictive, low carb diet to his black team. Let's just say that his team weren't too impressed, in fact they thought the diet was more suited to a rabbit. Just like my Marsha. 

Yes, this is the love of my life, my bunny, Marsha :)

What are the best carbs to go for?

As you may be aware, some carbs are better choices than others. 

Low GI, high fibre and minimally processed carbs are your best bet. Foods such as multigrain bread, wholemeal pasta, fresh fruit and vegetables are some examples of these.

When Bruno committed carbicide, he pigged out on the complete opposite. He ate high fat, high sugar, highly processed foods such as cakes, pies, pastries and desserts. Although these contain carbs, these are not recommended to be eaten as part of a healthy diet and should be kept for special occasions only and eaten in small amounts (no bingeing!). And as Bruno found out, carbicide is a bad idea. Watch the movie to find out what happened the next morning...








Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net