Carbs are good for our health! 

Carbs are bad!…Say the majority of people who want to have a healthier diet or those who want to lose weight do so. And we know it might be tempting to ditch carbs entirely. That’s wrong! Because carbohydrates are one of the most important sources of energy for your body, Either you exercise or not. They are one of the three main macros and, together with the other two, protein and fat, are pretty important for a healthy life.

A balanced diet is encouraged by dietitians. You have to know that there are two types of carbohydrates: good and bad. Don’t say goodbye to carbs! Embrace them to be in good health. Here are 10 reasons to keep them in your diet.

1. Can help boost your mood

Carbs promote the production of serotonin, which is the chemical messenger that’s believed to act as a mood stabilizer. It also helps produce healthy sleeping patterns, which boosts your mood as well. It has been proven that people who follow a strict diet that cuts carbohydrates for a year or more experience depression, anxiety, and anger compared to those that have a much more balanced diet.

Don’t forget about the bread (especially the whole grain one) because it provides the amount of fiber you need. Ditching it completely may be a bad idea.

2. They help your brain work better

This one is very important because it’s been proven that your brain needs carbs to properly function. And the explanation is actually very simple: your brain runs on glucose, and you get all the glucose you need from carbohydrates.

If you don’t get the necessary amount of carbs daily, your ability to think, learn, and remember stuff might be affected. And nobody wants that!

A lot of overweight people are told to completely eliminate carbohydrates from their diets. And because of that, they did worse on tests of working memory, like why did I walk into the kitchen?

This kind of stuff happens a lot after a certain age, but you can always protect your brain and your memory by eating the right amount of food daily.

3. They give you energy

This is very important because without energy you won’t be able to enjoy the day. It’s like trying to drive a car without gasoline. It’s impossible, right? Believe it or not, carbs are fuel for your body because, as we previously mentioned, they contain glucose, which is basically the number one source of energy for our bodies.

Of course, you will also need protein and fat, but carbohydrates are definitely the best. Unfortunately, they have developed a bad reputation in recent years, and many people believe that they will make you fat. Let’s be honest because everything can make you fat if you overeat it.

Of course, there are bad carbs, but a lot of processed food is consumed daily without thinking twice about whether it is good or bad for your body.

The same goes for carbs. Some of the best you can actually consume without worrying are quinoa, oats, bananas, sweet potatoes, oranges, apples, blueberries (which are a great source of vitamin C too), kidney beans, and chickpeas.

4. Can help prevent weight gain—and might even promote weight loss

Researchers found that the eating habits of middle-aged women who increased their fiber intake actually led to weight loss. And on the other hand, women who decreased fiber gained weight. How is that possible? Well, fiber can help you feel full for longer and also aid in healthy digestion.

Both of these are crucial when it comes to weight loss. What are your favorite carbs to eat? Do you also think they are your enemies?

Tip: Make sure you eat plenty of fresh vegetables that can add color to your plate and flavor to your meals. You can start the day with a breakfast of whole-grain cereal and fruit and add some extra vegetables to lunch and dinner! 

5. They help reduce bloating

If you get bloated after a meal, it might decrease your energy level and you will feel uncomfortable. That happens a lot, especially if you eat a lot of processed foods. There are certain foods you can avoid in order to feel better. You can start a journal where you write daily about what you eat.

This way, it will be much easier to keep track of foods and see what suits you best. Good carbohydrates contain a lot of fiber that keeps your bowel movements regular. You will feel less puffy because your body will naturally eliminate waste more efficiently.

…psst! If you want to find out more insight about good and bad carbs and how to introduce them into your diet, check out this amazing book we at Lasting Health read as well! Good Carbs, Bad Carbs: Lose Weight and Enjoy Optimum Health and Vitality by Eating the Right Carbs, Second Edition-Revised and Updated is available on Amazon for $10.46. Friendly price, right?

6. Are good for your heart

Dietitians suggest that increasing your soluble fiber intake (this type of fiber is found in carb-rich foods like oatmeal and beans) from 5 to 10 grams a day could result in a 5% drop in bad cholesterol.

Similarly, people who usually eat more whole grains (brown or red rice, quinoa, or bulgur) also tend to have lower levels of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of good HDL cholesterol.

7. Will help you trim your waistline

According to the Journal of Nutrition, switching from refined grains to whole grains may help you reduce body fat. Also, the belly fat, which is basically a pain in the neck for most of us! Recent studies have shown that an adult who eats about 3 servings of whole grains a day has about 3% less body fat and 4% less belly fat.

If you are a woman, you understand the struggle because having a slim waist is basically top-of-the-line! In addition, you can walk a little bit more daily, or you can do some simple exercises.

8. They contain vitamins

Did you know that watermelon is a carb? The answer is yes, it is a carb. It’s 90% water, so you can have it as a snack during the hot summer days. And we guarantee you won’t gain extra calories. Plus, it contains a lot of vitamins and is a friendly food.

Whole grains like oats, for example, contain a lot of vitamin B, which helps your body make energy from food and helps you make red blood cells. Don’t forget about the vegetables!

They are friendly too because they are full of essential nutrients and vitamins B and C. Who knew you could lose weight by actually eating properly?

9. They make you happier

I love eating! And I won’t hide that fact. Because of that, I want to be happy every time I pick my meal plan. Most carbohydrates contain tryptophan, which will help produce the feel-good hormone serotonin in your brain.

Without this, you will feel weird and more tired because you will have sleeping difficulties, plus there are a lot of chances to become depressed.

Make sure you make the right choices to make your body happy. Because let’s be honest, you only have one!

10. Will help you lose fat

If you are eating a breakfast with slow-release carbs (oatmeal or bran cereals) three hours before exercise, it may help you burn more fat. Good news, right? The slow-release carbohydrates don’t spike blood sugar as much as the refined ones (white bread, for example).

Insulin levels didn’t spike as high, and because insulin plays a significant role in your body, having lower levels may help you burn more fat.

This is a win-win situation!

Bottom line:

Most of us love carbs just because they’re delicious. And you can always switch from bad carbs to good ones! Having a healthy diet doesn’t mean you should deprive yourself of spaghetti or rice.

Just make sure you replace the regular ones with whole wheat and instead of white rice, you can pick from a huge variety. Brown rice is my favorite. And let me tell you a secret: it has fewer calories than the regular one.

If you find this article informative, then we recommend you try reading this one as well Healthy Skin: 8 Foods You Should Consume.