There are so many scientific claims that suggest that carbohydrates are bad for us, we should moderate our intake, etc. Before you read this, what is your view on carbs? If you moderate your carbohydrate intake, why do you do so?
The truth is, a carbohydrate is a macronutrient and one of the most important at that. Carbohydrates are our body’s main source of fuel. It is the easiest to break down and the easiest to replenish. Anytime we go running, do a moderate to intense exercise, our body predominantly depend on carbs. Having these stores readily available is what makes our bodies successful and efficient. When we deny our bodies an adequate amount of carbohydrates, what happens? Our bodies get slower, concentration gets hindered, let’s be honest, we don’t feel well at all. Why is this?
Well, we get slower because we have little to no fuel and our body is in the process of making more energy by attempting to turn your fat into a usable form of energy.
Why do we lose concentration though? We lose concentration because carbohydrates are the ONLY (yes I said only) substrates that our brain can use as fuel.
Contrary to what you may believe or what you’ve heard, our bodies can’t just use carbohydrates, fats and proteins for energy. They all have to be broken down in simpler forms for our body to be able to use them as energy. Carbohydrates, for example, undergo a chemical reaction to produce glucose. Glucose can be used immediately to produce ATP, which is our bodies form of energy, or it can be stored in the muscle or the liver as glycogen to be used when needed.
Because carbohydrates are stored in the muscle, they are readily available when we need them during exercise.
Although we may feel that tricking our body into using fat or protein for energy is ideal for our goals, it’s not the efficient or healthy way to go. Fat takes an extended amount of time to be broken down to produce ATP and it is also stored in various places throughout the body so it is our second line of defense for energy, no matter what. Protein can be an energy source but it should be saved for its primary structure function of repairing tissues.
Instead of monitoring how many carbohydrates we intake, we should turn our focus to the TYPES of carbohydrates you intake. Instead of sugars (simple) carbohydrates, focus on intaking complex carbohydrates such as whole grains that the body can benefit from. Always remember that we eat to provide our bodies with fuel.
I heard once before,
“You wouldn’t put the cheap gas into a Ferrari, don’t put junk in your body”
You want the highest performance and to be sure the engine continues to run just right. Not only do we want to steer clear of junk food, we don’t want to deny our body what it NEEDS either. Therefore, we should only put the best fuel into our bodies because our lives and futures are priceless.
In health,
Dani Avant
[R]Evolution 