When I started learning about running, there was and still this big fuss about carbohydrates and that every runner should indulge himself or herself in consuming them.
Well that's true to some extent, but not runners dealing with weight loss issues.
Carbs are the body main source of energy, they provide the fuel so your body can work effectively, but when it comes to weight loss, consuming all types of carbs is not an efficient approach-you should solely rely on consuming the right type of carbohydrates.
The distinction is not that complicated, I promise.
The Good and Bad Carbohydrate Distinction So, basically there are two kinds of carbohydrates - "good" and "bad.
" By now, you may wonder about this crude distinction and how to differentiate between the two.
In order to fully understand the distinction you need to learn first how carbs work.
How carbohydrates work All carbs contain sugars.
It's why they are so tasty and delicious.
When you consume them, they get metabolized and turned into a glycogen, this element is essential for body functioning.
But here is the catch, when your body metabolizes carbs; all that sugar gets into your blood stream.
When that happens, your blood sugar levels changes and increases instantly.
As a result, you end up feeling hungry, wobbly and usually find yourself searching like crazy for that doughnut and stuffing in your mouth any empty calorie snack you get your hands on.
But not all carbs can have such ruthless effect on your blood sugar levels.
All carbs are not created equals, some contain low level of sugar, thus the label "good" and others will get your blood sugar levels right through the roof, thus the label "bad".
- Complex carbohydrates They take much more time to digest and are usually full with fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Their slow absorption delivers you with a stable supply of energy for extended periods of time.
Good carbs are in addition packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber, which are all essential for a stable and well balanced diet.
- Simple carbohydrates They are digested quickly, and jam-packed with sugar and white flour, which propel blood sugar levels skyrocketing to higher levels.
Many simple carbohydrates are full of processed sugars and hardly any essential vitamins and minerals.
Do you get the hangs of it? The formula behind putting on weight is simple: the quicker the sugars you eat are processed and absorbed into your blood stream, the fatter you get; it can't be much simpler.
Therefore, any food that speeds up the process by which your body digests carbs is bad for your diet, and anything that slows it down is good.