Don’t cut carbs
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The year is 2022 so surely everyone has heard of a low-carb diet. Keto, Atkins and Paleo (just to name a few) are all examples of low-carb diets, which recommended you minimise your carbohydrate intake.
Speaking from my own experience I think it’s easy to fall into these fad diet traps as they make unreasonable claims for fast weight loss or health improvements. However, for some, I believe these diets do more harm than help and can be detrimental to your mental health especially if you fall off the wagon.
So what is the key to a healthy body and a healthy mind; balance.
Imagine planning a meal without all of the food groups and how that would potentially make you feel after you ate it. For me, it just doesn’t feel right. If you have ever tried to skip carbs from your diet for a prolonged period you’ll know that just a few hours after eating you are low on energy and starving again.
All types of food contain nutrients; some are just more nutrient dense than others.
The primary role of a carbohydrate is to provide the body with fuel for energy. This macronutrient is divided into three categories: sugar, starches and fibre. These can be found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables as well as refined foods and sugary drinks.
During digestion, sugars and starches are broken down into simple sugars. These are then absorbed into your bloodstream otherwise known as blood glucose before entering the body’s cells. The body uses glucose directly as an energy source for the brain. If not used directly the body converts glucose to glycogen, which is stored in the liver and the muscles as a readily available source of energy, particularly during high-intensity exercise.
On the other hand overconsumption of carbohydrates can lead to metabolic syndrome including symptoms such as high blood sugar, increased waist circumference and high blood pressure. All of which could increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.
Maintaining nutritional fitness is a key component of health and total fitness. The foods you eat as part of your daily diet influence energy levels during exercise and affect your overall health and wellbeing, so it doesn’t make sense to limit or cut out food groups which are all equally important. However, some just need to be consumed in smaller doses and always with moderation in mind.
Benefits of a nutrient-rich diet include reduced risk of illness and disease, healthier skin and hair, stronger bones and teeth and can aid weight management. Increases in energy levels and improvement in exercise performance and mood indicate that a balanced diet seems like the obvious choice for your mental and physical wellbeing.
Diet culture and its fear-mongering of restriction and rules surrounding which foods are good or bad, only makes things more confusing and potentially detrimental to your health. When it comes to diet it’s about finding what works best for you and your body so that you feel happy and healthy.