Why Carbohydrates are Important for Your Health?

Carbohydrates are often referred to as bad foods and thought of as a cause of your weight gain but they are a must for staying healthy and fit. Find out how intake of carbohydrates promotes good health.Carbohydrates are not bad, but some could be better than others. In reality, they get a bad rap especially when the question is of weight gain. Many diet plans will lead you to believe that they are the main cause of your weight gain. But, you should not forget that carbs are an important part of your healthy diet.One of the facts that you should be aware of is that our body needs variety of foods to function properly. One of the most apparent functions of carbohydrate is that it fulfills the immediate energy needs of your body. Although, fats and protein also provide energy, carbs are the first source of energy. In this articleTypes of CarbohydratesCarbohydrate and Your HealthLow Carb Diet and Weight LossEat Right Kind of Carbohydrates for Weight LossBest Sources of CarbsTypes of CarbohydratesTalking in simple terms, there are two types of carbohydrates – simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates get broken down inside your body more quickly than complex ones. With complex carbohydrates, the process is slower, which is a good thing. This helps them give your bloodstream a steady level of energy and this helps you avoid the highs and lows.Carbohydrate and Your HealthCarbohydrates are very important for your health for many reasons in addition to being the main source of energy. They protect you from many diseases. Some evidences show that they reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It also helps in controlling body weight. Complex carbohydrates along with lots of fruits and vegetables help you keep a check on your weight. The only thing that you should keep in mind is that select healthy carbohydrates for your diet plan.Low Carb Diet and Weight LossIf you take a low carb diet on regular basis, this means that you take in fewer calories and this will help you lose weight. Usually, these diets cut down the intake of bread and pasta and encourage taking more fruits and vegetables and for non vegetarians, meat is added. Many are of the opinion that low carb diets work well for the first six months.The experts say that when you stop or lower down your intake of carbohydrate your body uses up the stored carbohydrates and hence you lose weight. The problem is that as soon as you start taking carbohydrates, your body restocks carbohydrate accumulation and you start gaining weight again.Eat Right Kind of Carbohydrates for Weight LossIt is better to switch to healthy carbohydrates and increase the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables that will add variety, colour and flavour to your diet. No matter what you eat, check the nutritional value especially for the carbohydrate information. It is good to start your day with a breakfast of whole grain cereal and fruit, add up more vegetables to lunch and dinner and eat a whole fruit as dessert.Best Sources of CarbsTry to get more than 50 percent of your daily calories from carbohydrates. Select from the best source of carbs for your body.Whole grains including wheat, barley, oats and othersBreads made of whole wheat or other whole grainsWhole wheat pastaBrown riceFruits and vegetablesWhole grain cereals like branLentils, beans and dried peasHowever, this does not mean that you cannot have a bowl of white rice or a baked potato in your life. It is just that you pay attention to the source of energy of your daily diet and get it from complex carbohydrates so that you keep your body weight well maintained.If you want to lose weight, you should decrease your calories slowly but surely and increase your physical activity. Choose fiber rich carbohydrates and avoid sugar. Opting for healthy carbohydrates and combining it with an increasing physical activity, is the healthiest way to lose weight.Why is carbohydrate a must for having a good health? Which carbohydrates should be avoided? How can carbohydrates help in weight loss? Discuss here.