The Truth About Carbs

I'd like to take a moment to destroy, defile, and set on fire the persistent shrines to what I have come to disaffectionately dub "carb-hate". "Carb-hate" is when someone gets the idea that carbohydrates make them fat, that eating too many carbohydrates makes them fat, that all-protein diets can possibly work for anyone, and then this ridiculous idea drives them slowly to begin eating more and more Atkins-like until they can't remember the last time they had a vegetable or piece of fruit or any kind of grain. Or don't want to.

Myth One: Carbohydrates make you fat!

False. Utterly false. I don't care who you are, you need to be consuming carbohydrates. Carbohydrates lend to your muscle glycogen stores the best, which means you'll be able to go longer and stronger when you exercise, or participate in any form of physical activity, for that matter. Another associated myth is that if you're not an athlete, you don't need carbohydrates. This, too, is extremely false. Not just a little bit false. Gratuitously, horrendously false. False. For several reasons.

Fiber is a carbohydrate. Everyone needs fiber. Fiber helps certain non-athletic ventures go a lot more smoothly, if you catch my drift. Carbohydrates affect your blood sugar--while blood sugar most often isn't really taken into consideration by those among us who are not diabetic or hypoglycemic, or have a similar condition, blood sugar should be at the forefront of your attention alongside a few other things when considering your health. Maintaining a healthy level of blood sugar makes you feel better. Low blood sugar makes you feel lethargic, tired, cold, and worse. Having blood sugar that fluctuates rapidly will make you feel very bad as well. Carbohydrates are the main macronutrient that affects your blood sugar. While protein and fat do affect it some (because everything you eat is converted to glucose by the time it's in your blood stream), carbohydrates will have a noticeable and significant effect.

If you do not get enough carbohydrates, you will not be able to partake in physical activity.

This, unto itself, will contribute to your being fat.