Why Carbs Are Not the Enemy

Oh, carbs. Delicious, delicious carbs.

How could something so delicious get such a bad rap? 

Carbs have become the Lord Voldemort of the 21st century.

Say the name and people physically cringe. 

​We've been taught that the quick fix to weight loss is to cut out all carbs. We've been taught that pasta is an indulgent food and don't-even-get-me-started-on-bagels.

​The truth is, carbs are our body's main energy source. When your body is lookin' to partake in any kind of physical activity, which, you know, it tends to do a lot, what does it go to first? Yup, carbs. 

​Repeat after me: 

​Carbs do not inherently make me gain weight.

​Say it again, to really cement it in place:

​Carbs do not inherently make me gain weight.

The only way to gain weight is to eat more calories in a day than you burn.

It doesn't matter if those calories come from pasta (carbs) or steak (protein and fat), being in a caloric surplus, eating more than you burn, is the only way to gain weight.

​In short: carbs don't make you gain weight. Overeating anything does.

​Secondly, cutting out all carbs is no way to go through life.

I don't know about you, but if I'm 109 years old (yes, I have high hopes), lookin' back on my life, I'm sure as hell not gonna be patting myself on the back for resisting the pasta bar at every party I went to. Learning to include a healthy balance of carbs in your diet is how we create a sustainable lifestyle.

Not all carbs are created equal, however.

Fat loss may come down to calories in vs. out, but nutrition comes down to our vitamins and minerals (aka our micronutrients). 

​Complex carbs are more nutritionally dense. These include foods such as potatoes, beans, quinoa, oatmeal, etc.

​Simple carbs are sugars. While delicious and totally fine to enjoy now and then, they lack the vitamins and minerals found in complex carbs.

​Aim for healthy, nutrient-dense complex carbs the majority of the time, while allowing for the fun simple carbs now and then. 

​Redefine your relationship with food by learning how nutrition works, not according to mass marketing, but according to math and science... and Lord Voldemort shall rule no more.