Carbohydrates are good for the body. I will say it again, carbs are good for your body. I curse the Atkins diet for what it did to our society’s thoughts on weight loss. Sure, we have all known someone at one point or another or known someone who knew someone who lost weight on the Atkins diet. Did you also know that their risk of heart disease increased? How many of these people have you seen after they stopped the Atkins diet? In most cases, Atkins dieters not only put back on the weight they lost, but have gained even more weight. The misconception on carbohydrates lies in the choice of carbohydrates. Sure, if you eat processed, sugary or fried carbs you will most likely gain weight. However, by educating yourself on the different types of carbs, you will be equiped you with the weight loss knowledge for success.

It’s crucial to understand the importance of carbohydrates in the body. Carbohydrates provide energy for all our daily activities. Sounds like a good thing to me! There are two types of carbohydrates: Simple and complex. Complex carbohydrates include vegetables, grains and legumes. These are the carbohydrates that provide fiber and starches and take a longer time for the body to digest, therefore the majority or carbohydrates eaten throughout the day should be complex. The other type is simple carbohydrates, a.k.a. simple sugars, and is comprised of fruit sugar, table sugar and milk sugar as well as some other sugars. Simple carbs are great sources of quick energy and are better consumed after a workout. We now know that carbohydrates provide energy for all activities, especially our workouts, therefore the smart and savvy will make sure they are eating the proper amount and right kind of carbs every day. It’s a simple equation, if you want energy, you must fuel your body with its energy source: carbohydrates. Choose wisely!