9 facts about carbohydrates that you may not have heard of

Just like cars need fuel to run, our bodies need carbohydrates for energy. This is because carbohydrates are converted into glucose, which our body uses as its main source of fuel. Therefore, eating too few carbohydrates can lead to lack of energy and fatigue. Excessive consumption can cause many health problems, especially weight problems. So how should carbohydrates be consumed? Are all carbohydrates really bad for our health? Let’s take a look at the facts about carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates can damage our teeth

Our mouth is one of the places where bacteria are most abundant in our body. Our mouth is an ideal environment for the reproduction and life of bacteria. Carbohydrate fragments left in the mouth after eating can cause these bacteria in the mouth to produce acid and thus damage the outer surface of our teeth.

Especially foods such as potato chips, cakes or white bread can cause this harmful effect to the maximum level. To prevent this, brush your teeth regularly and drink water after eating foods containing carbohydrates.

A low-carb diet can shorten our lives

A study published in The Lancet Public Health shows that people who eat very little or a lot of carbohydrates have a higher mortality rate. As a result of the study, it is noted that those who consume carbohydrates in a balanced way have a healthier and longer life.

Not all carbohydrates are dangerous for diabetics

People with diabetes can consume other healthy carbohydrates as long as they avoid simple or refined carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels and exacerbate the symptoms of diabetes. Instead, diabetics should include slow-digesting complex carbohydrates such as oats, carrots, or broccoli.

The most consumed macronutrients are carbohydrates.

Macronutrients are relatively large foods, such as fat or protein. These products not only provide energy, but also protect us from diseases. Among macronutrients, carbohydrates are the most consumed group.

This may be due to the ability of carbohydrates to instantly give the body energy. However, we should not forget that simple carbohydrates should not be loaded so as not to feel tired after a short feeling of a surge of strength.

Eating Carbohydrates Before and After Your Workout Can Boost Performance

Eating carbohydrates before a workout gives athletes the energy they need to improve physical performance. It is also very important to consume carbohydrates after training, as during training our body will use the energy stored in glycogen.

The ideal time for athletes to consume carbohydrates or other macronutrients is 2 hours before training. After training, it is recommended to consume carbohydrates from 15 minutes to 1 hour.

High intake of carbohydrates with low protein content may slow down the development of children

When children consume very large amounts of carbohydrates, there may be a decrease in growth hormones. At the same time, protein deficiency can lead to negative consequences for muscle and bone development. For this reason, a balanced and healthy diet for growing children is very important for their development.

Simple Carbohydrates May Increase Hunger

Intensive consumption of simple carbohydrates leads to an increase in insulin levels. It makes a person feel hungry shortly after eating. In addition, since simple carbohydrates are very quickly absorbed by the body, even if you eat too much, you will feel hungry again after a short time. In this case, weight gain and related problems are inevitable.

You don’t need to cut carbs from your diet to lose weight.

The easiest way to lose weight is portion control. Consuming the nutritious foods your body needs throughout the day, creating a calorie deficit, and supplementing them with exercise is the perfect way to lose weight. Given that the body also needs carbs, eliminating carbs from your diet entirely is not going to be healthy.

Carbohydrates are not the only source of energy

When not enough carbohydrates are consumed, the body uses ketones for energy. Ketones are known to act as antioxidants, preserve muscle mass, and prevent cancer growth. The downside is that it can predispose a person to nutritional deficiencies.

Carbohydrates are often portrayed as a poor food source for health. However, this information is a big mistake. While carbohydrates can cause many health problems, we also need complex carbohydrates such as barley, oats, or brown rice for proper body and brain function. So instead of completely eliminating carbs from your diet, it would be a healthier approach to learn which foods are good and which are bad sources of carbs.

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