Short answer— absolutely. Especially when increasing physical activity & making fitness a priority. Carbs are our brain’s preferred fuel source and necessary to refuel our muscles. They’re especially important for those of us who are looking to increase our cardio, strength, mood, and performance.
Carbs get a lot of negative attention these days.
That is likely for these following reasons:
- Added sugars contribute to a LARGE amount of the calories found in the western diet, leading to a calorie surplus and subsequent weight gain
- Sugar does fall under the category of carbs and is not a nutrient-dense source of calories and easily overeaten
- Carbs are often over served, and while the pasta is not the problem, a large amount of it may not be the most beneficial
- When we aren’t eating enough carbs, we can crave them more. This leads to feeling out of control around carbs and overeating them. Often, restricting foods and then losing control around them results in a yo-yo diet.
The issue is not carbs themselves, but this perception and unhealthy behaviors with them.
Here is how we can approach carbs instead
- Get familiar with portions. We need to know how much fuel our body needs and portion our carbs accordingly to nourish our bodies, provide, fuel, and avoid a surplus. (We will do this when we work together)
- Choose nutrient-dense carbs: sweet potato, rice, quinoa, sourdough bread, fruit, winter squashes, whole wheat pasta, and beans are all very nutrient-dense sources of carbs
- Don’t restrict: if we cut our carbs drastically then we are running the risk of falling into a yo-yo diet.
- Incorporate treats mindfully: having a dessert a few times per week is better than restriction and then overeating + feeling out of control. Become aware of the nutrition content of your treats and incorporate them when you’d like to.
Carbs can really transform your fitness journey and provide the energy to reach new levels. Don’t fall into the black-or-white thinking that may lead us down a less healthy path.
If you’re not sure how you can start to incorporate carbs in a way that supports your health, then let’s schedule a free call.
Living life constantly on a diet restricting the foods you need and enjoy is not going to be how we reach our goals.
