Diet Disasters Is Cutting Carbs the Answer?

If losing weight is your primary goal, you have more than likely read and heard a great deal of conflicting advice on the subject.  The problem comes in trying to figure out which advice is worth following and which tips are better tossed aside.  One thing that many people suggest is cutting carbs, but is this really the answer?

Cutting carbs can seem like an easy way to lose weight, but in truth, carbs are an excellent source of energy for your body. When you are looking to lose weight, eating a meal with significant amounts of carbs just before a workout can actually help aid your weight loss goals rather than to hinder them.  In fact, cutting carbs can actually make your workouts harder and less effective, as the body struggles to find energy to maintain your level of activity. .

This isn’t to say that cutting carbs can’t be beneficial.  If you are packing your body with unhealthy carbs such as refined bread as part of your evening meal, you are certainly contributing to your weight problem.  If consumed in sufficient quantities and not burned up, carbs can turn to fat, particularly if eaten late at night.  This is why eating a big plate of pasta right before you go to bed is a big diet sabotage!  Cutting carbs from certain meals is an excellent idea, it just comes down to knowing which carbs to eat and which to avoid.

The best idea is to enjoy carbs before any workout, and avoid them when you know you’ll be sitting still all day or sleeping soon after the meal.  The best carbs are grains, fruits, and vegetables, preferably in their raw or unprocessed forms.  These carbs take a great deal of energy to digest, rather than instantly turning to fat as many refined carbs do.  Cutting ‘raw’ carbs such as these can actually be detrimental to your health and is not recommended. 

Managing carbs isn’t about eliminating great foods from your diet. Instead, it is simply about learning when you should eat them and when you should try a substitute food instead.