10/365 The Truth about Carbohydrates

Friends and Fitness Enthusiasts,

Carbohydrates are often seen as evil for dieting. Actually, they are your friend! They need to make up 60% of your diet every day.

You can't burn fat without carbohydrates. Both are fuel sources for you when you exercise or when you're just hanging out. Fats (9 calories of energy) provide a lot more energy than carbs (4 calories of energy). However, in order to metabolize fats, carbs need to be metabolized first. The by-products from breaking down carbs are used in beta-oxidation, the process of breaking down fats.

The lesson here is that you need to keep eating carbs in order to burn the fat. Now the kinds of carbs you eat is important as well. Cookies, chips, crackers, etc. All these things will not sustain you throughout the day. Eating foods with a low glycemic index, like oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, and Morning Glory Muffins will. These foods are complex and therefore take a lot longer to digest. They will curb your appetite for a longer time and will keep you out of the pantry for a snack.

Recipes for those low glycemic index foods to come   :)

In health,

Lauren