The truth about cutting carbs

It's common to hear that the key to a successful weight loss diet is to cut the "carbs" straight from your diet. However, is this the case, and is it a good option to cut out an entire food group altogether? Here we take a look at some common myths surrounding carbohydrates to give you a more balanced view on the topic.

What are carbs?

Firstly, there are three different types of carbohydrates and these are sugar, starch and fibre.

Sugar can either be found naturally in some foods, such as fruit or added to others such as in chocolate or fizzy drinks. Starch foods are foods such as bread, rice, potatoes and pasta. They give a slow, gradual release of energy throughout the day. And fibre foods include those such as wholegrain bread, wholegrain pasta, and some vegetables.

Why do we need carbs?

Carbs are important to our diets for three main reasons. They are the body's main source of energy and the fibre found in carbs helps to promote good health by reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and bowel cancer. Also, carbohydrates help you to feel more full after a meal, meaning that you won't snack or overeat throughout the day, so they ultimately promote a healthy diet.

Is it a good idea to cut out carbs?

Cutting out carbs would deprive your body of its main source of energy. This would mean that, while your body could survive without the sugars brought from carbs, it would begin to use protein and fat for energy instead. This means that you could increase your intake of saturated fat which could increase your cholesterol levels and make you more at risk of heart disease.

Also, getting enough fibre from other sources might be tricky. We rely on fibre to keep our digestive systems in peak condition, so we mustn't lose these fibre rich foods.

What can I do instead of cutting carbs?

Carbohydrates do include sugary foods, so try to limit your intake of those types of carbohydrates instead of cutting out the whole food group. Try to focus on healthier sources, such as wholegrain foods, vegetables and fruits.

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