What's the Deal with Carbs?

Carbohydrates. Some view them as crucial, others view them as evil. They are usually the first food group to get kicked when someone starts dieting in hopes of losing weight. With all of the contradicting information out there, how do we know what to believe? Are carbs good or bad? Well, this article will clear up a few of the common misconceptions and myths surrounding carbohydrates.

Myth #1: I need to cut carbs to lose weight

Carbohydrates themselves are not directly responsible for causing weight gain. Although it can happen for multiple reasons, weight gain typically happens when an individual is consuming more calories than their body is expending every day. Eating excess amounts of calories from any macronutrient (carbohydrate, protein, or fat) will most likely result in weight gain. If you are practicing portion control and consuming the right amount of calories it is pretty safe to say that you won’t have to worry about gaining weight! Cutting out carbohydrates from the diet can have serious negative health consequences. Not only are you missing out on key nutrients such as B vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, your body will feel tired and sluggish since carbs are the body’s preferred source of fuel! There is no need to omit carbohydrates from your diet, they provide countless benefits for our bodies.

Myth #2: There are “good” carbs and “bad” carbs

This is a very common misconception among those who associate carbs with being evil. There is truly no such thing as a “good” or “bad” carb. A food has no moral capacity, it is just food. It is true that some carbohydrate sources have more nutrient value than others. For instance, a piece of whole grain bread has more nutrients than say a potato chip, but that is not to say that one is “good” and one is “bad”. The concept is simple. Nutrient dense foods such as whole grain breads/pastas, oats, fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, and dairy should be consumed more often, and less nutrient dense foods such as refined grain products, fried foods, sugary beverages, candy, and other refined products should be consumed less often.

In conclusion…

With an abundance of misinformation out there, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not. However, if you stick to the basics such as consuming whole grains, plenty of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats including nuts and seeds, and lean sources of protein, you will be on your way to a healthy diet before you know it!

Try this nutrient dense carbohydrate rich recipe! It is great for a pre-workout snack, a post-workout snack, or a snack at any time of the day!

Banana Oat Energy Bites

Gather ingredients for the energy bites. Be creative with your ingredients! Try adding your favorite spices, nuts, or dried fruit.

Combine all ingredients together until everything sticks together.

Use an ice cream scoop to portion the energy bites into balls and place them on a cookie sheet. You can either bake them for a more cookie like product, or put them in a fridge for a more doughy consistency. I rolled some of mine in coconut for extra flavor.

1 C Oats

3 Very Ripe Bananas

1/2 C Sunflower Seeds (or nut/seed of choice)

3/4 C Dried Fruit of choice

1/2 C Dark Chocolate Chips

2 Tbsp Peanut Butter

3/4 C Coconut

1/4 C Honey

1 1/2 Tbsp Cinnamon

1/8 Tsp Salt

Instructions:

1. mash bananas until pureed consistency
2. combine all ingredients until desired consistency is reached
3. portion energy bites with cookie scoop and place on a cookie sheet
4. bake at 350 for 10 minutes for a cookie like consistency, or place in refrigerator for a more doughy consistency
5. enjoy!