Can I live without carbs?

One of my pet peeves is when people say, "I am on a no carb diet."  I usually don't say anything. But if you were really going on a "no carb" diet, you would ultimately be giving yourself a death sentence.
If you are giving up gluten, bread, pasta, donuts, why don't people say that instead of the word carbs. People are so confused, thinking that carbs are what is making them over weight.  No, it is not completely the carbs.  It is probably the fact that your carbs are coming from mostly simple carbohydrates such as your fruity pebbles in the morning or the dunkin doughnuts coffee you just grabbed before work.





There are two types of carbohydrates:

Simple Carbohydrates:
Simple carbs are found naturally in fruits, milk, and vegetables. (This does not mean stay away from them!) They are also found in many cakes and candy.  These sugars give you energy and fast because they are so easy to digest, but lack the nutrients since they are often refined sugars.

Some examples of simple carbs:
- honey
- soft drinks and fruit drinks
- jellies and jams
- many syrups



Complex Carbohydrates:
Complex carbs are found in peas, wheats, and grains.  They are basically simple starches strung together and are almost always great in fiber which makes you feel satisfied much longer than simple carbs.   These carbs will give you a sustained amount of energy opposed to the simple carbs that will give you a rush of energy and then leave you crashed later.

Some examples of complex carbs:
- Beans and peas
- Green vegetables
- sweet potatoes, potatoes and corn
- oatmeal, whole grain bread

How do carbs work?
Both types of carbs are turned to glucose in the body and are used by the body as energy.  The glucose is used in the cell bodies and is also used in the brain.  Hence the reason you need carbs to survive.  Complex carbs have vitamins, minerals, and fiber that are important to the health of a human. You should aim to make most of your "carbs" complex carbohydrates.  These carbs have those nutrients you need in order to stay healthy.  You should stay away from the refined sugars in candy and other sweets because they have close to no nutritional value and are often called "empty calories"


In conclusion, carbs are good for you.  I mean, it is what makes your body RUN.  Carbs are fuel for the body.  You want to chose complex carbohydrates over simple carbohydrates because they are overall more nutritious, have fiber, and make you feel more full, longer.  Make sure when you're choosing something to eat.. stop and think about it!  Is that ice cream sandwich really the right way to please that sweet tooth or is the banana and strawberries in the refrigerator a better option?






http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/19534.htm
http://www.nutritionmd.org/nutrition_tips/nutrition_tips_understand_foods/carbs_howmany.html
http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/carbs.html