Weight loss: carbs don't damage our dress size, calories do...

Food for thought: carbs don't damage our dress size, calories do.

Despite being deemed an edible enemy by deluded dieters, carbohydrates will only contribute to an accumulation of additional adipose tissue (body fat) if they are chronically consumed in any, or all, of the following ways...

1. They're consumed in super sized portions.
Although portion control is paramount for reducing our predisposition to piling on the pounds, food sources such as pasta, rice and potatoes (carbohydrates) are still rarely consumed in their recommended serving size - this means that our failure to pin point petite portions (and control our overall caloric intake) is the core culprit responsible for super sizing our silhouettes, not carbohydrates!

2. They're served with unhealthier food sources.
Whether it's smothering a plate of whole wheat pasta with a creamy sauce or smearing a slice of wholemeal bread with more than a snippet of sugary spread, what we choose to consume our carbohydrates with can not only see our caloric consumption soar, but increase our intake of salt, sugar and/or saturated fat - three culprits that can turn an otherwise healthy source of carbohydrates into an energy dense/nutrient deficient dish.

3. We chronically consume simple carbs.
Chronically consuming a diet that's predominantly derived from simple carbohydrates such as sugary cakes, cereal and confectionery will inevitably increase our caloric consumption far quicker than a diet that's predominantly derived from complex carbohydrates such as whole grains. This is largely due to the fact that unlike simple carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates contain fibre (a nutrient that can leave us feeling fuller for longer and less likely to over consume unnecessary calories), and provide less energy per portion in comparison to nutrient deficient (simple) carbohydrates such as cakes and confectionery.

Final thought: carbohydrates are the body and brains preferred and primary form of fuel. By ditching them from our daily diet, we not only risk developing dietary deficiencies, digestive difficulties and disease, but we also risk damaging our dress size as a result of our inability to sustain healthier eating and exercise habits (we feel famished, fatigued and fail to find the energy and enthusiasm to eat well and exercise when we cut carbs). Instead of forbidding this mandatory macronutrient i.e.a nutrient that the body needs in large amounts, from your diet, focus on adapting the quality and the quantity (serving size) of the carbs you consume as opposed to avoiding them completely - your body, brain and motivation will all benefit from it!

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