A couple of weeks ago, we had a post discussing the harms of eating too much sugar and signs that you may be eating too much sugar without really recognizing it. However, you do not have to completely cut out sugar, as long as you understand where sugars and carbs come from and what purpose they serve in your body.
What many people don't know, is that sugar is a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates can be found in the form of sugar, fiber and starches and serves as energy to the body. However, carbs can also be broken down into simple and complex carbohydrates.
- Simple Carbs: comes from things such as sugar and honey and turn to glucose rapidly
- Complex Carbs: often comes with a higher fiber content and takes longer to break down
- Provides sustained energy and helps control the release of sugar into the body
Instead of trying to completely cut out sugar, try to understand where the sugar is coming from and how it could either benefit or hurt your body.
Recommendations for sugar and carbohydrates:
- Consume about 135 grams per day (this could be different for everyone, depending on activity levels and goals)
- Get them from sources that supply useful nutrients like fruit, veggies, milk and whole grains
- Limit added sugars; no more than 10% of overall calories per day
- This will also help to limit empty calories and allow you to consume more nutrient-dense foods
In the end, carbohydrates are not bad for you, but there are some forms of carbs that are better than others. By keeping yourself knowledgeable about what is going into your body, you will be able to make better decisions about your nutrition.
No comments:
Post a Comment