{"id":19307,"date":"2024-08-01T17:36:03","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T17:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/?p=19307"},"modified":"2024-08-01T17:59:26","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T17:59:26","slug":"are-carbs-a-necessary-part-of-a-healthy-diet-heres-what-dietitians-have-to-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/everything-else\/are-carbs-a-necessary-part-of-a-healthy-diet-heres-what-dietitians-have-to-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Carbs A Necessary Part of A Healthy Diet? Here\u2019s What Dietitians Have To Say"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Can you survive without any carbs in your diet? An army of zero-carb-diet social media influencers<\/a> seem to think so. <\/p>\n

But what do the actual health experts, like a registered dietitian, have to say about keto, carnivore, and other extremely low-carb diets?<\/p>\n

\u201cCarbs are absolutely necessary to feel your best and achieve good health,\u201d says Daisy Mercer, a registered dietitian with MyFitnessPal. <\/p>\n

You may be able to technically survive on a very low-carb diet, but it\u2019s not the kind of healthy, balanced diet that Mercer recommends. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe need carbs to think<\/a> our best and for many other bodily functions<\/a> to work optimally,\u201d Mercer. <\/p>\n

People are drawn to these very low carb diets because they can produce quick results. Very low carb diets may lead to greater short-term weight loss<\/a> than low-fat diets. <\/p>\n

But does that mean you should drop that sweet potato and snack on a pork chop instead? Here\u2019s what you need to know about low-carb diets and your health.<\/p>\n

Are Dietary Carbs Absolutely Necessary?<\/h2>\n

To answer this fully, there\u2019s nuance to understand here. <\/p>\n

Our bodies can actually produce carbohydrates in the form of glucose through a process called gluconeogenesis<\/a>. If you aren\u2019t eating any dietary sources of glucose, the body uses other compounds<\/a> to make glucose. <\/p>\n

But remember, carbs are the main energy<\/a> source of the human diet. So while you can technically live without them, you may not feel your best.<\/p>\n

Not all carbs are created equal, though. \u201cIt is important to choose appropriate carbs that won’t digest too quickly\u2014complex carbs\u2014so we can have a sustained release of energy,\u201d says Mercer. She suggests eating a diet that contains a range of complex carbohydrates<\/a>, plenty of lean protein, and healthy fat is ideal. <\/p>\n

Complex carbs contain more fiber<\/a> than simple carbs, which are essentially just sugars<\/a>. The latter are digested quickly,<\/a> leading to blood glucose shifts that can leave you feeling tired<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Thanks to their fiber, complex carbs take longer to break down, giving you sustained energy<\/a> and keeping you feeling full longer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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What Are Carbohydrates Food Sources?<\/h3>\n

Instead of demonizing an entire food group, it’s best to understand how carbs work<\/a> so that you can learn to get the nutritional benefits of carbohydrates while avoid possible pitfalls. After all, many healthy foods<\/a> are carbohydrates. <\/p>\n

These include:<\/p>\n