Maintaining a good and balanced diet combined with a fitness program is one of the most important things you can do to preserve your health. A balanced diet consists of many factors, and if you look online, it can honestly be confusing for newcomers to identify which approach is the most helpful.
One of the most talked-about topics in nutrition is carbs. Specifically, when and how carbs should be taken (or do we need to take it at all). A carbohydrate is a biomolecule that consists of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. It is a macronutrient found in many types of food and/or liquids. In this article, we’ll talk about the specifics of when to consume carbs.
What Are Carbs?
Carbs, or carbohydrates, are a macronutrient found in many foods. They’re an essential part of a healthy diet and provide your body with energy. There are two basic types of carbs – simple and complex. The type of carbs you consume matters. Foods high in simple sugars, particularly fructose, elevate triglyceride levels. Blood fats, also known as triglycerides, are a valuable metric in determining health. If your level is high, you’ll probably get issues with your heart and liver.
Simple carbs are found in processed foods, such as candy, cookies, and soda. They are absorbed quickly and send a rush of glucose to the body. This is why you usually feel a sudden jolt of energy when you eat a candy bar, only to “crash” after the energy is consumed. Simple carbs are relatively unhealthy and can cause weight gain if your intake is not monitored appropriately.
On the other hand, complex carbs are found in whole foods, such as beans, vegetables, and whole grains. They are absorbed at a much slower pace than simple sugars and give a more consistent, even energy source. They’re great for the body and supply various nutrients that are good for keeping your body robust.
Carbs are an essential part of a healthy diet. They provide energy and many essential nutrients. It is good to select complex carbs over simple carbs because it is the healthier option.
Is There A Perfect Time To Consume Carbs?
Carbs, the nutrient found in foods like bread, pasta, and grains, give energy and nutrition to fuel our bodies. Although highly beneficial, eating carbohydrates at the wrong time can cause weight gain, among other negative results. This is the reason why many people ask: is there a perfect time to eat carbs?
Yes, there is. The best time to eat carbohydrates, such as bread and pasta, is before exercising. The logic behind this is that carbs serve as fuel for your workout. One useful tip is to have at least one or two servings of complex carbohydrates before going to the gym, as it gives you the energy to complete your exercise.
Some people advocate working out on an empty stomach, but that can be detrimental to your health, especially if your workout is intense. Your mileage may vary, of course, so feel free to test to see if it works for you. You can also eat carbs hours earlier before your training, but be careful as your blood sugar might drop, which will tire you out faster.
Moderation Is Key
Sometimes people get too dogmatic about when and how they consume their food. While it has been proven that it has benefits, we should note that the total food intake is also an essential part of the equation. It does not matter if the quality of food you eat is good; if you take too much of it, you will still gain weight, possibly leading you to gain too much weight. As with anything, too much of something can be harmful.
Don’t go overboard with consuming carbs, as it will directly affect your blood sugar. Too much sugar (hyperglycemia) can lead to health complications like diabetes. Therefore, it is best to go the middle route and be moderate in your intake.
At the same time, don’t neglect the other macronutrients that the body needs, specifically fats and protein. The body needs them as well to become stronger.
You can monitor your food intake by tracking the food and drink you consume every day. Many websites and apps, such as MyFitnessPal, give you information on the calories and nutritional facts of the food you eat. If you are looking to be on the ball as far as your diet is concerned, we highly recommend that you track your intake as it is a big component in improving your health.
Don’t Forget To Exercise
Another critical step in ensuring that you’re in your best form is to exercise. It is not enough to have a clean diet if you wish to be truly healthy. Many health experts advise working out at least 150 minutes every week to help improve your overall health.
Cardio exercises train our cardiovascular system to be more efficient in pumping blood to the body. Lifting is another effective form of exercise as it keeps our bones strong and makes our bodies resistant to injury. These things are extremely important, especially as we age.
You can spread out the workout as you wish. For example, you can do 30-minute workouts 5 times a week to reach the suggested 150-minute guideline; you can also do 50-minute workouts 3 times if that’s your thing.
You can, of course, pick and choose the exercise you’ll do. A mix of cardio and strength training is best; you can also include martial arts like BJJ and Muay Thai to keep things fresh and engaging. Whatever the case, getting regular exercise is an awesome partner to a well-kept diet.
Final Thoughts
It is an absolute must to keep your diet in check to stay healthy. Remember that carbs are important because they give you the energy to do your day-to-day tasks. Think of your diet as a roadmap where you can monitor the type of food you eat, so being mindful of your eating modality helps. Always consult with your doctor before you engage in any form of physical activity or if you want to make changes to your diet.
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