13 Reasons You SHOULD Be Eating Carbs!

Carb lovers, have no fear! These facts are here to debunk the myth that carbs are the worst thing for you.

They make you happy!

Ever wonder why you get cranky when you don’t eat carbs? Carbs promote the production of serotonin, which is the “feel good” hormone. It helps you feel better and improves your mood and motivation.

They help curb your cravings.

You won’t magically not crave pizza or ice cream anymore, but carbs can help keep those nasty cravings under control. When you cut out any food group from your diet, you are inevitably going to crave that food (carbs included). One study found that women who restricted their carb intake for three days ate on average 44% more calories from carbs on the fourth day than they would have before restricting carbs.

They are your main source of energy.

Do you ever feel tired or groggy after partaking in the low-carb diet trend? That’s because carbs are what fuel your body. Your body breaks down the carbs you eat into sugar and uses that for either immediate energy or stores it for future use in your muscles and liver.

They fill you up and keep you full.

You won’t catch yourself reaching for snack after snack if you are filling up with the right kind of carbs at each meal. Complex carbs, like whole grains, contain more fiber and take longer to break down, which means that they’ll fill you up and keep you full throughout the day.

They’re the reigning champs in the battle against weight gain.

Carbs that are packed with fiber (such as broccoli, oatmeal and leafy vegetables) can help lower cholesterol, control your blood sugar and make it easier to lose weight. Yes, you read that right!

They make you smarter.

Carbs contribute to helping keep your memory sharp. Carbs are needed to fuel your brain power, which ultimately keeps you on top of your game.

They help you burn fat.

Carbs are metabolic primers, which means that they are needed to completely burn fat. Without them, fat won’t be able to effectively combust. Nice try, diet trends, but the feared C-word doesn’t actually make you fat!

They aid in digestion.

The fiber found in carbs helps in digestion because it moves food quickly through the intestines. You can say adios to that low-carb bloat and constipation problems.

They help in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Sure, low-carb diets may be effective in the short term, but they are not sustainable in the long run. In one study of 322 dieters, only 78% stuck with a low-carb diet for less than two years. Compare that with more than 90% of the high-carb dieters who were still going strong after two years.

They don’t cause stress.

The stress and depression brought on by low-carb diets can keep you from reaching your goals. Stress produces high levels of hormones that boost your appetite and can lead to harmful over-eating.

They provide your body with nutrients.

Besides being an important source of fiber, carbs contain other key nutrients such as Vitamin E, calcium, iron and potassium.

They help improve your sleep.

On a low-carb diet, there can be an over-activation of hypocretin neurons that makes it hard for people to sleep. Serotonin (which is increased in carb consumption) counter-acts with these neurons and can help you get a good night of rest.

They support food trends like this!

‘Cause pizzas with hot dog crusts are all the rage. Kidding aside, you really should be eating carbs from sources such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains.