“Everyone’s talking about the keto and paleo diet. They’re running away from carbs and assume that even eating rice would affect their weight”, she says. “Carbohydrates is present in fruits,vegetables,lentils,dals,rice, even milk contains carbohydrates in the form of lactose, anything sweet contains carbohydrates in the form of sugar”,she elaborates.
“The only food items that do not have carbohydrates are fleshy foods, non vegetarian foods. Which is why people eat that kind of food and lose weight very quickly”, she explains.
The question of whether carbohydrates is important and if it has any side effects is lurking in our minds to which she says, “Carbohydrates are of course necessary for our body but some people have hormone problems like insulin resistance,PCOD,pre diabetic, fatty liver disease, if a person has these specific health conditions it is necessary for them to reduce their carbohydrates intake”, she further elaborates that people sometimes need carbohydrates to boost their moods and prevent mood swings. While some people consume carbs to help them gain weight healthily. “Growing children definitely require more carbohydrates as it helps boost their growth spurt” she adds.
It is also important to remember that low- carb does not mean carb-free. While most people think they follow a “carb-free diet” they fail to remember that even low-carb diets recommends at least 20-50 grams of carbs in a day. It’s ideal that we do not cut carbs off of our diets completely.
The foods in the quantities listed below all contain approximately 15 grams of carbs:
- 1 tennis ball sized apple or orange
- 1 cup of berries
- 1 cup of melon cubes
- ½ medium banana
- 2 tablespoons of raisins
Some of the healthy foods that are high in carbohydrates include:
- Quinoa
- Oats
- Buckwheat
- Bananas
- Chickpeas
- Kidney beans
It is most definitely a myth that carbs are unhealthy. The truth is that some of the healthiest food items are high in carbohydrates. Although these foods should not be eaten in large amounts if you’re on a low-carb diet, carbs are important nutrient sources. While refined carbs may be unhealthy in high amounts, whole food sources of carbs are very healthy.
“Factors such as your age,height,weight,exercise level and an analysis of your carbohydrate requirement all play a key-role. It is necessary to consult with a dietician or a nutritionist about your carbohydrate intake.” She says while busting the myth that carbohydrates must not be included in our diet.
