ARE CARBS REALLY THE ENEMY?
Many people follow a low carb diet to lose weight, improve their metabolic health or simply because they think it’s a healthier option. As a result, carbs have earned a reputation for being bad for us. But is it possible we’ve got them wrong? Sue Quinn finds the debate isn’t black and white (or even brown and white)
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If the mere mention of the word ‘carbs’ makes you think of foods best avoided, you’re in good company. Surveys show as many as 13 per cent of us follow a low or no carb diet, limiting our intake of foods such as bread, pasta and rice.
But medical experts and nutritionists say carbohydrates are widely misunderstood, and the benefits of including some carb types in our diet are largely being overlooked. What’s more, carbohydrates are often dumped in the same basket when not all are the same.
WHAT ARE CARBOHYDRATES?
“They ’re a varied group of foods, chemically composed of complexes of sugars,” says Roy Taylor, professor of medicine and metabolism at Newcastle University. “They provide energy, and some are needed for optimal health.”