As all powerlifters know carbs are the lifeline of reaching their PR's and strength totals. Powerlifters also know that cutting out carbs can cause side effects that may include causing the gods to weep, total desperation, and some powerlifters will go to the extreme and claim cutting carbs will only mean death!
This all may be true in the world of powerlifting, but to the population that are not powerlifters, they may want to cut carbs out of their diet regardless of how many tears the gods weep. For those of you looking to cut back on the simple carbs here are some health benefits you can look forward to seeing.
1
You Burn Fat:
Immediately. Reducing your intake of calorie-dense carbs automatically reduces the amount of calories you’re consuming on a daily basis, which forces your body to burn fat stored around your midsection for energy, rather than the sugars it takes from carbohydrates.
2
You Feel Less Hungry:
It’s not calories that satiate your hunger, it’s nutrients: fiber, protein and healthy fats. Unfortunately, simple, refined carbs are lacking in all three, even as they fill your body with fast, cheap calories. So no matter how much you eat, your body will go in search of more food. The result: a sluggish, hungrier you — one who’s more likely to dive into the snack drawer.
3
Your Belly Gets Flatter:
One of the first things you notice when you replace simple carbs with high-fiber foods is that your belly flattens out—literally within days. The reason: Most Americans only take in 15 of the recommended 25 to 38 grams per day, according to the Institute of Medicine. Bumping up fiber can help promote healthy regularity.
4
You Cut Your Risk For Diabetes:
Simple carbs are made of simple sugars, and eating too many can wreak havoc in your body in both the short and long term. The more of these quickly digested carbs you consume, the more insulin your pancreas produces, eventually leading to insulin resistance and possibly type 2 diabetes.
5
Your Muscles Get Stronger:
Almost every food in the world is healthier than simple carbs—from burgers and steaks to yogurt and even ice cream. In part, that’s because simple carbs lack protein, the building blocks of muscle. By filling your body with protein and other nutrients, you’re giving it what it needs to grow without having to find additional calories.
Not all carbs are bad. Your body needs carbohydrates to function properly, and they’re especially important for adequate brain and muscle function. It is the simple carbs such as cookies, candy, chips, and other sugary simple carb foods that need to be cut away from your diet. Remember carbs are not the devil no matter how many times Bobby Bushay's momma says they are.
Be smart and indulge only the right kinds of carbs for a better body and a better you.