Confused about carbs? Most people are!

JDPT Fitness & Nutrition Coach
Nov 14, 2019
2 min read

Not all carbs are equal! Know the difference by using a glycemic index table (more about that in another post). Carbs are made up of 3 components, fibre, starch and sugar. Fibre and starch are complex carbs whilst sugar is a simple carb. Avoiding simple carbs by looking for 'swaps' to satisfy your sugar cravings.

Whilst fruits can be higher on the glycemic index as they contain naturally occurring sugars they would still make a much better swap than a cake or a biscuit. Moderation is always better and whilst you may really fancy a bar of chocolate there are plenty of alternatives which will not only be more healthy they will help you to lose weight and more importantly satisfy your cravings which at the end of the day is why most people struggle with diets. Keep fruit to a minimum if you are on a low calorie diet and you want to lose weight quickly but you don't have to cut it out completely.

Energy slumps in the afternoon are all too common so make sure you do eat breakfast lunch dinner and a few snacks, keeping yourself fuelled throughout the day will help with energy slumps.

A great alternative to a sugary snack could be dried fruit, or nuts, yes dried fruit would come under simple carbs in some cases but far more healthier than processed sugar so start to look at swaps and find out about nutrient value. Nuts sound 'boring' however these little beauties are a powerhouse when it comes to energy and they are packed with goodness, protein, good fats and tons of nutrients. So next time you reach for a mars bar why not grab nuts instead? You'll be surprised at how much they take away the craving for sugar and how much they boost your energy.