Nutrition
Why carbohydrates are necessary and important
What are carbohydrates?
- What are carbohydrates?
- Which carbohydrates do you need?
- How much can I eat?
It is clear that our human bodies need fuel to live. Especially if you do strength training and have a lot of muscle mass, you need more fuel than an average person. One of the fuels we need is carbohydrates.
If you have a goal to build muscle mass or to lose weight, you definitely need the carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are in almost everything we eat. And the common ones consist of starch, sugars and fiber. Healthy examples of this are: pasta, fruit, rice, bread, potatoes, beans and the somewhat unhealthy chips and sweets. With these products you get a high number of carbohydrates. Fruit such as a banana also contains carbohydrates, for example. It contains good sugars that are converted to glucose for direct good energy. For example, cola also contains a lot of sugars. These are the bad sugars and make you fat and slow.
The moment you eat, for example, pasta, rice in combination with vegetables and a piece of meat or a banana. Then the food is burned and converted into energy. This way you get new good energy and you can go back to it with even more strength. Against this, if you eat unhealthy carbohydrates such as fast food, you can slow down your energy. That is why a good balance in carbohydrates and healthy foods is of utmost importance and you should be able to enjoy it.
Which carbohydrates do you need?
There are many different carbohydrate sources that can provide you with energy. It is important to be able to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy carbohydrate sources. This way you can tactically use your carbohydrate sources to effectively lose weight or gain muscle mass. But remember you need them anyway to keep your fat burning, energy levels and consistent and balanced for both goals. The extent to which you need differs per person and per goal. The best carbohydrate products are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. They have a positive influence on your energy level, intestinal system and muscles.
Best fibre-rich, vitamin and mineral-rich carbohydrate sources that provide long-lasting energy and digest less quickly: brown rice, sweet potato, oatmeal, quinoa, whole-grain products such as pastas, wraps, bread and bananas.
Good carbohydrate sources with less fiber, vitamins and minerals that ensure fast digestion for fast energy: white rice, potatoes, white pasta, white wraps, etc.
How much do I eat it?
The amount of carbohydrates you need daily depends on your goal. If you can make a good analysis of your meals, you know whether you are in the right place. So you can eat it on feeling. You can also track your nutrition for a day to see how much you really eat. It also differs per person how many carbohydrates you need. This is because every body has a different lifestyle with different body stats.
Combine the carbohydrate of your choice with a delicious piece of meat, vegetables and a sauce of your choice and you have put together a good, powerful meal. Ultimately, it’s all about balance and what you ate in a day. Once you get the right ratio, you get to know your body well. That way you always know what you need. And that’s how you become and stay fit, powerful and energetic!
