What is Carbohydarete ?

Carbohydrate foods in their natural state have many benefits: They are high in fiber, low in fat, and a good source of vitamins. They can also be a good source of minerals, depending on the mineral content of the soil they were grown in. Carbohydrates, like any food or nutrient, however, are only beneficial in the right amount. If you want to derive all the benefits of carbohydrates, you need to eat them in the amount that is right for you.

The right amount of carbohydrates for most people is about 40% of their diet, with emphasis on the complex variety. More than 50% of the diet as carbohydrates or too many refined carbohydrates causes problems. Complex carbohydrates in the right amount are beneficial. Those who refine and overeat them bring out their bad side. Too much of anything is bad for the body, and low-fat starchy foods are no exception. When sugars or starches become a larger percentage of our diet than best suits our individual biochemistry, carbohydrate toxicity occurs.

Carbohydrate toxicity is increasingly widespread due to the following misconceptions circulated by the media:

• The more carbohydrates you eat, the better.
• All carbohydrates are created equal.
• All fat is bad and should be avoided as much as possible.
• We eat too much protein and need to eat less.
• None of the preceding is true. The problem with this erroneous nutritional belief system is that it leads one to overload the body with carbohydrates, and the following problems result:
• Excess carbohydrate intake displaces protein, which is needed for energy, tissue repair, blood sugar balance, and immune function.
• Excessive carbohydrate intake will lead to excessive levels of insulin, which can cause weight gain, bloating, fatigue, food cravings, and cardiovascular disease.
• Faddish high-carbohydrate, ultra-low-fat diets do not provide enough essential fatty acids.
• Too many carbohydrates, especially concentrated sweeteners, can stress the adrenal glands into a state of exhaustion.
• Diets too high in carbohydrates upset prostaglandins. a family of hormonelike compounds that must be in balance for health to exist.
• A diet too high in carbohydrates and too low in protein can cause liver damage.

While the preceding percentages are a helpful guide, the optimal intake of carbohydrates will differ for each person. Some may thrive on a diet that consists mostly of carbohydrates. Most, however, will not. Many women over age thirty will feelbloated and tired on a diet that is 60% carbohydrates or more. We are all different, and need to examine our own unique metabolism to determine our optimal range for carbohydrate intake.