Carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients — protein and fat being the others. Carbohydrates are our bodies’ most important energy providers. 

I regularly receive messages from people asking if cutting carbohydrates from their diet is Okay.

Most people associate carbs with weight gain but this is a total myth. We NEED carbs for our brains, for sports and weight loss.

To lose weight, one simply has to be in calorie deficit (please seek advice before you drop any calories from your normal routine). 

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If you are eating carbohydrates within your calorie limit and your plate is balanced then weight gain shouldn’t be an issue. 

A balanced plate means meals which include one food from each food group- Dairy; Vegetables; Fruits; Grains and protein and limiting the amount we eat from the smaller fifth group, fatty and sugary foods. 

Is is important to remember that most foods contain carbs including vegetables and fruit but it is also important to know that some carbohydrates work differently to others.

Some provide us with many health benefits whereas some don’t provide any benefit except for tasting good! 

There are two main types of carbohydrates, complex and simple…so what’s the difference and which ones should we be eating more of? 

In a nutshell, complex carbs take longer to break down which allows for a slower release of energy and they leave us feeling fuller for longer. 

Examples of complex carbs include wholegrains and nuts. 

These are often referred to as ‘good carbs’ Simple carbs are sugars and are made of just one or two sugar molecules.

They are the quickest source of energy, as they are very rapidly digested. They are often referred to as ‘bad carbs’ and ‘empty calories’ because sugars provide no nutrition aside from energy. 

People looking to lose weight will benefit from eliminating these. 

Here are some healthy swaps that you can implement into your lifestyle, they may take a bit of getting used to but once it becomes a habit, it will be a walk in the park.

1.    Oats instead of cereal.
2.    Brown rice instead of white rice.
3.    Nuts instead of potato crisps
4.    Courgetti instead of spaghetti
5.    Plain greek yoghurt instead of ice cream
6.    Coconut/almond flour instead of white flour
7.    Wholewheat bread instead of white bread
8.    Cauliflower rice instead of rice
9.    Sweet potato fries instead of chips 
10.   Eggplant slices instead of bread
11.   Mushroom caps instead of burger buns
12.   Ground almonds instead of breadcrumbs
13.   Sweet potato instead of white potato
14.   Cauliflower mash instead of mashed potato 

Healthy food is delicious, experiment, research, make the right choices and have fun in the kitchen.

Follow me for more diet tips and workouts on Instagram @rosiegetsfit_