Icon
Icon

The Carbohydrate Manifesto: Are Carbohydrates Good For You?

In the 1990s, fat was the black sheep of the nutrition family. Once the early 2000s rolled around, fat was given some slack (although not too much) and the blame for all things evil was put on carbohydrates. Everyone jumped on the low-carbohydrate diet bandwagon and began to see some

Picture of Valley Medical Team

Valley Medical Team

In the 1990s, fat was the black sheep of the nutrition family. Once the early 2000s rolled around, fat was given some slack (although not too much) and the blame for all things evil was put on carbohydrates. Everyone jumped on the low-carbohydrate diet bandwagon and began to see some weight loss results, but along with these results also came a lot of lasting misunderstandings. Well we’re here to clear up those misconceptions and get down to the nitty gritty of what carbohydrates are and whether they should have a place in your diet.

What Exactly are Carbohydrates?

When people hear the word carbohydrates, they automatically have visions of bagels, muffins, and buttery toast dancing in their heads, but that’s not the full story. While it’s true that those foods contain a lot of carbohydrates, they’re not the only ones. Carbohydrates are also found in healthier options like fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. The term “carbohydrate” can actually encompass everything from refined sugar to applesauce to carrots.

Carbohydrates are one of three macronutrients that supply you with calories. On a chemical level, a carbohydrate is a unit of sugar. It can be a single sugar – called a monosaccharide; a double sugar – called a disaccharide; or a string of a bunch of sugars linked together – called a polysaccharide.

What Do Carbohydrates Do For You?

The major function of carbohydrates in the body is to provide you with energy. While it’s true that you can get energy from the other macronutrients – protein and fat – your brain and your muscles prefer to run on the glucose they get from carbohydrates.

Should You Eat Carbohydrates?

The short answer to this is yes. Carbohydrates are not the enemy. It’s the foods that seem to be the highest in carbohydrates that tend to contribute to weight gain; and that’s why carbohydrates themselves get a bad rap. What you want to do is avoid foods that pack a huge carbohydrate load without offering much else in terms of nutrition – like the aforementioned bagels, crackers, cookies, muffins, toast, and croissants.

Good Carbs Versus Bad Carbs

We don’t really like to assign foods into a “good carb” or “bad carb” category because a food is not just a carbohydrate. What you need to do is pay attention to the package you’re getting. Is your food full of carbohydrates and sugar, but contains little vitamins and minerals? Skip it. Is your food full of carbohydrates, like fiber, but also packs a wallop in the nutrition department – offering essential vitamins, minerals, and enzymes (like an apple, for instance)? Enjoy.

Carbohydrate-Rich Foods to Eat:

  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Low-Fat Dairy Products
  • Whole grains, like oats and 100% whole wheat bread

Carbohydrate-Rich Foods to Avoid:

  • Desserts
  • Sugar (soda)
  • Refined grains like white bread (bagels and muffins fall into this category), white rice, and white pasta

The Carbohydrate Manifesto: Are Carbohydrates Good For You?

By Dr. Samuel Zuniga, ND
Valley Medical Weight Loss | Chandler, Arizona

Posted on Google Google
Desert Inflatables profile picture
Desert Inflatables
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I’ve had a great experience working with Valley Medical in Chandler. I have lost 20 pounds so far with the help from Alejandra, she has been very informative on this journey. Everyone here is very friendly and personable. If you are looking to lose weight and have more energy I would highly recommend coming to start your journey!
Posted on Google Google
Juice Butterfly Tarot profile picture
Juice Butterfly Tarot
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Love it here ! Friendly, fast and makes me feel motivated ! Christine and Amelia were phenomenal slay queens ! I've lost 5ibs since being here ! I'm ready to keep going 🩵
Posted on Google Google
Chaz Walker profile picture
Chaz Walker
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Alejandra was fantastic one of the best workers up in the office had a great and uplifting attitude she went above and beyond to help answers all questions efficiently would highly recommend goin here 12 out of 10 ratings great job
Posted on Google Google
Jimmy Hill profile picture
Jimmy Hill
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I highly recommend Valley Medical Weight Loss! Alejandra has been amazing from day one supportive, motivating, and truly invested in my success. In just over 8 weeks, I’ve lost nearly 30 pounds. They genuinely care about your health and make the process feel manageable and personalized. Thank you, Alejandra!
Posted on Google Google
Antoinette Scott profile picture
Antoinette Scott
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Awesome staff, courteous and clean. I’m down 40 lbs in one month. Prices for supplements are better than getting them from Amazon!
Posted on Google Google
Eira Leyva profile picture
Eira Leyva
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Stephanie muy linda y atenta persona muy buena explicación hacerca del tratamiento
Posted on Google Google
Alice McLemore profile picture
Alice McLemore
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Happy they have a location in chandler now. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful.
Posted on Google Google
Andrea Madrid profile picture
Andrea Madrid
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I’ve had a great experience here so far. The staff is absolutely amazing very kind, supportive, and always willing to answer my questions. They truly make you feel comfortable and encouraged throughout the weight-loss process. I’m seeing results and feel well taken care of. Highly recommend!
Posted on Google Google
Nelly Irias profile picture
Nelly Irias
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Love the new clinic, the space is beautiful and welcoming, and the staff was amazing! Alejandra took great care of me. She was very informative, made me feel comfortable throughout the whole process, and I honestly didn’t even feel my injection. Such a great experience, and I’m already looking forward to coming back!
Verified by Trustindex
Trustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more

Releated Post

Contact Us

Contact Us

Weight Loss Clinic Hours

NEW PATIENTS

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:00 am-4:30 pm

Saturday: 8am-1:30pm

Wednesday & Sunday: Closed

Med Spa: By appointment only