DIE-t’s like keto and atkins have taken the internet by storm , promising to provide the fastest results on the weight scale , but the question remains – do they really work ?

First things first – What are carbohydrates anyway ?

Carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients alongside protein and fat. These macronutrients are essential for the body to function.

Carbs can be further split up into three groups:

• Sugars are the simplest form of carbs , thus usually gets digested the quickest. This is the ultimate nightmare of keto and atikin dieters as according to their science , it directly inflates your fat cells. But stick to your mom’s advice and have a few servings of apples(high fructose) , because apples haven’t made anyone fat till date .
• Starch usually take longer to digest , but there are exceptions . Eg – bread, pasta, and potatoes.
• Dietary fiber Probably the only carbohydrate that doesn’t make the keto dieters sweat . Dietary fiber cannot be digested , therefore slowing down total digestion and making you feel fuller . Careful , too much can make your room smell funny . Dietary fiber can be found in high quantities in almost every fruit and vegetable .
• Sugar Alcohol Used to make things sweet without the additional calories provided from sugar . Not to be confused with artificial 0 calorie sweeteners like Aspartame , sugar alcohol does contain some calories

All Carbs are equal (almost)

There is no such thing as a bad carbohydrate or a good one .

A potato which is a very quick digesting carbohydrate(bad source, as claimed) is not very different from sweet potato (the best source of carbs known to mankind , according to self claimed health gurus) . In fact, when it comes down to the ability to make a person fat , potato might be less harmful than sweet potato . That is because of the higher calorie content in a sweet potato (very slight difference).

Of course , effect on hunger and micro nutrients are unaccounted for in this case .

So at the end of the day , excess calories is what can make a person fat.

Why would anyone blame satisfying carbs for making one fat ?

So this is what the theory says , carbohydrates have a huge impact on your insulin levels , which is not as dramatic as a pure fat source or with a protein and a fat source combined .

Insulin accelerates fat storage , so boom , pasta makes you fat !

But , there is a catch here , though insulin spikes can cause hunger levels to rise , but if calories are controlled , then no amount of carbohydrates can make one fat.

Studies back up this following claim , and in some studies , subjects who consumed more carbohydrates retained more muscle mass.

Benefits of carbohydrates

Not only is cutting carbs difficult , it maybe bad for you and your vitality

1. Carbs play an important role in testosterone production
2. Subjects having higher carbohydrate intake were able to perform better in physical activities
3. Carbs make your muscles look fuller
4. Carbs help retain greater muscle mass
5. Most importantly, Carbs are delicious !

Closing Remarks

Looks like this myth deserves a pass . Carbohydrates DO NOT and NEVER WILL make you fat if your calories are controlled . You can safely go ahead and enjoy your pasta !