No Carbs? No Thanks! Here's Why You Should Eat Carbs

Ever felt like you should avoid carbs? Well girls, it’s time to ditch that mindset ASAP! 

Many people are under the assumption that you have to avoid or dramatically minimize carb consumption when on a fitty journey, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Carbs have been demonized on social media for some time now (*seriously, who even started that?*), leading to people feeling scared to consume a major food group. 

Girls, it’s time we BREAK THAT MYTH and shed the light as to why you SHOULD be eating carbs. 

#1 Carbs help build muscle (hello booty gainz) 🍑

Many people think protein is the only nutrient you need to build lean muscle - but y’all also need carbs too. 

Carbohydrates help transport amino acids to the muscles as well as stimulating muscle protein synthesis (1). Carbs eaten prior to exercise helps increase lean muscle mass (2). 

This is essentially a fancy way of saying that carbs work synergistically with protein to increase their uptake in the muscle to promote more growth.

#2 Carbs even help with fat loss 🍝

YEP, you read that right! 

Eating complex carbohydrates is the KEY to feeling fuller whilst on your fat loss journey. Complex carbs (found in wholegrains, legumes, and most vegetables and fruits), contain an essential nutrient called fiber. 

Consuming more than 20g of fiber daily is associated with increased weight loss, reduced waist circumference, and better adherence to a healthy diet (3, 4).

This is because fiber helps signal the sensation of fullness sooner, which helps to regulate appetite and make it less likely for you to overeat later on. 

#3 Carbs help exercise performance and recovery 💪

You WILL be able to train better and recover faster when carbs are part of your diet. 

Carbohydrates are the main energy source for exercise. Increased carbs boosts muscle glycogen levels which enables higher exercise intensity for both cardio and resistance training (5). 

Consuming carbs within the hour after finishing exercise helps to restore muscle glycogen levels to help speed up muscle recovery.

#4 Carbs can help you sleep better 💤

We bet this is one benefit that you may not have ever heard about! 

Moderate-high carbohydrate diets are linked with improved sleep quality and the ability to fall asleep faster. This is because carbs increase natural melatonin (sleep hormone) production (6).

This benefit is particularly the case when a meal containing carbohydrates is eaten within a few hours before sleep. (*If you need a sign to eat pasta for dinner tonight, this is it!)

#5 Carbs elevate your mood 😃

Yes, there is actually a REASON eating carbs makes you feel so happy! 

Eating a carbohydrate-rich meal or snack increases serotonin levels for a natural mood boost (7).

So, what are you waiting for? Join our GET PEACHY challenge now!