
Carbohydrates provide essential nutrients for the body to function optimally. In addition, carbs are one of the major food groups and an important part of our daily nutritional intake. Unfortunately, carbohydrates often get a bad rap, especially when it comes to weight gain. But carbohydrates, also known as carbs, are not all bad. In fact, carbs are needed for our body to work well.
What are Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are a type of macronutrient found in a wide variety of foods and drinks. Carbs also include healthy and unhealthy foods from apples to donuts. When it comes to consuming carbohydrates, what remains important is the type of carb you choose to eat. For example, nutritious whole grains, beans, berries, and bananas are healthier choices than refined white bread, french fries, and pastries.
Carb Function
Carbs are the primary fuel source in the body. When you eat carbohydrates, the digestive system breaks them down, and are then absorbed into the bloodstream as glucose. This causes the pancreas to release insulin to direct the glucose into your cells for energy. Any extra glucose is stored in your muscles or liver, but there is a limit to how much can be stored in those places. Once glucose storage is maxed out, your body converts the remaining glucose to fat, the secondary energy source in the body.
I Stay Lean Eating Carbs

I grew up eating a wide variety of carbohydrates including beans, rice, pasta, and buttermilk pancakes. I ate as much as my brothers growing up and have my father’s lean genetics. Also, having a faster metabolism and an ectomorph/mesomorph body type, I feel my best eating several meals with carbs each day. This also helps me maintain my lean mass and body weight. Additionally, consuming carbs every few hours keeps my blood sugar from dropping which can happen if I wait too long between meals.
I also discovered how to build curves with resistance training. That said, weight training has been great for my leaner female form. Because I am a hard lean mass gainer, the majority of my food intake includes nutrients to promote muscle development. That means I eat a wide variety of healthy carbohydrates, lean protein, and healthy fats.
Eating well is the primary way to good health. And there is a difference between eating healthy or unhealthy, even if the calories are the same. In my case, I eat intuitively and consume whole foods that nourish my body and brain.
Carbs I Eat Routinely:
- oats
- quinoa
- seeded whole grain bread
- whole-grain tortillas
- sweet and white potatoes
- brown rice
- veggies
- fruits
- bran cereal
As a personal trainer and coach for over 30 years, I share videos and posts specific to the importance of aging well through proper nutrition and fitness on my Instagram page. I look forward to having you as a follower.
Stay Healthy,
Darla
Thanks Stephanie for your personal share and feedback.The thing about our fitness journey is that it is individual and not general and thankfully so. Love your positive attitude. Be well and Stay Healthy!
Hi Darla! This is an amazing post that really resonates with me! This afternoon I just deleted MyFitnessPal app because I realized how important it is for me to listen to my body and nourish it with the proper nutrients it needs. While the app may tell me that I've had my carb maximum for the day, my body screams out to me that it needs more carbs. I'm slowly recovering as well as building a positive body image. I may be the "skinny" person or the "curvy" one, but I've told myself that I'll love myself and the genetics I was given, but I know that it is ME that changes and determines everything. Thanks once again for the post.
xoxo, Stephanie
https://avoliciousblog.wordpress.com/
Thanks for your share and the fabulous thing about fitness is finding what works best for our body type. Glad you enjoyed my article and I will continue to supply fresh content here and my about.com sports nutrition page. Be well and Stay Healthy!
I do know a few 'skinny' people who are just like you. Although, I am the other way (I tend to bulk easily and look like a line backer, not good on a woman of 40+) I did get some good info from you. Thank you. I got here by checking out the 'metabolism meltdown' article. That one was very good. Thank you.