ARE CARBS EVIL?

I THINK ABOUT CARBS EVERY DAY – BUT WHAT EXACTLY ARE THEY?

When you hear “carbohydrates”, think “plant power”, says nutritionist Toby Smithson, type 1. On a basic level, carbs are the sugars, starches and dietary fibres that plant foods (such as grains, vegetables, beans and fruits) make using energy from the sun. Carbs serve as a major fuel source for our bodies, alongside the other macronutrients: protein and fat.

WAIT, SO CARBS END UP AS SUGAR? ISN’T THAT A BAD THING?

It’s the contrary, says wellness coach and dietitian Michael Lynch, type 1. “That’s our body’s fuel,” he says. “Your body wants to use carbohydrate more than anything else.” Your brain runs on it, and muscles prefer it for energy. Your body uses glucose every time you walk, every time you talk. “It is your metabolic fuel.”

Once the carbs from something you