Carbophobia: Myth or reality?
Along with the popular high protein diet craze comes the belief that carbohydrates should be avoided in order to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. As a result, people shun carbs, trying their best to reduce or even eliminate carbohydrates from their diets. People become terrified of carbohydrates having adverse effects on their waistlines and, as a result, become "carbophobic". The question then arises, is cutting carbs the way to achieve a healthy diet? The answer is no, and below I will explain why. Why do we need carbohydrates? Carbohydrates are one of the essential macronutrients, meaning our bodies need them to function. We are designed to derive energy from carbohydrates. From our muscles to our red blood cells to our brains, carbohydrates are the fuel that allows us to function (Pope/Nizielski/McCook, pg. 321). When we deprive ourselves of this vital macronutrient, adverse health effects such as cancer and heart disease can occur (Campbell,
