In addition to losing weight, here are some other pleasant side effects you may experience when you control your carbs:
1. You start burning fat.
When you cut back on carbs, your body starts burning fat for energy, instead of sugar from carbs. As a result your fat cells shrink and you lose weight and inches. Body composition improves.
2. You’re not as hungry.
Calories don’t make you full; it’s the nutrients from fiber, protein and healthy fats that fill you up. The empty calories that come from simple, refined carbs lack these nutrients. You might feel full momentarily, but then your blood sugar crashes, and your hunger returns. The result? You’re sluggish, and you’re craving the salty or sweet snack that started this vicious cycle.
3. Your belly gets flatter.
When you replace simple carbs with high-fiber foods, your belly may shrink. Most Americans don’t eat enough fiber (only 15 of the recommended 25 to 35 grams a day). This means the healthy microbes in your gut have less to feed on, and the unhealthy microbes—which devour sugar—take over. This leads to bloating, causing your belly to look bigger than it actually is.
4. You slash your risk of diabetes.
Simple carbs = simple sugars. And eating too much sugar causes your pancreas to produce too much insulin, which can eventually lead to insulin resistance and Type-2 diabetes.
5. Your muscles get stronger.
Simple carbs lack protein, which helps build muscle. When you swap out these simple carbs for protein-rich foods such as poultry, steak, eggs and fish, you’re fueling your muscles with protein and other nutrients.
6. You have more energy.
Not all carbs are created equal. Your body needs carbs to function properly, but by choosing the right kind of carbs, you’ll be enjoying a steady flow of energy throughout the day instead of the highs and lows that simple carbs give you. Stick with long-running, fiber-rich fuel like vegetables and fruits and whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, whole-wheat pasta and bread.
7. You Improve Your Markers for Heart Health
Triglycerides plummet, HDL goes up, the LDL particle size improves, and your risk ratio is lower. The markers for inflammation in your body improves as well.
