eli5 why carbs can be bad for you
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It’s not inherently bad for you. Carbs are actually a great fuel for the body – rapidly accessible to us and we are adapted to prefer it as a primary source of energy. But it has its drawbacks, primarily in what happens when we eat too many.
First, carbs influence blood sugar levels. High blood sugar causes insulin to store it as fat. So if you eat too many carbs, you’ll end up gaining weight and experiencing the litany of problems that comes with that.
But if you do that long enough, your body develops a resistance to insulin or cannot produce enough of it . This is bad, because it means your blood over retains sugar, which causes diabetes. Diabetes is a disease with a whole host of problems, all of which are exacerbated by eating extra carbs.
Some carbs, however, are good for you no matter what. Complex carbs, like fiber, are absolutely integral to your health. They help bowel health, provide important bodily building blocks, and carry key nutrients. They also have the added benefit of not adding to your blood sugar level (and not generally being used for energy as a whole). Eating a high fiber diet would be eating a high carb diet, but a very healthy one at that.
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