Are Carbohydrates Really Bad?

by Heather
(Tampa, Florida)

Question:
I have been a flexitarian for years and I have tried going vegan several times. I always stop because I am concerned with weight gain. Eating 6-11 servings of carbohydrates a day seems like it is weight gain city! I also do not like to eat processed foods like Boca Burgers and things like that. So, how do you eat vegan and not gain a ton of weight?! I work out every day, so eating all veggies just isnt going to work, I would be starving!! Are carbohydrates really bad?

Answer:
I completely understand your fear about carbohydrates. It is, in fact, a very common fear within our society today. During the Atkins years in the previous decade, most of us came to think that carbohydrates are bad and will make you gain weight, whereas loading up on protein will make you lose weight.

Unfortunately, that concept was a huge marketing ploy that we all took for fact. In truth, your body needs carbohydrates in order to generate enough energy to keep functioning. And, extra protein in the diet is not only not necessary, but it is simply released in our urine when we have too much. It can harm our bodies to have those ratios of foods.

If you eat a healthy, well-balanced vegan diet, you will not gain weight. I say it this way because I do know of people who gain weight when going vegan, but that's because they do not eat healthy food. For an idea of how to balance your diet, read this article.

You can learn more about good vegan nutrition by scrolling around on Vegan Nutritionista. Don't worry-- many people worry about the same issues as you, but you will find many testimonies from other vegans who have started to eat this way and have lost weight.

Hope that helps!