Are Carbs And Sugar ‘Bad’ For You?

Have you ever heard the blanket advice to avoid sugar and other carbohydrates if you want to be healthy?

This red flag is one of many examples of diet culture, a system of beliefs that promotes certain bodies and ways of eating while demonizing others (and oppresses people who fit into the latter category). It likes to make us think that carbs (and other macronutrients) are not good for us, no questions asked.

Dietitians have something to say about that. Their belief is a bit different, especially for athletes and other people who exercise. Below, they explain some of the myths and truths they want everyone to know.

Dietitians could go on for days about food myths — especially when it comes to carbs and sugar — but many of these relate to one misconception: that carbs and sugars are all “bad” or “unhelpful” for your body.

Sure, too much sugar is not good for you. A recent review of meta-analyses in the journal BMJ noted that dietary sugar consumption is associated with negative health outcomes such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, dental erosion, depression and more. Listening to your body, or practicing so-called intuitive eating, and eating enough each day may help with restricting excess sugar intake.

But sugars can still have value — more than we often hear about.

“They are our body’s life force,” said Jessica Jaeger, a registered dietitian and private practice owner who specializes in eating disorders, intuitive eating and sports nutrition.

She added that restricting carbs can lead to undernourishment, fatigue, moodiness, gastrointestinal disturbances, altered hormone production and much more.

“Carbs and sugar have been wrongfully demonized for years, but the reality is that we can rarely declare a food group or macronutrient good or bad,” agreed Cara Harbstreet, a registered dietitian with experience in sports nutrition. “Nutrition is much more nuanced than that.”

This point is especially important for athletes (or anyone else who exercises). Sarah Schlichter, a “non-diet” dietitian who specializes in sports nutrition, said that carbohydrates are “preferred” for those who work out. She added that carbs can also provide vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Glucose, a type of sugar, is found in carbs — and our bodies and…