Carbohydrates make you fat. Myth or fact?

We hear it more and more often: carbohydrates, you better not eat them as an athlete, they make you fat. Believe us, this is a myth. In principle, it doesn't matter what you eat to lose weight, as long as your energy balance is – slightly – negative. In this blog, Rémon Koetje, Lifestyle coach and trainer at Happy Bodies in Alkmaar, explains how it works.

Old, sick and fat from carbohydrates

Type 'low carb' into Google and you will get almost three million results. So you can at least say that it is a hot topic. It makes you age faster, it causes diabetes and if you want to lose weight, carbohydrates are absolutely out of the question. The truth is a bit more nuanced. It has never been proven that carbohydrates make you age faster. Carbohydrates do not give you diabetes either. Little is known about the causes of diabetes type 1, but its development probably has to do with predisposition. The causes of diabetes 2 can be found in the corner of obesity, smoking, unhealthy diet and too little exercise. The word 'carbohydrates' does not even appear on the special pages about diabetes type 1 and diabetes type 2 of the Diabetes Fund.

Quality more important than quantity

The Health Council, the independent scientific advisory body for government and parliament, advises to get at least 20 percent of our energy from fat, at least ten percent from protein and 40 to 70 percent from carbohydrates. Of course, a caveat is added to this: it is advisable to eat foods that have been shown to contain nutritious ingredients. It will come as no surprise that foods such as whole grain products, legumes, vegetables and fruit are better for your health than products such as sugar, chips, white rice, cookies and sweets. That is also exactly the advice of the Diabetes Fund: the quality of carbohydrates is more important than the quantity.

Healthy weight loss is about the right balance

Even if you want to lose weight, it's all about balance. Carbohydrates are fine, but eat 'good' carbohydrates and make sure you consume slightly fewer calories than you burn. Strength and endurance athletes need a bit more protein than non-athletes, but according to the Nutrition Center, you get enough protein if you eat healthy and varied. So feel free to leave all those expensive shakes and bars behind. At Happy Bodies, we work with the smart nutrition app from VYTAL. This way, we help you eat healthy, consciously and nutritiously. In addition to balance in your diet, losing weight is also about the right balance between effort and relaxation. You really don't have to start training for a marathon right away. Moderately intensive exercise is fine. With the Milon circle, you train your entire body in two times 35 minutes every ten days, even if you are a bit older or have ailments. That is something that everyone can maintain, right?