A lot of people might tell you that to speed up your metabolism and lose weight, you need to cut down on carbs. But the truth is actually not that carbs are bad for you. Instead, what you need to know about carbs is that they are not all created equally.
There are some carbs that can help promote a healthy weight and regulate your metabolism when eaten in moderation, yet there are bad carbs that you should aim to avoid as they can wreak havoc on your metabolism.
According to Rebekah Blakely, RDN of the Vitamin Shoppe, the worst carb that you should really avoid is sugary beverages.
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“[Sugary beverages] aren’t the first thing people usually think of when you start talking about carbs, but it’s one of the most detrimental to our health,” Blakely told SheFinds. “Sugary beverages like soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and fancy coffee drinks account for a large percentage of the average American’s yearly sugar intake. And they offer little to no nutritional value.”
The American Heart Association recommends that adult women limit their sugar intake to six teaspoons a day, while sugary drinks like a can of Coca-Cola contains 39 grams of sugar - equal to nine teaspoons!
Blakely recommends a few alternatives to sugary drinks, depending on what your preference is. Instead of soda, she said to try naturally flavored sparkling water like La Croix, or a sugar-free electrolyte drink in place of a sports drink. “True Athlete Balanced Hydration is one of my favorites!” she added.
She also suggested Amino energy Naturally Flavored in place of energy drinks and to replace sugary coffee drinks with “black coffee or unsweetened tea, or add a healthy mix-in like a naturally flavored collagen powder.”
