The Importance of Carbohydrates in Young Adults by Lexi Goldsworthy

Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy and the primary source of energy that fuels your brain. They help to quickly increase muscle glycogen resynthesis which allows you to prepare and recover from a workout. They are also an excellent source of fibre and B vitamins. At a young age it is very important to make sure that we are getting the amount of energy that we need because our bodies are still growing. During this age group our body’s need the right amount of every food group that they require to grow and develop at a healthy rate.

It is important to remember that our body needs carbohydrates and not to fear or steer away from carbohydrates because they are perceived as “unhealthy” or a treat. . Cutting out carbohydrates, especially at this crucial age can make you feel tired and rundown. This makes it a lot harder to be physically active which is equally as important as a healthy diet in our youth because it will allow our muscles to grow and develop.

Some examples of the best carbs to fuel your body with are:

• Unprocessed or minimally processed wholegrains food like oats and rice.
• High carb vegetables like potatoes, peas, corn and squash.
• High carb fruits like bananas, oranges and apples.
• All types of beans or chickpeas.

These high carb foods will also supply your body with fibre that promotes good digestive health and can lower your risk of heart disease and diabetes from a young age.

Make sure you give your body the energy and nutrients it needs to be able to grow. Think about it as the more energy you have, the more things you will be able to do every day.

Try not to overthink or feel guilty about enjoying carbohydrates and to nourish your body as best you can. Just remember that your body is still growing!