7 Carb Myths Debunked by Registered Dietitians
4. Cutting Carbs
Another common reason people cut carbs when they try to lose weight is the idea that they will adapt to fat and, as a result, burn more fat. It’s true that your body can run on a diet that is mostly fat. But that doesn’t mean that more body fat is burned.
Most often, the body burns fat for fuel. Fat is burned in gaps between meals and during daily activities, and this process is actually more efficient if the cells have stored a little fuel, called glycogen, from carbohydrates.
If glucose (sugar) from carbohydrates is not available for this process, protein instead of fat is broken down by the body to produce it, which is inefficient. Therefore, if you want to burn body fat, it is ideal, from a physiological perspective, to have at least some carbohydrates in your diet.
