Diamond Plate

diamonds are Man’s BEST

FRIEND

Lots of people love the look and feel of diamond plate — for good reason. Diamond plate is practical and attractive, offering strength, durability, and an industrial aesthetic that’s hard to match with other decorative products. Here are a few diamond plate ideas that can help you get started.

CARBS

are NOT your enemy!

By Melissa McCance

These days, carbohydrates are often portrayed as an evil monster that’s making you sluggish, overweight, and miserable. The truth is that carbs—like fats and protein—are an essential macronutrient in your diet and their proper use can provide a number of benefits. Carbs are the main fuel for our bodies and provide the energy for daily activities and simply living. They are also the primary fuel for our brains and nervous systems.

When we eat carbs, our body breaks them down into sugar, which can be converted into energy straight from our bloodstream or stored as glycogen in our muscles and liver to convert into energy later.1

Inadequate carbohydrate intake can have some interesting—and unexpected—side effects. People who regularly eat below the recommended number of carbs per day are likely to have issues with an unhappy digestion (carb-rich foods are often also fiber-rich foods), an overall feeling of weakness, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, moodiness and irritability (carbs increase our production of the mood-balancing hormone serotonin), and “paint thinner breath” because the body must shift to breaking down fat for energy which produces ketones that affect the breath. If you do higherintensity exercise, a lack of carbs can mean frustrating and disappointing workouts.

Now, that being said, there certainly are smart and not-so-smart carb choices, so don’t consider this your go-ahead to gorge on cake, potato chips, and ice cream. The best sources of carbohydrates are unprocessed or minimally processed things like vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and legumes. These sources will provide not only carbs but are also excellent sources of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. So, yes, load up on all those vegetables you know you should be eating. Opt for whole fruit over fruit juice, and think beyond the bread aisle for whole grains. Things like oatmeal, quinoa, and farro are good options. And, beans are great for fiber and carbs.

Obviously, the next question is how many carbohydrates should someone eat per day? A good starting point for your carbs is 45% of your daily caloric intake and that figure will vary based on activity level, energy requirements, and other individual needs. Carbs provide four calories per gram, which means that someone eating 2,000 calories per day should start at about 225 grams of quality carbs per day. If you want to fine-tune your best carb levels, you can discuss your diet with a dietitian or nutritionist for personalized advice.

So, the bottom line? Don’t run from carbs. You need them for energy and brain health. (Actually, if your diet is too low in this nutrient, you won’t have the energy to run!)

Source: 1 “5 Signs You Need to Eat More Carbs: Nutrition: Myfitnesspal.” MyFitnessPal Blog, 5 May 2021, https://blog.myfitnesspal. com/5-signs-you-need-to-eat-more-carbs/.