Carbohydrates are your body’s preferred source of energy and are one of the three main macronutrients you need to function properly. If eaten in moderation, carbohydrates can provide your body with energy and multiple nutrients. However, excessive carbohydrate consumption has a number of drawbacks and in this article I will discuss four of them.

1) INCREASED BODY FAT LEVELS: When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose and releases them into the blood. Any cell that requires energy can take this glucose from the blood. Cells can also store a small amount of excess glucose as glycogen. However, once these glycogen stores are filled, the remaining glucose is stored as fat. By eating too many carbohydrates, you promote increased fat storage because your blood glucose levels are always high, your glycogen stores are always full, and therefore excess glucose is stored as body fat.

2) INCREASED CHANCE OF GETTING TYPE 2 DIABETES:- Type 2 diabetes is a condition that develops when your body does not produce enough insulin or your cells begin to resist it. Eating too many carbohydrates can increase your chances of getting this disease in two ways. First, as I highlighted earlier, eating too many carbohydrates increases fat storage. Fat cells have fewer insulin receptors than muscle cells, meaning the more body fat you have, the less sensitive you are to insulin. Second, if your blood glucose levels are constantly elevated as a result of eating high levels of carbohydrates, your pancreas has to respond by producing more insulin. Forcing your body to produce high levels of insulin is often detrimental in the long run and can ultimately inhibit your pancreas’ ability to produce insulin.

3) INCREASED HUNGER LEVELS – Eating too many carbohydrates causes a sudden large spike in blood glucose levels. Your body responds by releasing high levels of insulin, causing a sudden large drop in blood glucose levels soon after. In response to these low glucose levels, your body sends out hunger signals. The overall effect is that you experience hunger pangs shortly after eating a large serving of carbohydrates even though you’ve eaten more than enough to provide your body with energy.

4) INCREASED RISK OF CELL DAMAGE: Regular consumption of excessive levels of carbohydrates can lead to high blood glucose levels. This has a number of negative implications on the cells in your body, as high blood glucose levels can damage your nerves, blood vessels, heart, eyes, and more.

I hope this article has made you aware of the possible dangers associated with consuming high levels of carbohydrates. My intention is not to completely discourage you from carbohydrates, but to make you watch your intake. By consuming carbohydrates in moderation, you can avoid the negative side effects discussed in this article and provide your body with the energy it needs. When choosing your carbohydrates, choose fruits and vegetables so you can provide your body with a variety of nutrients as well.