Sam Howells and Ben Jones have the answers to all your diet and nutrition questions. They are directors at diet, weightloss and holistic health provider BlueSkies and have over 20 years of experience in the health, fitness and nutrition industry- helping people make healthy food choices, manage their weight and become fitter and healthier.

Ben asks:

Do carbs have any nutritional benefit? Is it safe to cut them out?

The Nutritionists’ Answer:

Carbohydrate is the body’s primary energy or fuel, and foods containing starchy carbohydrate should make up the majority of our daily energy intake. However, not all carbohydrates are equal and we should try to choose wholegrain or lower Glycemic Index (GI) options such as wholewheat pasta, brown basmati rice, cous cous, whole oats, wholewheat cereals and rye, granary and wholewheat or seeded breads. 

You will also find carbohydrate in vegetables, fruit, dairy products and anything containing sugar. In fact, it is almost impossible to cut out carbohydrates completely and, if you did, you would have a very restricted diet and you would miss out on a lot of essential vitamins, minerals and fibre. You’re hopefully realising now that the answer to the second half of your question is an emphatic no, it’s not safe to cut them out!

In the body, glucose (also known as carbohydrate) fuels the brain and nervous system. So, without an adequate intake of foods containing carbohydrate you are likely to feel tired and mentally slow. You would also find it hard to concentrate, suffer from a poor short-term memory and possibly headaches. Physically carbohydrate is the preferred fuel for muscles and low carbohydrate stores in muscles lead to fatigue and weakness.

To find out more about the pros and cons of following a low carb diet such as the Atkins diet, Click Here: Atkins Diet Information and Advice

Sam Howells, pictured. Sam is an accredited Sports Physiologist with a Masters in Sports Science. Sam says, ’My passion is to see as many people as possible leading healthy, active lives in ways that suit them - eating well and being active is not necessarily hard, doesn’t have to cost a fortune and doesn’t need to take up 90% of your time!’

Ben Jones, pictured. Ben is a personal trainer with a BSC in Physiology. Ben has a ‘practice what you preach’ attitude and follows a regular training programme - currently a mix of running, cycling and weight training.

Wouldn’t it be better to learn to eat healthily and enjoy delicious, lower calorie, nutritious food, rather than living on junk food, milkshakes, supplements or meal replacement bars? Find out how from our resident nutrition experts!

If you have a question about making your diet healthy and balanced, losing weight sensibly, the latest food and performance supplements, fad diets or whether your diet meets your body’s requirements, all you have to do is send them your question using the Comment on this Article box below. And remember – sign up to our monthly health and fitness newsletter to receive your expert answer direct in your in-box.

For more information on diet, nutrition, holistic health and the simple changes you can make to look and feel fantastic, visit www.blueskiesfitness.co.uk