Do you need carbs in your diet?

Eskimo (Inuits) traditionally eat diets high in fat and protein with very little carbohydrates. Surprisingly, they have low rates of cardio vascular disease - at least the ones who haven't succumbed to the western diet. Dr Eric westman from the Duke University Medical Centre Questioned the need for carbohydrates in human diets. He noted there is little evidence that extreme restriction of carbohydrate is harmful and that carbohydrate restriction helps fight obesity. Before you cut carbs from your diet, consider that your muscles use carbs for fuel whenever you train above 65% of maximum capacity. Also , carbohydrates are the most important fuel for the brain and nervous system. Cutting carbs will help you lose body fat , but you need them for high - intensity training . More than 50 years of research shows that athletes involved in heavy training perform better if they have carbs available in their diets .

Ref ( Am J Clin Nutr, 2002:75,5: 951-953)