Member-only story
Are Naked Carbs Sabotaging Your Energy?
A Bite-Size Read for Smarter Eating
The phrase “naked carbs” gained some traction on social media, leaving many people wondering two things:
What the heck are they? And should we be worried about them?
From TikTok nutrition influencers to wellness gurus, the term sparked a bit of debate. Let’s reveal the real deal.
Cutting through the noise, “naked carbs” simply refers to carbohydrates eaten alone, without other foods. Think bread, plain pasta, crackers, granola, etc.
I’d like to add a bit of nuance to this. It’s not just eating carbs but eating high glycemic carbs. Why is this potentially problematic? While carbs are an essential part of nutrition, they are the preferred fuel for the body, consuming them in isolation can cause spikes and subsequent drops in blood sugar, leading to energy crashes, hunger pangs (anyone ever been hangry?!), increased cravings for more high glycemic foods and fat storage.
If you’ve ever had a bowl of cereal for breakfast, or even oatmeal, and found yourself ravenous by mid-morning, you’ve experienced the naked carb effect firsthand. Your blood sugar and insulin rise quickly, and you’re on a fast track to feeling sluggish and reaching for another snack in about an hour or two.
