Let’s be honest—carbs have been bullied for years. Rice, bread, potatoes… they’ve all been blamed for weight gain, bloating, and “falling off track.” Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to fear our plate instead of understanding it.
But here’s the truth most people don’t tell you:
👉 Carbs aren’t the problem. How we eat them is.
Why carbs got such a bad reputation
Most people didn’t gain weight from carbs alone. They gained weight from:
- highly processed foods
- blood sugar spikes and crashes
- eating carbs by themselves
- stress, poor sleep, and hormonal shifts
Functional medicine Burbank doesn’t point fingers at food—it asks:
“How does your body respond?”
And for most bodies, carbs are not optional. Their information. They tell your hormones, gut, and metabolism what to do next.
What carbs actually do for your body
Carbohydrates:
- Give you energy (especially for your brain)
- Support thyroid and hormonal balance
- Help regulate mood and sleep
- Fuel workouts and daily movement
When people remove carbs completely, they often notice:
- fatigue
- irritability
- cravings
- poor sleep
- stalled weight loss
Sound familiar? That’s your body asking for balance, not restriction.
The real secret: quality + pairing
Functional medicine Toluca Lake focuses on blood sugar balance, because when blood sugar is stable:
- hunger is manageable
- energy is steady
- fat storage decreases
- inflammation goes down
1. Choose better-quality carbs
Not all carbs are created equal. Better options most people tolerate well:
- rice (white or brown)
- potatoes and sweet potatoes
- oats
- beans and lentils
- fruit
These aren’t “bad foods.” They’re real foods.
2. Never eat carbs alone (this changes everything)
Carbs by themselves digest fast and spike blood sugar. Carbs are paired digest slowly and keep you full.
Think:
- rice + chicken + veggies
- toast + eggs + avocado
- fruit + yogurt or nuts
This simple habit:
✔ prevents energy crashes
✔ reduces cravings
✔ keeps you full longer
No tracking. No measuring. Just smarter pairing.
, digestion, and overall health.
Why do some people think carbs make them gain weight?
In Functional Medicine Los Angeles, we look deeper.
Carbs may feel like the problem when the real issues are:
- insulin resistance
- gut inflammation
- chronic stress (high cortisol)
- lack of protein or fiber
Carbs don’t cause weight gain in isolation. Dysregulated blood sugar does. Fix the foundation—and carbs stop being scary.
What sustainable weight loss really looks like
Sustainable weight loss doesn’t come from cutting food groups. It comes from:
- eating consistently
- balancing meals
- listening to your body
- supporting gut and hormone health
If you feel calmer, more energized, and less obsessed with food, you’re doing it right.
You don’t need to earn carbs.
You don’t need to fear carbs.
You just need to eat them wisely.
And yes—they can stay on your plate 🍚
Comment 🍚 if carbs are staying on your plate—and tell me your favorite one.