When it comes to carbs and weight loss, you'll find dozens of conflicting opinions on how many carbs you should consume each day, when you should eat them and what types of carbs you need to include in your daily meal plan. Understanding how carbs play a role in your diet can be confusing, but once you understand some simple principles about how the body uses and stores calories from carbohydrates and what you need to do to avoid gaining weight from excess carbs, the process of weight loss is much, much simpler. Whether you want to lose 5 pounds or 50 pounds, you can lose weight easily when you understand the truth behind carbs and weight loss.

Why Your Body Needs Carbs

Carbohydrates are a primary source of fuel for the body and are easily converted into energy. Your mind and body need carbohydrates to function at their optimal level, and you can meet your daily carb requirement by eating several different types of foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals and flour products.

Not eating enough carbs can leave you feeling tired, anxious, lethargic and depressed. Eating the wrong types of carbohydrates on a regular basis can also be very unhealthy; too much sugar or starch in your diet can raise your blood sugar levels too quickly and leave you "crashing" just a few hours later. When you're trying to lose weight, you need to eat a certain amount of carbs to have enough energy to get through your day but need to cut back or eliminate some sources of carbohydrates completely.

Not All Carbs Are Created Equal

The most important thing to remember about carbs is that not all carbs are created equal. High-carb foods such as white bread, pasta, sugar and potatoes are made up of refined carbs and are quickly absorbed by the body. Eating these foods releases a high level of insulin into the bloodstream, which means you'll be hungry only a few hours later. Unfortunately, your body has already absorbed all those extra calories, but you won't know the difference when hunger sets in.

If you had eaten unrefined carbs, or slow-absorbing carbs instead, you would feel fuller, longer. Unrefined carbs such as oatmeal, brown rice, whole-wheat pasta and whole grains are absorbed much more slowly and will leave you feeling full and satiated. These carbs also contain a high amount of fiber, which is important for keeping your digestive system in good order.

Don't let the media or the latest fad diet book tempt you into thinking that a low-carb diet is the only solution for weight loss. Carbs play an important role for keeping you healthy because they are an important resource for your energy supply; making sure you eat enough healthy carbs is the key to successful weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight. Just make sure the bulk of your diet comprises unrefined carbs so you can lose weight and keep it off for the long-term.