I cycle carbs usually. nothing bad about them at all! esp for women, they are beneficial for hormone production. I just feel better when I cycle and it feels ancestrally consistent to me. when I do keto, my body switches to fat as fuel. additionally, ketones are mega anti inflammatories. so much so that cases of schizophrenia have gone into complete remission in ketosis. that's an extreme case obvi but shows the healing power of ketones. as with everything tho, diet is bio-individual and i've found what works for me.

As someone who is extremely low carb (average less than 5g/day), I can say that they are not required for energy. My energy levels are far more consistent throughout the day than they were when consuming more carbs.

The carbs I do consume are mainly the lactose in dairy products, dextrose in cured meats, and the occasional treat - like a handful of raisins, or a bite or two of cheesecake. I actually try to consume any *treats* at night, so I don't inadvertently end up in an energy fluxuation pattern. Carbs in the morning are horrible.