Have you always wondered what’s the difference between white bread and whole grain bread? Or, the difference between French fries and side salad with spinach, tomatoes, and carrots? All these foods are carbohydrates, but how do you know which ones are the good ones?
Carbohydrates have had a reputation of being bad and being the cause of weight gain while they have been promoted as a healthful nutrient. So how do you tell the difference? Fortunately it’s not as hard as it seems.
Your “good” carbs are going to be full of fiber. These are carbs that are absorbed slowly into your body and do not spike your blood sugar levels. Some examples are: whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans. You can’t judge a carb as ”good” without considering its fiber content.
Now the bad carbs are refined and processed carbs that strip away any beneficial fiber. Examples being: white bread and white rice. Avoid excess sugars such as high fructose corn syrup. Many adults don’t realize how much sugar they actually consume in a day.
In many fad diets that are going around, they are cutting out all carbohydrates all together. But in reality you need these to meet the body’s daily nutritional needs while minimizing risk for chronic disease. You also need your fiber, which you can only get through plant foods. You can increase your risk for heart disease with low-fiber diets.
So before you cut out all carbs from your diet, remember that there are good ones out there that you actually need to help you stay healthy.
