We hear a lot of negativity about carbs. Why they’re bad for us, why we should eliminate them from our diet. But what about the good carbs? They exist! Get ‘em while they’re good!
Sure, there are a lot of carbs out there that are unhealthy for us, and many people think a carb is a carb and want to succumb to the madness that all carbs are bad. On the contrary, there are a lot of carbs that are healthy and good for us. Let us set the record straight and delve into the good carbs!
What Are Carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are a source of energy that contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are the sugars, starches, and fibers that are found in the food we eat. The body converts the carbohydrates eaten into sugar that are then absorbed into the bloodstream. It then moves into the cells, giving us energy.
What Is the Difference Between Bad Carbs and Good Carbs
Trying to make a healthy change in your lifestyle? Incorporate healthy carbs into your diet. Just remember, carbs come in many forms; pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables can all contain carbs, whether it is a small or large amount.
So how do you know the difference? When considering buying pasta, bread or rice for example, if your food choice is white, it is safe to say it is an unhealthy carb choice. Why? Because it has been processed and stripped of the beneficial nutrients that it can provide us. So, if you are in the grocery store make healthier choices and aim for whole wheat breads containing low sugar, whole wheat pasta, and brown rice. These are known as complex carbs. The body works a little harder to digest complex carbs, reducing sugar spikes, keeping our bellies full for a longer period, while supplying us with a more nutrient dense food source.
Fruits, vegetables, and dairy products are classified as containing simple carbs. This means that the body can break this type of carbohydrate down quickly and use it as a quick source of energy. Fruits and vegetables contain natural sugars that the body is quickly able to utilize. These types of simple carbs containing natural sugar are better for your body. Candy containing carbs are not.
Why We Need Good Carbs?
Good carbs make us happy, fuel our bodies, and provide us with great benefits. Say what? Exactly! Benefits! Here are a few of those benefits.
1. The fiber found in complex carbs can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, lower your cholesterol and reduce heart disease.
2. Carbs take the brunt for gaining weight. However, eating nutrient-dense complex carbs, and simple carbs found in fruits and vegetables can help you lower your weight. How? You stay fuller longer, so you snack less with complex carbs. The simple carbs found in the fruits and vegetables give you quick bursts of energy without a high-calorie surplus.
3. As mentioned, energy! We all need it, and a balanced diet containing healthy carbs will give us more energy to stay active both mentally and physically.
At the end of the day, a carb is a carb, but how we fuel our body with a healthy, balanced diet makes all the difference in the end.
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