Good, Bad Carbs
The Good, the Bad, And The Healthy Carbs
Carbs are one of the most important factors of a dieter’s
vocabulary. There are several diets are famous for fighting
carb consumption. Well, you should understand that not every
carbohydrate is created alike. While it is true that you can
lose weight by cutting carbs, but carbs are also necessary
for a healthy life.
Carbs are derived from several different sources. The carbs
exist in bread, pasta, fruits, and vegetables. The carbs can
also come in the form of sugars, starches, and fiber.
Our digestive system will divide carbs into sugar molecules
which can be taken into the bloodstream. Most of the carbs
are transformed into glucose or blood sugar so that the carbs
provide energy for our bodies. This is why those who lack
sufficient carbs in their diet may suffer from fatigue.
Carbs can be filled with nutrients such that as fruits contain
vitamins A and C, fiber, and folate. Vegetables are good sources
of vitamin and fiber. In fact, they usually contain a greater
variety of minerals than other foods do. Whole grains can
provide you with fiber, protein, and B vitamins while the
legumes provide you with protein, iron, and potassium.
However, carbs can also be potentially bad for your health.
For example, cookies, potato chips, and soft drinks contain
carbs in the form of sugar and flour. You should be reminded
that these refined carbohydrates have been linked with diabetes
and heart diseases, making these carbs a dangerous choice
of food. There are a number of good reasons to ban these carbs
from your diet. For example, they are awfully high in calories
and have very little nutrients. Since they contain no fiber,
they will not keep you satiated. Such carbs offer you nothing
but plenty of fat.
Therefore, you should cut down on processed grains and sugars.
Take whole grains, fruits, and vegetables instead to maximize
your nutritional intake. Instead of cutting completely down
on carbs, simply ban those that increase your weight.
Besides that, you can also divide carbs into two categories,
which are simple and complex. A simple carb such as sugar
will contribute weight gain. So, you should choose low-sugar
foods, especially low-sugar beverages. Ironically, complex
carbohydrates promote weight loss. Health experts advise that
dieters consume between 55 and 65% of their calories from
these types of carbs. These cabrs include fruits and vegetables
and some other natural foods.
Always avoid fattening sauces and condiments such as mayonnaise
and butter. Adding butter to your broccoli or mayonnaise to
your potatoes, you can raise the calorie amount exponentially,
damaging your diet.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has come up with a food
pyramid that recommends as many as eleven servings of bread,
pasta, and cereal. However, the dieticians suggest that Americans
should cut the carbs. In one poll, 81% of the respondents
said they were abiding by a low-carb diet.
Interestingly, neither the American Heart Association nor
the American Diabetes Association believes that the glycemic
index should be considered when following a weight loss plan.
While the Diabetes Association concedes that different types
of food offer different glycemic responses, the Association’s
leaders believe the major factor is the amount of carbs rather
than the form of the carbs consumed.
The information about carbs is also confusing. Some dieticians
say that you should eat less carbs instead of cutting it down
completely. Health experts also say that you should limit
your carb intake to good carbs and pass up the bad ones. By
following such a plan, you should have energy without adding
to your weight. It may be difficult at first to follow such
a diet plan, since many of us are conditioned to eat bad carbs
in order to raise our moods. When you find yourself enjoying
the fruits and vegetables you’re eating, and you may
not even miss those tortilla chips.
| 
