Over the years, the media and fad diets have trained people to think that all carbohydrates are bad. The fact is, carbohydrates are a common source of energy in living organisms; and some foods that are carbohydrate rich are an important source of nutrition. Some carbs, however, are not a good source of nutrition and it is important to understand the difference so you can choose wisely.
Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are carbohydrates that you can feel good about consuming. They contain essential vitamins, enzymes, iron, and dietary fiber. Fruit and some vegetables will absorb more quickly into your blood stream, providing a quicker form of energy, while the grains and most vegetables are absorbed more slowly, providing sustained and high-quality energy. Examples of grains include quinoa, barley, brown rice and whole grain oats.
Carbohydrates that have been processed and refined will spike the blood sugar (followed by “the crash”) and provide little to no nutritive value. Processed carbs are sometimes called “white foods” and these are the ones that should be avoided. Examples are sugars, white rice, regular pasta, and most breads and cereals (even if the packaging says it has whole grains in it, it likely also has sugar, flour and other processed ingredients).
So, go ahead and eat your carbs. Experiment with a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and your body and taste buds will thank you!
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