Good Carbs Vs. Bad Carbs There really isn't that big a difference between one carb or another. Carbs are carbs. As long as I eat carbs, I'll have all the energy I need. These are just some of the myths about carbohydrates. Is there really that big a difference between one carb or another? Absolutely! Carb are carbs, right? Wrong! Won't eating carbs always give you energy? Couldn't be further from the truth. There are good carbs (or carbohydrates) and bad, and there's a world of difference between them. And, if you're looking for energy, reaching for bad carbs is one of the worst things you can do. There's a reason why the term 'good carbs' is topping all searches for health trends these days. It's because eating good carbs is a great way to rev up, not just for your daily activities, but for that healthy lifestyle you've always dreamed of living. Complex carbs So what are good carbs, exactly? For the most part the answer is simple. Actually, the answer is complex. Wait. The answer is simple and complex. In other words, many carbs that are considered 'good carbs' are those that are 'complex' carbs. Good, or complex, carbohydrates are those that are rich in vital nutrients such as protein, healthy oils or fats, fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Numerous medical studies, one such from the University of Maryland Medical Center, recommend that adults get between 40 and 60 percent of their total daily caloric intake from carbohydrates... the good ones. So what are healthy foods that are rich in good carbs? These include vegetables; fruits; whole grains such as quinoa, oatmeal, and whole grain breads; lentils and beans, low-fat milk and plain low-fat yogurt; and even some nuts such as sunflower seeds and almonds. Simple carbs Simple carbs are often bad carbs. In fact, simple-carb foods that are considered 'bad carbs' are pretty simple to discern. Foods that contain a lot of refined sugars or highfructose corn syrup are bad carbs. Foods that are heavy on the processing and light on the nutrition are bad carbs. These include candies, cakes, sodas, cookies, and other processed foods. Even some of the so-called 'energy' products on the market today are bad carbs because they contain large amounts of sugar and processing. These can include many 'energy' bars and even high-fiber bars because they contain large amounts of refined sugars. However, fruits and milk products that contain natural sugars can be considered
simple carbs. Many of them are considered good carbs because of their beneficial nutritional makeup. Bad carbs So how do you discern a good carb from a bad carb? In most cases, it's pretty simple. Check the nutritional label. If you see refined sugars, you're likely about to eat a bad carb. If you see very little nutritional value, you're likely to eat a bad carb. In fact, if you're seeing a label on the food you're eating, there's a good chance you're eating a bad carb. Though many foods that contain labels, such as leanprotein meats and low-fat milks, are considered good carbs, the fact is that most processed foods such as cookies, pastries, doughnuts, crackers, chips, sodas, and white breads are bad carbs. So how do you know you're getting enough good carbs in your diet? Simple. Include at least four to five servings of natural fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Include lean proteins such as chicken, fish, and lean beef. And when snacking, reach for nuts or other good carbs. Heavy on the lean and natural, and light on the processed... this is the simplest way to know you're leaning toward the good and avoiding the bad. Tossing a 'bad carb' in your diet every now and then isn't a bad thing. In fact, indulging a little once in awhile can actually be a good thing, especially if you're trying to watch your weight. After all, if you feel like you're depriving yourself of all those foods you enjoy most, you're far more likely to binge than if you engage in an infrequent indulgence. However, including too many bad carbs in your daily diet is a recipe for disaster, and not just because you're eating the bad ones. The formula is quite simple, really. If you're eating too many bad carbs, this means you're also not eating the good ones, and that can leave your body seriously lacking in vital nutrients. For a healthy lifestyle that includes all the energy your body requires, eating good carbs is a health trend everyone needs to follow. Can you indulge in a bad carb every now and again? Of course. Just be sure that the number of good carbs you include in your daily diet far outweighs those infrequent little 'bad carb' indulgences.