Carb Commando - Good Carbohydrates

Good Carbohydrates

What are good carbohydrates? Keep reading to see how good carbohydrates work.

Getting Started

If you're getting ready to start a low carb diet, you might be doing a little research on carbohydrates. You'll find there are two different types of carbohydrates--complex and simple (also known as good carbohydrates and bad carbohydrates). Once you know the difference between good carbs and bad, it should make the task of finding good carbohydrates much easier.

Why Good Carbohydrates are So Good

The low carb craze has given all carbs a bad rap, but not all carbs are bad. The good carbohydrates are called complex carbohydrates, and they include bread and pasta made with whole wheat flour, fruits, vegetables, legumes, dairy products, whole grains, sweet potatoes, brown rice, grapefruit, fat-free milk and apples. They also have a good amount of fiber. These are all slowly digested carbs that will give you that full, satisfied feeling because they cause your blood sugar to go up slowly. If you opt for a snack that has bad carbohydrates instead of good carbohydrates, the bad carbs (any refined, high-sugar, white-flour foods) it will cause your blood sugar to rise rapidly. And since they are digested quickly, you're likely to be hungry again very soon after eating (and tired too) because your blood sugar will crash. That's why good carbohydrates are a better choice.

Making the Switch

If you quit all carbs cold turkey, it's not good for you. It can damage your kidneys and make you sluggish and grouchy. And it's hard. So start slowly. Instead of using regular pasta, switch to whole wheat pasta. Instead of white bread, switch to whole wheat bread.

Here are a couple of other benefits of good carbohydrates:

They can help prevent diabetes and heart disease
They can help fight fatigue, mood swings, stress and obesity

Complex carbs needn't be a complex issue. Instead of cutting carbs out completely, just make the switch to the good ones.

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