Carb Carnival - Good Carbohydrates

All There Is To Know About Good Carbohydrates

There's so much conflicting information about good carbohydrates out there these days.
We're going to try to set the record straight with our explanation of good carbohydrates.
Sit back and enjoy what is sure to be a wild and entertaining ride.

Good Carbohydrates vs. Bad Carbohydrates

With all the hype the last several years about low carb diets and carbs being bad in general, many people are skeptical of all carbohydrates. But did you know that most vegetables are carbohydrates? And who ever heard of an obese vegetarian? Come on, now. Be sensible! That's exactly what good carbohydrates are--sensible! But most people think that good carbohydrates are about as appealing as their grandmother's shoes. That's not necessarily true though. Finding good carbohydrates is not as hard as you may think.

The carbohydrates that make us gain weight are the ones made with white flour and refined sugar. Most of us eat too many of those carbohydrates, which are, essentially, the bad carbohydrates. These cause your blood sugar to soar like a rocket then drop like lead--fairly quickly too. Where as the good carbohydrates are usually fiber-rich foods that keep you feeling full longer. They keep your blood sugar stabilized and they prevent your body from producing more insulin than it needs. (Too much insulin production leads to weight gain.)

Making the switch to the good carbohydrates

Switching from bad carbohydrates to good carbohydrates might seem hard at first, especially if you're addicted to desserts, but give it a chance, and before you know it, it will be second nature to you. Your appetite will seem smaller, and over time, you might even find yourself losing weight. Is it fast weight loss? No. Is it lasting? Yes--as long as you continute to make the right carb choices. Here's a list of ways you can make substitutions:

Instead of eating white breads, choose whole wheat and whole grain breads
Instead of eating regular pasta, choose whole wheat pasta
Instead of white rice, try brown rice or long grain rice
Instead of desserts, eat fruit (this one's really tough for a lot of people)
Instead of chips and crackers, snack on raw veggies (another tough one) or nuts

Since our bodies need 130 grams of carbs a day to function, choosing foods with low carbohydrates is much better than choosing to go on a low carb (or practically no carb) diet. Does that sound too complex for you? In your search for the ultimate guide that answers the question what are good carbohydrates , keep an open mind and make rational choices.