Carb Carnival - What Are Good Carbohydrates

What Are Good Carbohydrates--You Might Be Surprised

Most websites will tell you what type of carbohydrates you should be eating. It is more beneficial if we look to our own preferences and then build a list of what best suits our own needs. The term Good carbohydrates can be deceiving if you look at it from the standpoint of taste alone.

All carbohydrates taste "good," especially if you throw in the not so healthy choices of processed, baked goods such as cookies or cake. And, don't forget taffy and chocolate and cotton candy..... You get the point. For the purpose of this reference to the question what are good carbs , we will draw from the "good" foods that, by definition, don't make our blood sugar levels rapidly spike up and down in a battle like seesaw effect.

The best way for everyone to identify with the effects of this "spike" in blood sugar is to use the American routine called "lunch time." It is so easy to venture out to a quick lunch without putting much effort into our food choices. In many cases, this entails a drive thru window at a fast food restaurant or a quick visit to a local diner. Lunch fare usually consists of items that, when combined, produce a not so nice effect.

The best example of American food on the go is the combination of a hamburger and french fries. In making a choice that contains a majority of carbohydrates in the form of white bread and potatoes, there is the immediate reaction by our body to convert the sugars from these foods to energy. And, since carbohydrates are the food source from which we draw our energy, an over abundance of them in our blood stream causes a different effect.

How many times have we returned from a carb laden lunch only to experience a total meltdown in concentration paired with a total desire to crawl under our desks for twenty winks? That is the "spike" effect.

What can we glean from this? It's simple. Learn how to make better "pairings" in your choices. As an alternative to the example above, why not choose a lean piece of meat with a baked potato?. By doing so, you have more evenly paired your choices and the ratio of carbs to protein is more suitable.