The mighty Carb! Is it good for you or not? Should you eat them or stay away from them like a plague? Do they make you fat? Or are they a good source of energy? There are so many questions, comments, and frankly a bad reputation when you think about carbohydrates.
Our media has saturated us with ways to lose weight only be eliminating every carb in your diet. “Just eat protein and stay away from carbs…you’ll be the skinniest ever!:”
Ummmm….skinny maybe but not really healthy, energetic, muscular, nor sustainable. There, I said it. Eliminating carbs is a REALLY BAD IDEA!
Key to eating correctly is educating yourself on not only the food you eat but how YOUR body digests and metabolizes food. All of our bodies need carbohydrates no matter what though, carbohydrates are your energy source. Think of them as your gas for your car (your body). If you don’t have gas in your car, it will not run. If it doesn’t run, it will eventually break down completely.
Our bodies work the exact same way. So let me say it one more time…..Our bodies need carbohydrates!
Our job is to know what carbs are good for us because not all carbs are created equally. The processed carb that Americans so love –white bread, white rice, cookies, and soft drinks – have led to carbohydrates’ being blamed for everything from our expanding waistlines to heart disease to the epidemic of type II diabetes.
Foods with complex carbs also typically have more vitamins, fiber, and minerals than food containing more simple carbs, as long as you are choosing whole grains over processed ones. For example, whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, barley and oats provide more nutrients than processed grains such as white rice and breads, pasta, and baked goods with white flour.
Nutrient-dense complex carbs that are part of a healthy, balanced diet include:
Whole wheat breads and flours
Brown and wild rices
Barley
Sweet Potatoes
Quinoa