Carb Conundrum - Bad Carbs

The Good And The Bad Carbs, And Knowing The Difference

It seemed that for such a long time, people were convinced that low carb or no carb diets were the only way people could lose weight. That's a fair assessment given the number of people who have lost weight this way. However, cutting carbs as drastically as these diets require isn't good for you, and more and more people are realizing that all the time. In fact, now more than ever, the emphasis is on good carbs. So what's the difference between good carbs and bad carbs?

Bad carbs and you

People confuse good carbs and bad carbs all the time.

You might think of "good" as tasty, as in bread, pasta, rice, sugary foods, etc. But the reality of it is that these "tasty" foods are actually loaded with bad carbs. So what's the difference between good carbs and bad carbs? Deep down you probably know.

Good carbs are foods like whole grains, whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, brown or long grain rice, fruits and vegetables. All of these foods are loaded with fiber, which not only keeps you regular but also keeps you feeling full for longer periods of time, so you aren't constantly experiencing sugar highs and lows.

So many bad carbs, so much fat!

Bad carbs are found in foods that are refined, i.e., foods that are made with white flour or sugar. White bread, white rice, regular pasta, and anything with sugar are all examples. (Come on, did you really think we were going to tell you that cake and ice cream are good for you?)

Instead of starting a low carb diet, first make some changes in the kind of food you eat. Eliminate the bad carbs in healthy fashion. You can start out small by eating whole wheat or whole grain bread instead of white, using whole wheat flour instead of white flour, eating fruit instead of cake, pie, candy, etc., eating fresh vegetables instead of crackers and chips, eating whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta and eating brown or long grain rice instead of white rice. You might be thinking that some of these foods (like brown rice or whole wheat pasta) are gross, but don't knock it until you've tried it. We'll bet you won't notice much of a difference, other than you'll feel full longer than you would have otherwise,and as a result, you'll eat less often!