Knowing what to eat is just as important as knowing how much to eat; but one of the most important components of a diet is the number of carbohydrates that you consume.
Carbohydrates often referred to, as ‘carbs’ are the main sources of energy that we get from our food. Although, we could get energy from proteins and fats, carbs specifically glucose provides us with the essential nutrients required for our brain. Therefore it is very important to include a good amount of carbs in our diet. However, we often get misled by including, ‘bad carbs’ over ‘good carbs’ in our diet.
So what are good and bad carbs?
‘Good carbs’, better known as Complex carbs refer to those carbs that take more time for the body to break down & use.
For example, green vegetables, lentils, peas and whole grains, starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes, beans, potatoes, pumpkin & corn. These carbs have a lower glycemic load, meaning that YOU get lower amounts of sugar/s released into your body at a higher and consistent rate. Choosing complex carbs over simple carbs is just a matter of making a SMART choice! It is as simple as switching from white to brown rice!
Remember: the more Fibrous a food substance is, the more complex are the carbs!
On the other hand, ‘Bad carbs’, also known as ‘Simple Carbs’ refer to those carbs that break down quickly by the body so that they can be used for energy. For example, fruits, milk or milk products all contain simple carbs. Other sources include sugar; soft drinks, syrups and candy are good examples of foods having simple carbs.
This does not mean that ALL the food substances from ‘bad carbs’ are worse than those from ‘good carbs’. It is all about the correct distribution of carbs in one’s diet and at appropriate intervals.
Carbs are always going to be an essential component of your diet; you need them for your survival. However, carbs also bring a lot of calories with them.
To know more about calorie consumption in your diet, stay tuned and read the next blog entry!
