Carbohydrates are found in a wide array of foods—bread, beans, milk, potatoes, cookies, spaghetti, soft drinks, corn and many more. They also come in a variety of forms. The most com- mon and abundant forms are sugars, fibers, and starches. Some popular diets treat carbohydrates as if they are bad, the cause of all body fat and ex- cess weight. There is some evidence that a low- carbohydrate diet may help people lose weight more quickly than a low-fat diet, although that
is on short term. The human body uses carbo- hydrates for energy production. It’s not a good idea to avoid all carbs, even if you’re trying to lose weight. There is a huge difference between the natural, wholesome, ‘good’ carbs and the unnatu- ral, highly-processed, ‘refined’ carbs. For optimal health, get your good carbs from foods such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole grain pasta, quinoa, whole oats, legumes, leafy greens and beans.
Good carbs generally are high in fiber, lower cho- lesterol levels, help remove toxins from the body, have a low glycemic index and are high in nutri- ents ( vitamins, minerals, enzymes).
Bad carbs are refined, processed carbohydrate foods that have had all or most of their nutrients and fiber removed in order to make them taste better. Most baked goodies, white breads, pasta, snacks, candies, and soft drinks fit into this cat- egory.
Tips: Avoid or limit your intake of refined-flour baked goods. Replace the processed, high-sugar break- fast cereals with whole-grain cereals and oatmeal. Choose organic foods whenever possible. Organic foods are free of pesticides and other bad sub- stances. Try to cut out as much ‘junk food’ from your diet as possible. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits!
