Carbs - the good, the bad and the ugly

Carbohydrates - What are they and should they be avoided?

The short answer... no. Carbohydrates are the sugars, starches and fibers found in fruit, grains, and vegetables. Our body needs carbs. But there is a difference between the types of carbohydrates.

I am sure you have heard of low or no carb diets. You may have even tried one of these. I know I did. Did you feel tired, cranky or even have intestinal problems while following these types of diets? It is not a fun time.

Carbohydrates are another of the macronutrients our body needs. Carbs are used first for energy for the body and even our muscles prefer carbs. But again...there is a difference in the types of carbs.

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SIMPLE CARBS

These are they carbohydrates you want to avoid. As soon as you eat a simple carbohydrate, your body converts it into sugar and it is stored in the cells. This leads to weight gain and sometimes diabetes. Examples of simple carbs are:

• White flour

• candy

• soda

• syrups

• any type of "enriched" flour - even if it says wheat

COMPLEX CARBS

Complex carbs are good for you and you should have some of this everyday. Complex carbs keep you feeling fuller longer because they are digested slower and most of them usually contain fiber. Examples of complex carbs are:

• beans

• whole grains

• lentils

• nuts

This can be confusing at first. Just remember to shoot for eating anything that says "whole grain", doesn't say "enriched" and doesn't contain a lot of sugar.