In the Carb Battle-Which Side Would You Choose?

What is a carb? The term is short for carbohydrates. These are sugars that provide our body with the energy to function. Some carbs are better at this job than others.

Admittedly, I am a junk food addict. As such I have a few extra pounds of weight I need to lose. I realized before doing research on this article I do not eat well. I did not realize almost everything I do eat is considered a bad carbohydrate.

So what are good carbohydrates? What do they do? A good carbohydrate typically takes the form of green and leafy beans, legumes, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and whole grain cereals. Good carbohydrates are more natural and better used for energy production of the human body. Our bodies can break down these foods more easily than foods that are considered unhealthy carbs. Because of this ability to break down easily, good carbs can help a person to lose body fat more safely while continuing to allow for an increase in energy. If you want to lose weight, grab some carrot sticks to munch on instead of potato chips.

Good carbs contain high fiber, a low glycemic index, are high in nutrition, provide low energy density for sustained energy without the drained feeling that usually comes with the consumption of too much sugar from unhealthy carbohydrates, and they also naturally stimulate metabolism.

Good carbohydrates are the angels of the food world in comparison to their cousins-the bad carbohydrates.

So what are bad carbohydrates? What do they do? A bad carbohydrate typically takes the form of food that is tasty. Baked goods, candies, regular soda drinks, white breads, and even pasta! Many unhealthy carbs are unnatural because they have had nutrients removed for shipment to where they are sold. Unhealthy carbs are refined and processed so they do not help much with energy. If someone drank several sodas and consumed a lot of this type of sugar, there would be a drop in energy rather quickly after the initial burst. Our bodies cannot process this type of carb well so over consumption of the carbs that fall into this category makes a person more prone to gain weight. Most of these foods give empty calories and have little to no nutritional value.

In my opinion, the good carbohydrate wins even though the bad carbohydrate is tasty and tempting.