What Kind of Carbohydrates Can I Eat?

Do you have trouble resisting that tempting basket of warm bread placed at your table when you sit down to eat? I know I do, but I also know that I have to be very conscientious about the types of carbohydrates that I eat. I love carbs, but one of the things I have learned during four years of losing 100 pounds and keeping it off is that I have to monitor my carb intake.

I'm not advocating a low carb diet. Your body needs a certain amount of carbs to function. I simply want you to understand the difference between good carbohydrates and bad carbs. Then, you will understand which carbs you can eat without blowing your diet and gaining weight.

There are two kinds of carbs, generally considered "good carbs" and "bad carbs." These are refined carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates.

Refined carbohydrates included bleached flour, white bread, flour pasta, and sweets. Every time you eat refined carbohydrates it causes your pancreas to dump more insulin in your body. If you continue to produce more and more insulin it is likely that your carbs will be stored as fat instead of being used as energy. Another reason to avoid refined carbohydrates is because they are highly processed and have had many of the good nutrients removed by the refining process.

It is better to eat complex carbohydrates.

Complex carbs include vegetables, fruit, and unprocessed wheat, rice, and flour. It includes true whole grain breads and pastas. Carbohydrates such as these are broken down more slowly and take longer to enter your bloodstream which cuts down on blood sugar spikes.

In order to lose weight and keep it off it is a good idea to make a decision and a commitment to rid your kitchen, your plate, and your diet of refined carbohydrates. Replace white bread with whole grain bread. Instead of using white rice try whole grain rice. Instead of having french fries opt for a dry baked potato, or even better, a dry baked sweet potato.

There are a number of complex carbs that can help you meet the daily requirement for carbs. Because your body and brain requires carbohydrates for basic functions a diet that eliminates carbs altogether is not considered healthy. You can find a variety of complex carbs that taste great, help fill you up, and don't cause your insulin production to go crazy in the process, as it does with refined carbs.

You'll feel better and less sluggish too, once you eliminate refined carbohydrates from your diet.

Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/carbohydrates
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/carbohydrates-full-story/
http://www.fitnessexplosion.com/good-bad-carbs.htm