Yes, You Can Eat Bread, Pasta and Other Carbs!

There are good breads, and there are crummy breads. In general, any bread that's targeted towards kids is pure junk. Any super-soft loaf that can be easily squeezed to the point where you can practically feel your thumb against your middle finger is garbage that even a stray dog doesn't deserve. The heavier and denser the loaf, the more loaded it is with pure whole grains.

Breads sold at mainstream supermarkets almost always contain preservatives (such as calcium propionate, "to retard spoilage") and even hydrogenated oils. Breads sold at health food stores have no preservatives and are made with "healthy" kinds of fats. Whole-grain breads are best, often made with organic ingredients. Some whole-grain breads have organic nuts and seeds, an extra boost of healthiness and taste.

Whole-grain or plant-based pastas are available, and some come in organic varieties. These are found at health food stores, or "natural" sections of conventional food marts. Forget the glop that comes in a can and is advertised on TV. Some of this stuff contains soy; big deal. Experts aren't even sure now if soy is as good for the body as the soy industry has cracked it up to be.

Some carbohydrates have anti-cancer properties. Complex carbs take longer to digest, which helps keep you satiated, and are associated with lower cancer and heart disease risk: wheat, barley, oatmeal, lentils, potatoes, yams, peas, lima beans, to name a few. The rule is, if it came straight from the earth, it's a complex carb.

If man created it, it's likely a simple carb: Most cereals, especially sugary kids' cereals, plus kiddie fruit drinks, soda, some energy bars, yogurt, and traditional snack foods, are classic examples of simple carbohydrate, highly processed foods. Limit your consumption of these kinds of carbs.

The best time to eat these processed carb foods, if you must have them at all, is soon after a very intense physical workout. This is the time that your body's metabolism is in high gear, and your body will use those carbs for much-needed recuperative energy. Your best bet is to include protein with those carbs, because protein helps your body process carbs more efficiently.

An example of a good meal following a rigorous workout might be a broiled chicken breast, plus yogurt mixed with fruit, and steamed broccoli or cauliflower. Or, try a turkey salad made with raw cabbage, plus grape juice (the real thing, not the fake powder stuff), and a 100 percent whole wheat roll.