Even though the media is constantly berating us with information to the contrary, carbohydrates are not only good for us, they are essential to our well-being.  Carbohydrates are foods that are typically starch rich and high in sugar and are our body’s main source of energy.  With that being said there are carbs that are good for us and those that we should avoid when trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Here’s a brief list of examples:

GOOD CARBS:

-vegetables

-fruit

-brown rice

-nuts

-seeds

-legumes

-whole cereal grains

-kamut pasta

BAD CARBS:

-white breads and white rice

-candies

-soda pop

-chips

-processed oatmeal

-white sugar

The reason why some carbs are listed as ‘bad’ is because they are foods that have been processed to the point that they have been stripped of all of their mineral and nutritional value.  Our bodies were not made to digest overly processed food. When we consume bad carbs they are turned into sugar and stored as fat.  Healthy carbs are full of fiber and nutrients and take the body time to digest, leaving you satisfied for longer and your insides happier.  Good carbohydrates are necessary for brain and organ function and give our bodies the fuel that we need for physical activity.

My suggestion when removing ‘bad carbs’ from your diet is to make little changes.  I switched my regular oatmeal to Creamy Brown Rice (because Lyzabeth suggested it) and I’m in love with it!  I added Quinoa and Chickpeas to my daily salads at lunch time and it leaves me feeling full and satisfied.  Also, I switched my bf from white pasta to multigrain and although it was a struggle at first, he recently commented that he know loves it so much, he’ll never go back!  Now if only I could get him into Kamut….

The thing with making any sustainable change in life, is that it has to be realistic and you have to remember that it takes time.  Giving up carbs forever is not only unsustainable, you will be robbing your body of essential nutrients necessary to function.  Changing your eating habits and veering away from overly processed food can prove to be very challenging but once you give ‘good carbs’ a chance you will start to realize how yummy they can be.

Here are some examples of carbs that I love:

creamy brown rice

Quinoa

chickpeas

for when i need a lil something crunchy!

Check out these sites for more info:

www.lyzabethlopez.com

www.robynbaldwin.com

www.goodcarbs.org