Carbohydrates have gotten a lot of bad press in the past few years with the advent of low carb diets, but the truth is that not all carbohydrates are "bad" and, in fact, your body needs carbs to survive.
Many people mistakenly believe that eating bacon, eggs and steak will set them on the road to a thinner body with increased energy and good health, but this is not the case. While cutting out the simple carbohydrates found in processed foods is a healthier way of eating, neglecting the complex carbs found in fruits and vegetables can be hazardous to your health.
Fruits and vegetables are packed with enzymes, vitamins, minerals and fiber. All key ingredients to your health. They also contain antioxidants which can help your body fight disease and may even help ward off certain kinds of cancer.
Picking The Best Carbs
The old saying "you are what you eat" has a lot of truth to it. You get the energy that your body uses as well as your nutritional needs such as vitamins, minerals and fiber from the foods you eat. Doesn't it make sense, then to eat foods that will provide your body with the best fuel possible?
You want to avoid foods that are processed. I'm sorry to say that most foods that can be found in packaged in your supermarket like cookies, cereals and even white bread are filled with "bad carbs". These foods are often processed to taste better and all the nutrients are stripped out in the process. Then chemicals are added in to prolong shelf life and add to color and taste. Your body has no use for these empty calories so when you eat these foods it is a big drain on the body to digest them and try to salvage any nutritional value from them.
The fruits and vegetables, on the other hand are filled with nutrients. When you eat these, your body gets lots of high energy fuel that it can use to keep up your energy levels and help your body fight off disease. In addition, the enzymes found in the fruits and veggies aid your body in the digestion process, thus freeing it up for more important activities.
So, in reality, carbohydrates are both good and bad. It is up to you to make sure you fuel your body with more of the good carbs for optimum health. A good rule of thumb when shopping is to stick to the outside aisles of the grocery store and avoid the middle. Buy as many fresh fruits and veggies as you can (organic if possible) and frequent your local farmers market to purchase locally grown produce if you are lucky enough to have one near you.
Lee Dobbins writes for various websites including sites about health, pets and even carbohydrates visit carbohydrates to learn more about carbohydrates.
green cleaning service Park Ridge ..Imagine you're a cell.Inside your body runs the machinery that... Read More
America's focus on nutritious eating began to receive national attention... Read More
Since Dr Basant Puri, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer... Read More
Female and male athletes respond to training in a fairly... Read More
Salt was used long before recorded history began. One of... Read More
Whether you're concerned about cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or simply... Read More
Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing my 6-month old... Read More
Most of us equate the word diet with calorie reduction.... Read More
With so much 'diet advice' around today it is little... Read More
Milk is highly underrated. Experts say, America finds itself in... Read More
Fiber is the part of the plant that is resistant... Read More
Images of "protein powder" containers with accomplished bodybuilders on their... Read More
Salt is vital for our health. Right now, you have... Read More
The most incredible thing you can do for yourself is... Read More
Here's food for thought! Did you know the average restaurant... Read More
The best weight training and cardio workouts will do very... Read More
The Immune System is probably the most important system in... Read More
Can we really stop the aging process, slow it down,... Read More
The ingredients list found on the back or side panel... Read More
A hundred years ago, life was very different here on... Read More
Our bodies need cholesterol. We use cholesterol to produce vitamin... Read More
ABC News has recently focused on the possible anti-aging benefits... Read More
Today's tip is on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).Hypoglycemia affects both... Read More
"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed.... Read More
Some of the things you think you know that just... Read More
cleaning help near Bannockburn ..Arthritis - if you suffer from this illness, I don't... Read More
Bye Bye HolidaysHoping everyone had a fun, fantastic, exciting and... Read More
You are what you eat is a simple, time tested... Read More
The acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry has been around for thousands of... Read More
People want to get the very best they can when... Read More
You are a mineral bodyEvery part of you is made... Read More
Coconut oil is less known compare to olive oil, corn... Read More
This is such a busy time of year, isn't it?... Read More
OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More
With new research, new products and new skin protection advice... Read More
If you are like most people, you are probably confused... Read More
Carbohydrates - found in grains, breads, pasta, and sugar, as... Read More
Since the beginning of time, everyday fruits have been known... Read More
Cholesterol is present in our bodies by one of two... Read More
A beautiful smile and healthy mouth actually can come from... Read More
In the last twenty years, a huge and growing body... Read More
Ambrotose? - the Nutritional Alphabet of the "Sweet Language of... Read More
So what's all the shake up about anyway?. To put... Read More
I had finally come to a place in my life... Read More
Protein is one of the basic building blocks of the... Read More
When was the last time you consumed soda? Most likely,... Read More
In health circles there has been much recent talk about... Read More
Our diet is an essential factor for the formation of... Read More
How often do you pick up items at the grocery... Read More
The old clich? that you are what you eat is... Read More
Nutrition |