Choosing Carbohydrates Wisely

Fruits, vegetables, grains, rice, breads, cereals – these are all familiar foods that can be found in grocery stores, restaurants, and kitchens across the world. And, contrary to what some dieter believe about carbohydrates, these foods can be sources of the good kinds of carbohydrates for your diet. The key is to distinguish between the foods that contain the good sorts of carbohydrates and the ones that contain the kind that do not provide the same healthy benefits to your diet.

Carbohydrates are macromolecules that provide a quick and readily available energy source to the person who consumes them. Further, carbohydrates are available in two major forms–as simple sugars and starches. The body processes carbohydrates by breaking them down into simple sugars (if they’re not already in that form prior to consumption). Those sugar molecules are then transporting into the eater’s blood stream, where their blood sugar level increases. As a result of this, a hormone known as insulin is then secreting by the pancreas as the transportation mechanism responsible for moving the sugar into the body’s cells where it can be used for energy purposes. So, you ask, what distinguishes a good type of carb from a bad type?

The thing that distinguishes a good carb from a lesser one is the time that it takes to break it down into its component parts. Carbohydrates that are already manifested as simple sugars will obviously require less time to be moved into the blood stream, thereby causing a more rapid change in blood sugar level. On the other hand, eating some of the more complex carbohydrates results in a more gradual change in blood sugar level.

Simple sugars aren’t totally at fault for modern America’s health problems though. The problem with carbohydrates comes from people eating too many of the wrong type. Think of white bread and white rice. “Highly refined grain” should be one of the first thoughts into your head, yet many people simply think of these as components of a hearty, All-American meal. A shift in thinking is required if America is going to take on the obesity epidemic that is facing the country today. People are going to have to learn to choose brown rice over white rice, and fruits over candy bars.

And on the subject of fruits, it’s important to note that not all foods that contain simple sugars are bad for your health. Fruits do contain simple sugars, yet their health benefits definitely outweigh any negative qualities that are associated with their carbohydrate counts.

Education is your best defense against eating carbohydrates that are bad for your health. And when the info is not available for you to educate yourself, default to what you think to be the healthiest option. That is, when standing in front of a bank of vending machines, staring down a hunger pang, choose from a healthy vendor such as YoNaturals instead of one of the traditional chips and candy machines. It’s for your health.