Good Carbs v. Bad Carbs
Each week I field a question from a client, gym member, or am approached by a consumer (who spies my “Personal Trainer & Fitness Coach” logo on my jacket) about carbohydrates (“carbs”).
The question is typically “Should I not eat [insert carb here]” or “What’s a bad carb?” or “What’s a healthy carb?”
Short simple answer: A healthy carb comes from nature and is unrefined or unprocessed such as potatoes, vegetables, dry beans and fruit. These are the carbs you want to make sure are stocked in your fridge or pantry, on your plate, or included in a restaurant meal order.
And not all carbs are bad. We need carbs for energy and recovery. Carbs are brain food.
Some carbs, while minimally processed, are also good nutrition and energy sources. Oatmeal (I stick with 100% oats or minimally processed oatmeal from Kashi), organic brown rice and 100% whole wheat products get the green light (from me, anyway!) and are safe choices. If you love bread, choose those made with 100% whole wheat (make sure there isn’t high fructose corn syrup listed in the ingredients) or try the Ezekiel brand: it’s made from sprouted grains.
Check out this great article from WebMD with more information about white foods and “bad” carbs.
Make your life healthy,
Janet
