The List Of Carbs Is Nature's Rocket Fuel.

 

My friend Shawn would always tell me that carbs were bad. At first, I thought he was joking, but it turns out he's not. I can't believe that he really does live by this! Carbohydrates in the form of junk food aren't the best for you, but it's ridiculous to think that ALL carbs are bad.

Let's all get up to speed on what a carbohydrate is. I'll look in the dictionary for a more straightforward answer. A carbohydrate is "any of a large group of compounds (such as sugars, starches, and cellulose) that contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and can be broken down to release energy in the body." Carbohydrates are a natural source of energy for YOUR body! Carbs keep you going all day, and if you don't eat them, you're doing a huge disservice to your body. Carbs may add a few calories to the food calorie calculator, but they give you so much more than just a few extra calories. Carbs are good for your health in many ways, including keeping your colon healthy and lowering the amount of cholesterol in your blood. When combined with EXERCISE, they will also give you a lot of energy to help you lose weight faster.

There are three types of carbohydrates: simple carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, and starches and dietary fiber. Here is a list of all the carbs and what group they belong to.

Simple carbohydrates include granulated sugar, corn syrup, fruit juice, candy, cake, bread and pasta made with white flour, soda, candy, and most packaged cereals.

Complex carbs include spinach, whole barley, grapefruit, apples, lettuce, prunes, water cress, oat bran bread, dried apricots, zucchini, oatmeal, pears, asparagus, artichokes, strawberries, okra, wild rice, cabbage, brown rice, yams, celery, multi-grain bread, carrots, cucumbers, pinto beans, potatoes, dill pickles, yoghurt, low-fat soybeans, radishes,

Dietary Fiber, also known as roughage - Again, I'll give you the definition from the dictionary because that's probably the easiest way to explain what this word means and why it's important "Dietary fiber is the part of plant foods that can't be digested. It is made up of two main parts. Soluble fiber, which is easily fermented in the colon into gases and biologically active byproducts, and insoluble fiber, which is metabolically inert and absorbs water as it moves through the digestive system, making pooping easier."

Carbohydrates are NOT the enemy, as you can see. They play a very important role in the digestive system and are a great source of energy that will keep you alert, healthy, and full of energy all day long. The key to enjoying this great food group is to keep things in balance. Include carbs in your diet so that it fits YOUR needs best. My friends, stay healthy and enjoy life!