Limiting “Bad” Carbohydrates
By Ashley
Not all carbohydrates are created equal. Some are friendly and good for your bodies, others, not so much. Our bodies need carbohydrates to give us energy so it’s important that you choose the “good” carbs and work on eliminating the “bad” carbohydrates from your diet.
First, what is a carbohydrate? Simply stated, carbohydrates are the sugars and starches found in breads, cereals, fruits, and vegetables. During digestion, carbohydrates are changed into glucose which is a simple sugar. Glucose gets stored away in our liver until cells call upon it to provide them with energy. See why we need carbohydrates?
How to limit the bad carbs:
Now how do you limit the “bad” carbs? Well first you need to know where you’d find the bad carbs so that you know how to limit them. Examples of bad carbs would come from foods like:
- Sugary cereals
- Candy
- Soda
- Desserts like cakes and pies
- White rice
- White bread
- Some pastas
- White flour
- Table sugar
So limiting the bad carbohydrates is as simple as switching from a sugary cereal to one that’s made from whole grains with no added sugars like Oat Bran, Raisin Bran, Shredded Wheat n’ Bran, and the list goes on. Other options for “good” carbs include:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Brown rice
- Whole grain breads
- Whole grain pastas
- Beans
A few additional tips:
- Most desserts like cakes, cookies, and pies are going to be filled with sugars that our bodies don’t need. If you have a sweet tooth, try eating a piece of fruit or sugar-free sorbet. It’ll satisfy your need for something sweet, and you won’t feel guilty for eating it.
- Eliminate soda. It’s bad for you. It’s as simple as that, really. I like to stick to water, and on occasion, 100% fruit juice, although I’d rather eat the actual fruit instead of the juice.
- Make the switch from white bread to whole grain breads.
Limiting bad carbohydrates is one of those things that may not be easy to do if you’re used to eating them, but it’s definitely doable. Like I said, carbohydrates aren’t created equal. When you eat too much sugar, you’re putting yourself at risk for diabetes, heart disease, and even some kinds of cancers. Pick one “bad” carb that you can work on eliminating and once you’ve been able to eliminate it, pick another. Before you know it, your intake of “bad” carbohydrates will nearly be gone!
Post Tags: carbohydrates
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