http://www.questionsaboutcarbs.com/carbohydrates/good/ Good carbohydrates are markedly different from the bad ones. Do you know the difference between them and good carbohydrates? en-us Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:57:52 EST Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:57:52 EST Weblog Editor 2.0 For many years now there has been a distinction in carbohydrates. They were divided into two categories, complex and simple. This distinction was based on how many sugar molecules were linked together to form the particular carbohydrate. But, now many nutritionists maintain that a better way to distinguish them is by calling them good carbohydrates or bad ones. The good carbohydrates are essentially whole grains like brown rice, oats, whole wheat pasta and beans. Your diet should be based on these. The bad carbohydrates, on the other hand, include: Regular pasta White rice White bread Many cereals Really anything made from refined flour What makes good carbohydrates good, versus bad? First, let's talk about what makes a carb bad. They are singled out as being bad because of what they do after they have been consumed. They head straight to our digestive system, like any other food, but there they are transformed into evil glucose which is delivered into your bloodstream very quickly. As a result there is a dramatic spike in insulin which accompanies sugar into the cells. Once the glucose is in your cells, your brain interprets your lowered blood sugar levels as a hunger signal and all you want to do at that point is eat. And this sugar insulin fluctuation can lead to both heart disease and diabetes. Good carbohydrates, on the other hand, release glucose more slowly into the bloodstream. As a rule, the more natural and unrefined a carb food is the healthier it is for you. Good carbohydrates are essential for proper body functioning and everyone should should get between 40-60% of their calories in the form of good carbohydrates. You should avoid he very low carb diets unless it is only for a very short period of time, as many of those diets also rely on nutritional supplements which are not a good long-term habit. So there you have it. There is your tutorial about good carbohydrates, now go out there and make it work! Mon, 13 Mar 2006 08:57:52 EST