Are All Carbohydrates Unhealthy
May 14, 2009
All the talk these days about low carbohydrate diets may make you wonder whether carbohydrates are really all that bad. Those not up to date on nutrition may find all this somewhat confusing. To clarify the matter, carbohydrates are an essential part of a healthy diet.
It is not as simple as saying that all carbohydrates are good or that all carbohydrates are bad. Certain carbohydrates are good for our health while others increase risk of coronary heart disease and diabetes when consumed too frequently or in large quantities.
A large number of food items such as cherry pie, corn, spaghetti, cookies, potatoes, popcorn, milk, beans, rice, vegetables, fruits and bread contain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are found in many different forms and are the most abundant. The most common forms are starches, fibers and sugars. The basic constituents of carbohydrates are sugar molecules.
Our digestive systems handle all carbohydrates in the same manner, breaking them down to single molecules of sugar small enough to be absorbed in the blood stream. Most are then converted to blood sugar or glucose and used as an energy source. This is why you feel tired when carbohydrates are eliminated from the diet.
The carbohydrates we consume are the most efficient source of energy our bodies can tap into. When our carbohydrate level is insufficient the body uses the fat or protein in our system to create energy.
Once stores of glycogen are depleted, the body begins to cannibalize dietary fats and protein, and then moves on to the organs and muscle tissue. This leads to an undesirable drop in the metabolism, caused by the decreased muscle mass.
Your best option is to be selective in your consumption of carbohydrates and opt for healthier options. These healthier options include the most natural food products possible. For example, one can select fresh fruits and vegetables instead of foods that come out of a can or package.
Foods bad for your health include processed foods like alcohol, chips, cookies, snacks, and soft drinks. These types of food have usually been refined and contain nothing more than empty calories. Not only are they unhealthy options, but they do not satisfy your hunger.
Substitute these refined foods with whole grain products that have been minimally processed. Also include at least five servings of vegetables and fruit each day.
Instead of eliminating carbohydrates from your diet entirely, which will lead to only short term results, it is more sensible to incorporate healthy carbohydrates in your daily diet and avoid those that are unhealthy. You must become educated before your weight loss strategy will be successful.
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