Good Carb VS. Bad Carbs

Carbohydrates, to our body, are made up of simple-to-digest sugars that have little use to us as humans. When we talk about good carbs and bad carbs, it comes down to how much sugar and fiber is in each one. It can be confusing, however, knowing the difference. This is why I’ve explained good and bad carbs below.

First, the higher the sugar and the lower the fiber indicates a bad carb. Our body stores this sugar as glycogen. If we’re not active, and do not burn it off right away, our bodies store it as fat. Most of the time these foods are lower in nutrients. They may be considered empty calories because they increase fatigue throughout the day.

Think about soda, candy and ice cream. Other culprits may be white bread and white bread. These are foods that our body quickly digests. Our body reacts with a blood sugar crash, which is why we feel tired or hungry sooner.

Then we have what are called good carbs. These may also be called complex carbs. Our body takes longer to break these down and turns these carbs into energy. Consider foods such as whole-wheat pasta or brown rice. These foods are powerhouse foods that have loads of vitamins and minerals. They help boost your metabolism and help keep your immune system strong.

In fact, eating good carbs has potential to regulate weight loss in the body. This is because it helps curb our appetite. We don’t get hungry as often, which leads us to take in fewer calories. And, it also cuts our cravings to those bad carbs that are the sugary drinks and candies.

Furthermore, good carbs are lower in cholesterol and trans fats whereas bad carbs are saturated with it. It’s important we keep our cholesterol low in order to prevent illnesses such as heart disease and stroke. Similarly, bad carbs have no fiber while good carbs is a great source of it. Each person needs fiber to regulate their digestive system and prevent cancer.

Knowing the difference between good carbs and bad carbs is also crucial for diabetics. Bad carbs, for instance, often have a tendency to skyrocket their insulin levels. When they eat or drink sugary foods, these empty calories spike their blood sugar. Yet, when they eat or drink high-fiber foods, it’s the direct opposite effect. Their insulin levels are more regular and their blood sugar level is more normalized. That’s why it’s crucial they stay on the diet their doctor put them on.

Good carbs and bad carbs can often be tricky. But it can be literally the difference of living a cancer-free life or being a cancer patient. Many of the good carb foods are also powerhouse cancer-fighting foods which makes it worth a try. While it may not always be easy, kicking the sweet treats to the curb may most likely be a solution. Live a good carb life and you’re sure to be healthy.