Carb Free Cafe - Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates

When it comes to carbohydrates, you have the good carbohydrates (also known as complex carbohydrates) and the bad carbohydrates (also known as simple carbohydrates). On this page, we'll explore what makes the good ones good and the bad ones bad.

Good Carbohydrates vs. Bad Carbohydrates

When it comes to carbohydrates, you probably think all of them are good. Well, most of them are quite tasty! Complex carbohydrates are starches, and simple carbohydrates are sugars. Both are made up of chains of sugar molecules, but the sugar molecules that make up complex carbohydrates are much more sturdy. It's tougher for your body to break them down, and as a result, it takes longer for them to digest. Therefore, you feel full for a long time. The sugar molecules that make up simple carbohydrates aren't quite that sturdy. In fact, they're very easy for your body to break down, so you'll get a temporary energy rush, but then you'll quickly be tired again, and crave more simple carbohydrates.

Here's a brief list of complex carbs:

Whole grain or whole wheat bread
Brown or long grain rice
Whole wheat pasta
Whole wheat flour
Whole grain cereals
Oats
Most fruits and vegetables (although some are better than others)

Here's a brief list of simple carbs:

Cookies, pies, cakes and other sweets
Sodas
White bread
Regular pasta
White rice

Reducing Your Carb Intake

Too much of any food can make you gain weight, and elimination of a food group isn't the best idea for good overall health. You can, however, make better choices. To lose weight and keep your blood sugar level from spiking up and dropping down, try these tips:

Eat bran flakes instead of frosted flakes
Eat whole wheat bread instead of regular white bread
Eat whole grain or whole wheat baguettes instead of French bread
Use whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta
Use brown rice or long grain rice instead of regular white rice
Add wheat germ and oats to your cereal (but make sure it's not a sugary cereal)
Add chopped fruit to your cereal and chopped vegetables to salads, soups and stews
Serve beans and other vegetables with your main meal.
Consider serving a salad with each meal as an appetizer.

These substitutions might not sound so great, but once you try them, you realize they aren't that different. Before you know it, you'll be eating healthier without really even trying.

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