There has been a lot of talk about good and bad carbs and there is a lot of confusion on the subject. Let’s say it once and for all: carbohydrates are not inherently harmful to health. The key is to understand how the foods containing those carbohydrates are produced.
The carbohydrates we eat come from plants, and these plants reach our plates in one of two ways:
- Natural sources of whole foods such as grainfruits and nuts, seeds, legumes (beans, peas and lentils) and vegetables
- Highly processed foods from which nutrients have been removed and fats, sugars and artificial ingredients are often added.
Highly processed foods are the ones to avoid, says Andrea GiancoliMPH, RD.
“What you want are carbohydrates that are as close as possible to the sources they come from,” he says. “People are afraid of potatoes, but they are a healthy carbohydrate when you cook them and eat them as they are, with the skin on. “They become less healthy when processed into puff pastries and chips with added fat, sodium and/or sugars.”
Before you read on, find out how much you know about “good” and “bad” carbs with our quiz.
