Home Invites Members Groups Events Videos News Photos Blogs Forums Chat
Home > Post Content

Understanding Carbohydrates (3600 hits)


One of the most confusing food categories, carbohydrates are your body’s favorite source of energy and are necessary for good health. Here are the answers to common questions about carbs and diet.

Q: When I think of carbs, I think of bread, pasta, and cereal. Am I missing something?

A: In a word, yes. While those foods contain carbohydrates, they’re only part of the picture. In fact, carbohydrates can take the form of fiber, starch, or sugar, and include things such as bagels, tortillas, kiwi fruit, baked beans, yogurt, and potatoes.

Q: If fruit, beans, and yogurt are all carbs, where did carbohydrates’ bad reputation come from?

A: Carbohydrates can be divided into 2 main types—simple and complex. Simple carbs are largely responsible for the bad rap because they tend to be high in sugar and calories but low in (or void of) nutrients. Think candy, sweet treats, and soft drinks. Cutting down on the number of simple carbs in your daily diet can lower your calorie intake. It may also help with weight control.

Q: If good carbs are out there, what foods should I be eating?

A: There’s definitely a good side to carbs. Complex carbs, as the name suggests, have a more complicated makeup than simple carbohydrates. They include starches and fiber. Think cereal, whole-grain pasta, brown rice, vegetables, and fruits.

Q: So bread’s OK?

A: Whenever possible, choose bread that’s made from a whole grain, such as whole-wheat bread. The same holds true for cereal, pasta, rice, and other grains—whole-grain versions are better choices than foods made from refined grains. But eating too much of either simple or complex carbs can lead to calorie overload and weight gain.

Q: How many carbs do I need every day?

A: As a general rule, carbohydrates should make up about one-half to two-thirds of all the calories you take in daily. However, it’s important to talk to your health care professional about the amount of carbohydrates you need and what kinds are right for you.

Q: Can I still eat carbs if I’m trying to lose weight?

A: Getting plenty of carbohydrates in the form of fiber is important. Nutrition experts recommend that you try to get 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories you take in each day. Research has shown that diets rich in fiber may help with weight loss or weight control and may decrease the risk of heart disease and other diseases. Good fiber sources include whole-grain foods, fruits, and vegetables.

Q: Why are low-carb diets so popular?

A: Weight loss plans that drastically limit the amount of carbs you eat are often touted as a fast way to lose weight. That’s because when the body is missing its main fuel source—carbs—it begins to burn stored fat. According to the American Heart Association, diets that call for very low amounts of carbohydrates are likely to result in low amounts of other important nutrients. Therefore, these diets are not recommended for the long term, even if they help you lose a little weight in the short term.

For most people, a smart eating plan includes the following:

More complex carbohydrates such as fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
Fewer simple carbohydrates such as candy, table sugar, and soft drinks
About one-half to two-thirds of total calories from carbohydrates each day

https://www.merckengage.com/eating/cooking...
Posted By: Cheer Leader
Thursday, January 26th 2017 at 2:26PM
You can also click here to view all posts by this author...

Report obscenity | post comment
Share |
Please Login To Post Comments...
Email:
Password:

 
Whole grains are good for carbs. But the best grains are spelt, kamut, fonio, amaranth. Quinoa is the best replacement for white rice. Spelt pasta doesn't have the starch content that regular spaghetti and pasta have. There are several flatbread recipes and pasta recipes in Sojourn to Healthy Eating: Tasty Alkaline & Vegetarian Recipes. It's a cookbook inspired by nutrition advice from the late pathologist and nutritionist Dr. Sebi. http://www.sojourntohealthyeating.com
Friday, February 10th 2017 at 6:00PM
Beverly Oliver
More From This Author
DING DONG DING DONG: HOW MANY HBCUs WERE MENTIONED IN TODAYs “BOOKS & BABES”UPDATEs
Feliz Dia de Abuelos
Doing Business in The Bahamas: The Bahamas as a Nearshore Business, Operations & Investment Destination
Cheesy watercress stars
(2000) Jim Carrey: "The Grinch" Uncut Interview
CBS Mailbag: Dave's Extreme Eggnog Tradition | Letterman
CBS Mailbag: Dave's Extreme Eggnog Tradition | Letterman
Movie Trailer: Great American Family’s ’12 Games of Christmas’
Forward This Blog Entry!
Home

(Advertise Here)
Who's Online
>> more | invite 
Black Health Statistics
+ African Americans are 70% more likely to get Diabetes than whites.

+ More African Americans are obese than any other ethnic group in the U.S.

+ Infant mortality rates are twice as high for African Americans than for whites.

+ African Americans are more likely to die from Heart Disease than any other ethnic group.

Latest Member Activity
reginald culpepper just posted a article entitled 'black americans at higher risk for kidney failure'. 02:51PM
nia mensah just became a new member. 10:22AM
beverly oliver just posted a blog entitled 'mansa books service to correctional institutions'. 07:14PM
beverly oliver just posted a blog entitled 'howard university, dr. sebi and me'. 04:34PM
beverly oliver just posted a video entitled 'dembali, a labor of love'. 03:25PM
beverly oliver just posted a blog entitled 'what more can you know about dr. sebi, that modern-day george washington carver?'. 12:43PM
beverly oliver just posted a blog entitled 'new book dr. sebi speaks of dembali now available'. 11:43AM
hadassah patterson just edited her profile. 02:48PM
hadassah patterson just became a new member. 02:30PM
patrisha draughn just edited her profile. 12:36PM
patrisha draughn just became a new member. 12:34PM
beverly oliver just posted a blog entitled 'world health organization has 5 steps to stay safe during covid 19 pandemic. what's dr. sebi's suggestion?'. 05:56PM
>> more | invite friends