A lot of popular diets say you should cut back on carbohydrates in order to lose weight. Are all carbs bad for you, or is there a difference between “good” and “bad” carbs?
All carbs are not bad for you. Stay away from white starchy carbs—white breads and pastas, white rice, bagels, rolls and of course white simple sugars. The difference is that “good” carbs—like whole grains, whole wheat, fruits and vegetables—enter the blood stream more slowly and give you more energy throughout the day, whereas “bad” carbs cause a blood sugar spike and will be more easily stored as fat. Your body needs carbohydrates for energy and to fuel the brain—that’s the “job” of carbs as opposed to protein.
