How many carbohydrates (carbs) should I eat a day?
The FDA recommends that you get 50% of your calories from carbohydrates. The NAS (National Academy of Science’s) Institute of Medicine, based on thousands recent of scientific studies, recommend a slightly different approach. They recommend that adults get 45-65% of their calories from carbohydrates. But, they both agree on the kind of carbs you should eat. Whole grains, starchy vegetables, beans, soy foods, green vegetables, and fruits–foods served as nature grew them–are the carbohydrates that pack the highest nutritional octane. They’re rich in compounds that support good health, including fiber, nutrients, and phytochemicals. A dietary pattern based on these foods lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and many major cancers. Highly processed carbohydrates, which are stripped of their nutritious germ and fiber, are another story. Unhealthful diets often contain too many carbohydrates processed into concentrated forms (corn syrup, white flour) that provide calories an
