| Copyright (c) 2007 Brian Gurneak | | | | following: green beans, kale, spinach, broccoli, |
| Yes, it's true there are actually good types of | | | | cauliflower, zucchini, asparagus, peppers, green |
| carbohydrates for your body, and you NEED | | | | leafy vegetables. You also obtain a high level of |
| them in order to obtain a healthy, strong body. In | | | | certain antioxidants, namely Vitamin C with this |
| this article I want to educate you on the right | | | | group. |
| types of carbohydrates and the wrong types as | | | | And lastly you have the simple sugars. These |
| well. Hopefully, you will be a bit more aware of | | | | types of carbohydrates should be limited or |
| the whole carb thing once you read this. Let's | | | | avoided as much as possible for a firm, healthier |
| categorize carbohydrates into 3 different types. | | | | body. The main reason is that many of the simple |
| First you have the starchy carbohydrates. These | | | | sugar type foods, are also caloric dense with very |
| guys are the "meat and potatoes" of your diet. | | | | little if any nutritional value and they raise the |
| Primarily, your diet should consist mostly of these | | | | hormone insulin too much, too soon causing a |
| foods, especially if you are an avid exerciser. | | | | production of fat stores. You also don't get the |
| Remember that your muscles need energy to | | | | sustained energy you would get from the |
| perform optimally and your brain also needs | | | | complex carbohydrates I mentioned above, due |
| glucose, the simplest form of sugar to work | | | | to the fact that they are digested very easily and |
| effectively as well. You will also get a certain kind | | | | will give you a rush of energy followed by a quick |
| of fiber, vitamins/minerals and water from these | | | | crash. Know that any time you ingest |
| foods. Good staples of these types of | | | | carbohydrate, the digestion starts in the mouth |
| carbohydrates include: sweet potatoes, yams, | | | | and breaks down very quickly. It does not take a |
| brown rice, oats, cream of rice, whole-wheat | | | | whole lot of calories to break down carbs. The |
| pasta, sprouted grain bread, waffles (non-white | | | | key for fat loss and hunger management is to |
| flour based), bagels (non-white flour based), | | | | have sustained energy throughout the day and |
| potatoes, corn, peas, kidney beans, lima beans. | | | | never getting to the point of where your really |
| Key thing to remember with these foods is that | | | | hungry. Examples of these types of carbs are the |
| they are generally slower digested then their | | | | following: cakes, cookies, pies, ice cream, candy, all |
| simple sugar counterparts giving more sustained | | | | dairy and alcohol products. You also want to |
| energy when combined with other foods | | | | watch the intake of too much fruit juice, which |
| correctly. | | | | has a lot of simple sugars. Just look in your |
| Second, you have the fibrous carbohydrates. | | | | cupboard and really take inventory of how much |
| Basically, your green veggie groups are considered | | | | of the simple sugar foods you have at the |
| your fibrous carbohydrates. This group gives your | | | | present. |
| body a second type of fiber, vitamins/minerals, | | | | One last note here is the topic of fruit. I |
| and water as well. Also a key point with this | | | | understand and realize that fruit has a lot of |
| group is that they have a high nutrient value, and | | | | enzymes (substances that make chemical |
| very little calories. You can eat lot of them and | | | | reactions occur), vitamins/minerals, fiber and |
| never gain weight. Another important point is that | | | | water. A highly nutritious food, however, if your |
| when you eat fibrous veggies, you will dampen | | | | goal is to be firmer, you may want to limit the |
| the hormone insulin when you eat them with the | | | | amount of fruit in your diet or stick with less |
| starchy carbohydrates, keeping you feeling fuller | | | | sugary fruits like green apples, granny smith |
| longer, producing more sustained energy, and will | | | | apples, kiwi, and the berry groups. You will reap a |
| help control body fat levels. A very important | | | | lot of the benefits that fruit offers, without the |
| carbohydrate group. Good staples are the | | | | high amount of simple sugar intake. |