Understanding Carbs to Stay Healthy
By
Barbara Morris
Low carb diets are popular. avoided because they are
How good are they? How healthy harmful, some complex carbs
are they? It all depends on such as potatoes are not good
what you know about the because of their relatively
difference between different fast breakdown.
types of carbohydrates.
How do you determine which
Common table sugar represents carbs are really good, and
20 to 25 percent of the daily what to avoid? Simple. Become
caloric intake of Americans familiar with something called
who live on the typical All the Glycemic Index of
American processed food diet. foods. When you look at a
In the early 1800s average glycemic index for foods, bear
sugar consumption was about 12 in mind that the lower the
pounds per person a year. In rating, or number, the slower
1997, it was 152 pounds per the digestion and absorption
person. Is that too much? You process and the better it is
bet it is. It's making us old for your health.
before we need to be.
As useful as the glycemic
Do we need carbohydrates? No, index is, you will need to
we don't. They are non- learn which foods are good for
essential to the human diet. you.. For example, a cup of
We do need water, fat, and low fat ice cream has a
protein. It is possible to glycemic index of 50, which is
survive for long periods lower than the glycemic index
without carbohydrates of a baked potato. That's
providing fat and protein because the glycemic index
needs are met. Fat and protein rating of a refined sugar
are broken down to make product is lower than that of
building blocks of a starchy food! So, learn to
carbohydrates as food and discern the difference between
energy. This is something the refined sugars and everything
carb-rich processed foods else. Just assume that if
industry doesn't tell us. it's made in a factory, it's
suspect!
Regardless of what is known
about carbohydrate needs, we Here are some glycemic index
continue to consume massive numbers for some popular food
quantities of carbohydrates. choices:
Therefore, it's important to Baked Potato: 85; Cheerios:
know which carbs are better 74; Fanta soft drink: 68;
than others. It's simple: All Cheese pizza: 60; Banana: 54;
carbs are broken down into Sweet potato: 54, Low fat ice
sugar in the body. The key is cream: 50; Carrots: 49;
the rate and the amount that Grapefruit juice: 48; All-
determines the level of sugar bran: 42; Spaghetti: 41;
in the blood. Apple: 38; MMs peanut: 32;
Peanuts: 15; Yogurt, lot fat,
Complex carbs such as green artificially sweetened:14.
leafy veggies, brown rice,
potato, whole grain products, You can see from the above
and fruits break down slowly. how misleading, yet useful the
The result is a gradual rise glycemic index can be.
and fall in blood sugar. It is
generally understood that The bottom is this: Do your
most complex carbs are good homework. Don't rely on
for you. advertising or uninformed
advice of well meaning friends
Refined, simple carbs such as to give you guidance about
cake, ice cream, cookies, healthy eating. Making
breakfast bars, so-called educated choices about what
cereals, and refined grains you put into your body puts
break down quickly in the you in the drivers seat and
body. This causes rapid allows you to be in charge of
elevation of blood sugar how healthy you are, and how
levels. These are not good for quickly or slowly you age.
your health.
It should be understood that
while refined carbs should be
About the author:
Barbara Morris, R.Ph., is a 76-year-old working pharmacist and recognized expert on unique anti-aging strategies. Author of Put Old on Hold, her message is for Boomers who want to feel and function as a healthy 40 or 50 year old for 25 or more years. She calls it “Liberation Living” – a process she has discovered that bypasses infirmities and indignities of traditional old age. http://www.PutOldonHold.com
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