A List of Foods that are Good Carbs

When it comes to energy, the body burns the carbohydrate better than it does fat or protein. How much better depends on what type of carbohydrates you are putting into your body. There are two different types to be aware of when identifying carbohydrates. Simply put, there are goods carbs and there are bad carbs.

Good carbs represent natural and wholesome foods, where bad carbs come from unnatural, highly-processed, “refined” foods, such as most baked goods, white breads, pastas, snacks, candies, as well as non-diet soft drinks. Eating too many bad barbs can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, as well as cancer.

The best good carbs that you can find are in green, leafy vegetables. Other foods to consider are beans and legumes, as well as nuts and seeds. You can even purchase whole-grain cereal, whole-grain breads and pastas to fulfill your daily intake of good carbs.

A list of types of food that you should look for when you want to eat a lot of good carbs, include the following:

Whole Fruits

Whole Vegetables

Nuts

Seeds

Whole-Grain Products

Beans

Legumes

Whole Cereal Grains

To get an idea of the sort of foods you should look for, consider purchasing from this list of foods that are good carbs:

Brown Rice

Wild Rice

100% Whole Wheat Bread

100% Whole Wheat Cereal

White Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Squash

Cauliflower

Green Beans

Broccoli

Blueberries

Strawberries

Blackberries

Raspberries

Apples

Peach

Peppers

Onions Carrots

Oatmeal

A good way to incorporate good carbs into your diet, is to cut out as much junk food from your daily intact and replace it with fruits and vegetables which contain good carbs. This means stay away from the chips, candy and soda. Another way to avoid bad carbs is to avoid or limit the amount of refined-flour baked goods that you eat. This includes bagels, doughnuts, cupcakes and brownies. Eat more whole-grain cereals and oatmeal. Try to eat a piece of fruit or sliced vegetables throughout the day. It is good to have at least 1 to 2 servings of a fruit or vegetable with each meal. Eating two servings of leafy green vegetables can help raise your good carbs, as well as vegetables representing different colors of the rainbow. For those times when you feel like snacking, you should carry along a Ziploc bag of seeds or nuts. They also go great on top of a salad.

For a nice meal that incorporates simple carbohydrates with high-fiber, complex carbohydrates, try this recipe for Pasta with Broccoli and Hot Pepper from Oakland County chef, Kathleen Daelemans, who is the author of “Getting Thin and Loving Food.”

Pasta With Broccoli and Hot Pepper(Serves 4)

½ Pound Pasta Noodles 2 Ounces of Diced Pancetta or Country Bacon ½ Medium Sweet Onion 1 Clove Garlic (minced) 1 Pound Broccoli Florets ½ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes 1 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions: 1. Bring large pot of salted water to a boil.

2. Cook 1/2 pound pasta noodles such as orrechiete until al dente.

3) Reserve one cup of the pasta cooking liquid.

4) While noodles are cooking, in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat, cook 2 ounces of diced pancetta or country bacon, 1 to 2 minutes or until just softened.

5) Add 1/2 medium sweet onion that’s been thinly sliced, 1 clove minced garlic and 1 pound of broccoli florets cut into bite-size pieces.

6) Cook until broccoli is crisp, tender and browned a little, about 7 minutes.

7) Add 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

8) Remove pan from heat, add 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

9) Add the cup of reserved pasta water and the noodles. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve immediately.

To return from A List of Carbs that are Good Carbs to Useful Diet and Exercise Info.