http://www.lowcarbwizard.com/carbohydrate/good.html Good carbohydrate, bad carbohydrate. What is the difference between a good carbohydrate and a bad carbohydrate. en-us Thu, 17 Nov 2005 19:01:23 EST Thu, 17 Nov 2005 19:01:23 EST Weblog Editor 2.0 Good Carbohydrate vs. Bad Carbohydrate Most Americans are frustrated at the word "carbohydrate. Why? Because nutrition experts for the longest have been telling them to replace fat with more carbs, thus leading to broader waistlines. The question is: if these carbs are so bad, why would we want to consume more, and is there a difference between good carbs and bad carbs? Where did the good carbohydrate vs. the bad carbohydrate come from? The good vs. bad scenario comes from the idea of complex starches vs. simple carbohydrates, also known as sugars. According to this concept, simple sugars digested a lot quicker and the longer chain of complex carbohydrates would take -- in essence -- forever to digest and would keep you feeling full. Bad carbohydrates can also be refined, and stripped of its fiber, vitamins (i.e. all the good stuff). But the good carbohydrate (e.g. fruits and vegetables) retain theirs. Then came the GI (glycemic index). This is what researchers use to analyze the effects of carbohydrates on your blood sugar and it's level. If you eat food with a high GI, the body's blood sugar level elevates very quickly, thus causing a rush of insulin, in return, dropping the blood sugar levels. One vicious cycle. This causes the dieter to become even hungrier. What should you eat? Most experts say eating a diet containing grains, whole wheat, vegetables and fruit. Foods high in fiber can aid in weight loss, but the fiber itself does not directly contribute to weight loss. In short, everyone has a working idea of what they should be eating. The most important thing to weight loss is to burn more than you eat. Whether you eat good carbohydrate, bad carbohydrate or the worst carbohydrate, you still need to burn fat and calories to lose the pounds. The good carbohydrate can aid you in your weight loss, but the good carbohydrate is not responsible for your diet. Thu, 17 Nov 2005 19:01:23 EST