http://www.lowcarbwizard.com/carbohydrates/good.html Good carbohydrates are also known as complex carbohydrates. Learn the difference between good carbohydrates and bad carbohydrates here. en-us Thu, 17 Nov 2005 19:01:23 EST Thu, 17 Nov 2005 19:01:23 EST Weblog Editor 2.0 What are good carbohydrates? Carbohydrates that are unrefined and natural. Good Carbohydrates Defined With the low carb diet craze, carbs have gotten a bad rap. But many people don't know that there's a difference between good carbohydrates and bad ones. That's because most low carb diets prohibit all carb consumption for at least the first two weeks, some even longer than that. But the smarter ones--like the South Beach diet-- reintroduce good carbohydrates after that. Why? Because your body needs carbohydrates for fuel. The problem is that most of us eat a lot more of them than we need, and more often than not, we choose the bad carbohydrates, not the good ones. The difference between good carbohydrates and bad is in the digestion. Good carbohydrateshave a lot of fiber, which is harder for your digestive system to break down, so it takes longer. Therefore, you feel full longer. Bad carbohydrates (also known as simple carbohydrates) are digested quickly, so you experience what's known as a "sugar high" and soon after, your energy levels drop like a rock, prompting you to eat even more carbohydrates. Where to Find Good Carbohydrates Good carbohydrates can be found in the following foods: Whole wheat or whole grain bread Whole wheat pasta Long grain or brown rice Whole wheat tortillas Fruits Non-startchy vegetables Where to Find Bad Carbohydrates Here are bad carbohydrates that you should avoid if you're concerned about your weight: White bread Regular pasta White rice Potatoes Anything made with refined sugars (basically all desserts) Anything made with white flour If you want to make healthy lifestyle changes, simply substitute bad carbs with good ones. There's hardly a difference in the taste at all, but you'll notice a difference in your hunger and energy levels. Thu, 17 Nov 2005 19:01:23 EST