With all the talk about carbohydrates these days, you have to wonder if anyone is telling the truth anymore. From diets that restrict them completely to those eating plans that focus on them as the biggest part of your day, it seems like every day is a new view on whether or not we should be eating carbs. To add to the confusion are the new terms 'good carb' and 'bad carb.' Is there really such a thing as a 'bad' or a 'good' carb? Let's find out.

What Carbohydrates Are and Why We Need Them

Carbohydrates are chemical structures found in food that are complex in nature. They consist of multiple strands of elements that can be broken down in order to provide energy for the body. The human body requires this process to occur in order to fuel smaller parts of cells in the body, like mitochondria and other energy centres in the cells that promote everyday functions – breathing, for example. When the body is deprived of carbohydrates, cellular functions can become impaired, affecting the entire body's ability to feel good as well as function.


Biologically speaking, carbohydrates are essentially sugars in the body that are necessarily to create ATP (adenosine triphosophate) that allows the cellular respiration cycle to continue. This is actually the case in all animals, which is why carbohydrates are so abundant in nature – we all need them.

Why Are Low Carb Diets So Popular?

That said, if carbohydrates are so necessary for life, then why are low carb diets so popular in today's culture? When you deprive your body of carbohydrates or severely restrict them, you will cause your body's chemistry to change. Since a carbohydrate doesn't require a lot of water to be digested, your body will need to use up more water to process the proteins and fats you are taking in at great quantities. This leads your body to become dehydrated more quickly, resulting in weight loss and more defined musculature. For many people, this seems like a good way to lose weight because the results can be nearly instantaneous and they can eat whatever meats and cheeses they desire, so long as they stay until a certain carbohydrate level.

But what these diets don't tell you is that when you deprive your body of this additional water, you're not actually losing weight. If you were to add more water consumption to your diet, you might even notice that you are gaining weight because you're reversing the water loss process. What these diets also don't tell you is that because this isn't a diet that includes fruits and grains, you are missing out on a number of nutrients, and this is also harming your body. In fact, your body can undergo a process of ketosis in which you begin to break down the muscles in your body to get more fuel for your body function – leading to multiple health problems.

What Are Bad Carbs? What Are Good Carbs?

Knowing this, you can see why adding carbs back to your diet might be beneficial in more ways than one. However, this does not mean that white breads and pastas are the best choices for your health. The idea of good carbs and bad carbs is a legitimate one – and one that has been popularized by some diet plans as well. Bad carbs are labels so because they contain simple sugars and carbohydrates. Some examples of bad carbs might be white breads and pastas as well as sugary candies and other products. These items have simple chemical structures that the body can break down easily, but when this happens, the energy that is taken from the food is short lived. If you've ever had a 'sugar crash,' you were probably eating simple or bad carbs. They will give you energy, but only in the short run.

Good carbs are also known as complex carbs. These are carbohydrates that have a more complicated chemical structure, with more bonds to break down before they can be used for energy. This allows your body to have a longer source of energy for your bodily functions, while also levelling your blood sugar to prevent hunger pangs and sugar crashes. These carbs are found in whole grain items as well as fruits and vegetables.

Making the Change to Good Carbs

The good news is that making the switching from bad carbs to good carbs is easier than ever. Because of the increased interest in eating good carbs, you can find more whole grain items in your grocery stores than ever. Just look to see that the first ingredient on the label is a grain to make sure you are getting the best choice for your diet. There should be nothing on the labels that indicates added sugar (high fructose corn syrup, for example) as this is a simple sugar.

You might want to try whole grain pastas and breads as well as add more soy proteins and vegetable proteins to your diet to replace other bad carbs in your diet.

If you're not sure that you can make the dramatic switch from bad carbs to good carbs overnight, just simply try to replace one item in your pantry at a time to help convert your eating habits. Not only will you begin to feel healthier, but you will also notice the difference when you eat a bad carb versus a good carb.

Will Good Carbs Help Me Lose Weight?

Not only will good carbs be healthier for your body, but they will also provide you with more fibre in your diet, allowing you to feel fuller more quickly and aid in weight loss efforts. You will be eating fewer calories and still feeling like you're eating as much as you ever were. The added fibre expands in your stomach when you eat it, so it's helping you say no to that extra helping. But in the end, you still need to count calories, so be sure you're assisting those good carbs in your weight loss attempts.

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