What Kinds of Carbs Make up Your Meals?
By Tom Herrin
In planning a good diet, there are lots of things to choose from. It may be possible to purchase some really good meals that are put together for you. Many restaurants have sections on their menus that focus on meals that are good for the heart and lower in calories. When we put together our own meals, we sometimes fall short. We know we need proteins, but when it comes to carbs, you can mess up easily. If we know as much as possible about them, we can plan good meals and be healthy.
Go Easy on the Simple Carbs
A lot of us take in simple carbs without giving it much thought. These are the ones that become straight sugar in a short period of time. As a matter of fact, they are pretty much sugar. At one time, many of us thought of them as providing a sugar rush. We were concerned about kids taking in too many of these and being extremely hyped up. According to a 2019 study, a lot of this effect is produced by more of the low that is created shortly after taking in simple sugars. The cumulative effect makes it seem like a sugar high followed by a big low.
Complex Carbs Are Important
You really can't make meals without some kinds of complex carbs. These include some of the foods we have always been told to eat such as green and yellow vegetables. These are generally pretty healthy. We may need to avoid some of the starchy foods like potatoes and rice, but greens are always good. When we eat these foods, we will have longer lasting energy sources as they take longer for our bodies to break down into something we can burn for energy. For this reason, these foods will be more likely to supply our needs throughout the day.
Think Through What We Include
Many of us choose to drink juices, especially with breakfast. We know they have some good vitamins and minerals that we need. Some may be fine, but some of them have too much sugar. It is worth looking into these. You may prefer to eat a piece of whole fruit instead. That way you can avoid the excess sugar while still getting all of the other things needed, and they may have more fiber.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Memphis, Tenn.