Why you need healthy carbs?

Every few years, it seems a new low (or no) carbohydrate diet plan enters the marketplace — most often in the form of a new book from a long established brand. One year ago, Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. attempted to remarket the low carb approach first introduced by the late Dr. Robert Atkins in 1972. The book, titled “The New Atkins for a New You,” sought to reframe a diet once empty of all fruits and most vegetables and heavily reliant on the consumption of fatty red meats, cheese, and butter. In it’s new form, the Atkins Diet embraced vegetables and added some fruits to later phases of the diet that were previously forbidden in an attempt to gain the confidence of dieters who have heard dire warnings about the extreme low carb diet and its potential risks to heart health and the formation of clogged arteries, as well as the dangers of kidney trouble. Most scientists and nutritionists agree that reducing overly processed carbs can be healthy, as long as they are replaced by healthy, natural carbohydrates – but a diet heavy in red meat and fats and short of healthy fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is best avoided.

Here are the five healthiest carbs no one’s diet should scrimp on:

Healthy, whole grains.

A whole grain is one that contains all its original parts: cereal germ, endosperm, and bran. Among the most nutritious whole grain foods are quinoa, brown rice, oats and barley. Eat these instead of white rice and processed oats to maximize nutrition.

Beans and legumes.

These low-glycemic goodies pack a powerful punch for several reasons: they digest slowly, leaving you feeling full longer, provide a great source of protein, and can be easily mixed into salads and recipes for added flavor.
Whole wheat pasta. Since the early days of whole wheat pasta, manufacturers have made advances in both the texture and flavor of their products. With several brands now readily available in grocery stores, you can find a variety of whole wheat pastas to serve in place of refined, white pasta.

Potatoes. Yes, I said potatoes.

Sure, they are white. Yes, they are very starchy – but potatoes are one of the healthiest foods on the planet. It’s what we add to them that can turn these terrific tubers into terrible tyrants of nutrition. Try them baked, with herbs for seasoning. Instead of frying your “fries,” bake those, too. And when you have a nice roasted or stewed potato dish, resist the temptation to pile on butter and saturated fats. Find healthy toppings.

Bananas.

Yes, another white, starchy addition to the list. Bananas contain what is known as resistant starch, which means it takes longer to digest and provides energy longer than simpler starches.

Also remember that cutting back on refined carbohydrates doesn’t have to mean increasing consumption of meat, eggs, and fats. Animal products are the only foods that contain artery clogging cholesterol – so limiting these is never a bad idea. Carbs are not the enemy, as long as you choose the right ones. Happy grocery shopping!