Foods With Good Carbs

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By Kate Aldrich
eHow Contributing Writer

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What's the big deal about "good" carbs (also called complex carbohydrates)? They're good for you, of course! The difference between food with good carbs and food with bad carbs has to do mainly with how quickly they digest. Good carbs take longer to digest, avoiding a spike and subsequent crash in sugar levels. This also helps you avoid overeating by making you feel full longer. Bad carbs, on the other hand, are highly refined and travel quickly through the digestive system. This leads to low energy and a "spike and crash" cycle that negatively impacts your blood sugar levels. You'll also crave more food when you eat bad carbs, because your system processes them so quickly. Here are some foods with good carbs that will help you curb cravings and boost your energy level.

Whole Grain Pasta

Whole grain pasta is one of the easiest ways to sneak foods with good carbs into your diet. If you tried a whole grain pasta in the past and didn't like it, give it another try. Today's versions taste pretty much the same as regular pasta, but they're so much better for you.

Brown Rice

Brown rice is the "whole grain" of the rice family because it still includes the germ and inner husk, which are both removed in white rice. Long grain wild rice is also a good carb.

Whole Grain Bread

If you're looking to eat mainly foods with good carbs, don't let white bread pass your lips. Whole grain bread has much more fiber and is much better for you. Watch out for "multigrain" breads, which are often not whole grain at all. The bread should say "100% whole grain, or you can check to make sure that whole grain is first on the ingredient list.

Fruits

Many fruits are high in carbs, but it's not just the sweetness that accounts for the carb total. Add these to your "foods with good carbs" list: apples (eat the skin, which contains most of the fiber), any berries, figs, guava, kiwi and prunes.

Vegetables

Veggies are good for you in many ways, including being considered good carbs. If you want your diet to consist mostly of food with good carbs, look for broccoli, beans, brussels sprouts, cabbage, chick peas (garbanzo beans), carrots and green leafy vegetables.

Nuts and Seeds

Almonds, sunflower seeds, walnuts -- any nut or seed is a good carb. Keep in mind that nuts and seeds are good fats as well as good carbs, which means they're high in calories. Be careful to only eat one serving at a time.