The word “carbohydrates” seems to generate a visceral responseand that response is often not positive.
Carbohydrates come in three forms: starches, sugars, and fibers.
Starches are complex carbohydrates,sugarcan be inherent or added to foods, and fiber is a nondigestible carbohydrate.
Shutterstock
8 Best Carbs You Should Be Eating Every Day, Say Dietitians
1.
Carbs don’t cause diabetes.
Most recent predictionsby the American Diabetes Association state that 1.4 million people will be diagnosed with diabetes in 2023.
Shutterstock
Eating too many carbs does not trigger this response.
Carbs give us energy.
Therefore, adequate carbohydrate intake throughout the day (including before physical activity) is key for stamina.
Shutterstock
The 5 Best Foods for Energy After 50
3.
Carbs from bread aren’t all created equal.
“Whole grainscontain all three layers of a grain, including the bran, endosperm, and germ.
Shutterstock
This includes brownrice, quinoa, whole wheat pasta, and whole grain breads.
Fruits and vegetables contain carbs.
Fruit andvegetable consumptionis recommended constantly by dietitians in constructing a healthy diet.
Shutterstock
Sugar can be a nutrient and a food.
Sugar can be found on the nutrition facts panel and/or the ingredient statement of a food product.
Fiber is a carb.
High-fiber carbs include lentils, pears, and chickpeas.
About half of our calories should be carbs.
The “acceptable macronutrient distribution range” (AMDR) for carbohydrates is 45-65% for healthy adults.
Carbs contain 4 calories per gram.
Four food components provide calories: fat, carbohydrate, protein, and alcohol.
This information is useful for someone building a meal plan or interested in keeping a food diary.
