Breaking News! Donuts are Bad for You

How often have you seen something that advertises a "no carb diet," or how carbs are the enemy? I can't tell you how many times my dad has sat me down and told me all about the good and the bad of carbohydrates after seeing me eat a chip. As you can probably tell, my family is very heath oriented. But, lucky you! Now you have me to pass on all of their wisdom. The most important thing to know about carbs is that it isn't completely black or white whether you should eat them or not. As with most foods, your body needs carbohydrates for bodily function, but only if you eat the right kinds of carbs.

There are two different kinds of carbohydrates- simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates, also known as simple sugars, are something that you want to stay away from. Carbohydrates are your main source of energy, but simple carbs immediately turn into glucose (sugar) into your body, which is exactly what you don't want. Having too many simple carbohydrates is like eating a donut. Or multiple donuts.

  Courtesy of The Creative Place

The most common foods that simple carbohydrates are in is anything with corn syrup, soda or any other sugary drinks, essentially anything with sugar (apple pie, ice cream, chocolate cake, the list goes on and on), natural sweeteners, and the most important, anything with white flour in it. A common misconception is that foods with white flour are complex carbohydrates, but it is in fact the complete opposite. Things like white pasta (who eats whole wheat pasta, anyway?), white bread, breakfast cereals, pastries, and pizza all have simple (a.k.a bad) carbohydrates. So, if you have to go run a marathon or do something athletic that I wouldn't do, you definitely shouldn't have a heaping plate of fettuccine alfredo the night before.

The good guys in this fairytale are complex carbohydrates. Thats what gives you the energy to get through a 7 hour school day then a 3 hour dance rehearsal. Complex carbohydrates are found in foods like vegetables, whole grains like oatmeal, beans, rice, and so many more. It's so important to know what your putting in your body. After all, you're stuck with it for awhile.

~ Mia