Fast or Slow? What Kind of Carbs Are You Eating. You could be eating too much of the "bad" kind.

If you are trying to lose weight or just eat better you need to know what you are putting into your body.  Carbohydrates are important, they give your body energy.    To put it simply carbs are simple sugars, the structure of the carbs molecules determines how fast it is digested.

 They are broken into 2 categories: Slow and Fast.     Just like the name says Slow Carbs are digested slowly and considered more healthy than their counterpart Fast Carbs because Fast Carbs have the potential to increase your blood sugar .  Slow Carbs are high in fiber and nutrients, Fast Carbs are usually more processed and low in fiber and nutrients while being high in sugar.

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Slow Carbs

 Rolled or steel cut oatmeal, oat bran, 100 percent stone-ground whole wheat or pumpernickel bread, most fruits, non-starchy vegetables (artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, all types of greens, okra, peppers, squash and zucchini. Among the starchy vegetables, peas, carrots, parsnips and yams) and barley. Beef, nuts, seeds, chicken, eggs and most whole grains are Slow Carbs. Baked beans, black-eyed peas, black beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, navy beans, lentils, soybeans and peanuts. Slow-digesting dairy foods include skim and full-fat milk; cheeses such as Cheddar, mozzarella and cottage; and yogurt. Non-dairy alternatives like almond and soy milk are also slow-digesting, but rice milk is not.

Fast Carbs

Banana, Blackberries, Blackcurrants, Blueberries, Cherry, Cranberries, Grapefruit, Kiwi, Lemon, Lychee, Melon, Pineapple, Plums, Raspberries, Watermelon.   White bread, instant oatmeal, pretzels, saltine crackers, popcorn, rice cakes, cornflakes and white rice.  Anything with refined flour or refined sugar.    Most packaged and frozen foods along with baked goods usually fall under this category.   Any fruit or veggie that is considered Fast is okay if you eat them fresh and unprocessed.

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Most diet plans will suggest eating less of the Fast Carbs, especially ones that come from refined and sugary foods. Mainly because they provide little to no nutritional benefits and have been linked to increased risk Diabetes, Heart Disease and some Cancers.    

 

However, Fast Carbs have their place, athletes and people exercising need an immediate source of energy for their rigorous workouts. Consuming Fast Carbs after heavy exercise as a source of energy will prevent the body from breaking down muscle proteins to convert into energy.  This also prevents loss of muscle mass after workouts.