Carbolicious Carby-Carb Fantastic Carbohydrates

Donuts. Pies. Cookies. Cakes. Bread. (Let me add, fresh baked, white, white, white yummy, yummy bread.) Candy. Pasta. White Rice. Jam. Soda.

There's more, of course. You can pretty much go down the center food aisles at your local supermarket and find enough carbs to fulfill any food fantasy. And let's face it, they taste good. The more awful they are for you, the more delectable they are. There are times when I would gladly trade my car for a warm, fresh donut and a glass of apple cider. Luckily for my winter commute, no one has taken me up on it. Yet.

Here's the thing, though. Carbs have gotten a really bad rep over the past several years. And not just the truly bad ones (as mentioned above) are reeling from the assault. Popular diets have dismissed even some of the most nourishing and healthy foods available to us today. Fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes and, yes, even vegetables can fall under the header of the evil carbohydrate. There are many fantastic lists available. One of my favorites is http://commonsensehealth.com/Diet-and-Nutrition/List_of_Carbohydrate_Foods_with_Good_Carbs_Grams.shtml.

It's also important to understand why we actually need carbohydrates. You would think, after the character assault they've received in recent years, that they hold no other function than to keep us fat. However, in the words of McKinley Health Center:

* Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of fuel.
* Carbohydrates are easily used by the body for energy.
* All of the tissues and cells in our body can use glucose for energy.
* Carbohydrates are needed for the central nervous system, the kidneys, the brain, the muscles (including the heart) to function properly.
* Carbohydrates can be stored in the muscles and liver and later used for energy.
* Carbohydrates are important in intestinal health and waste elimination.

Healthy Carbohydrates have a really important job! How dare we bulk together the workhorses with the lazy mules and call them all useless? Healthy carbohydrates taste just as good as the unhealthy, often even better. Give me a steaming cup of steel cut oats with a dash of cinnamon and some diced up apple over a bowl of Frosted Flakes any day of the week.

It just requires a bit more research and planning. Know what the best options are, make sure they are what you have available first and what you eat primarily. Don't blindly accept the word of the next most popular diet guru without spending a significant amount of time studying up on the facts yourself.

Then, go forth and enjoy those carbolicious, carby-carb fantastic carbohydrates. Just make sure they are the right kind!

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. ~Jim Davis~