Carbohydrates- Friend or Foe?

With diets such as Atkins and The Zone that promote low to no carbohydrate intake, carbohydrates have become the enemy in our food. This, however, is far from the truth.

Cutting down on carbohydrates can be good for you and may help you to lose weight, as long as you don't skimp on the healthful carbohydrates.

Good Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains should still give you the bulk of your calories. They also contain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are essential for good health that you can't get out of a supplement bottle.

Not only will these foods help protect you against a range of chronic diseases, they can also please your palate and your eyes.

Tips for a healthy diet with carbohydrates

• Start the day with whole grains
  Look for products that list whole wheat, oats, barley, or other grain first on the ingredient list.
• Use whole-grain breads for lunch or snacks
  Check the label to make sure that whole wheat or other whole grain is the first ingredient listed.
• Bag the potatoes
  Instead, try brown rice or even "newer" grains like bulgur, wheat berries, millet, or hulled barley with your dinner.
• Pick up some whole wheat pasta
  If the whole-grain products are too chewy for you, look for those that are made with half whole-wheat flour and half white flour.

What about High-Protein Diets?
Long-term research has not been done on the risks and benefits of high-protein/low-carbohydrate diets. Therefore, it is best to keep protein intake at moderate amount (about 8 grams a day for every 20 pounds of body weight). Remember that vegetable protein, found in such things as peas, beans and nuts, are a better choice than animal protein.