Heallth Minute: Good Carbs/Bad Carbs

Some dieters may be confused about whether they should be incorporating carbohydrates into their meals.

In today's Health Minute, Judy Fortin helps us tell the difference between good carbs and bad carbs.

NUTRITION EXPERTS HAVE BEEN TELLING US FOR YEARS THAT NOT ALL CARBOHYDRATES ARE THE SAME. 

DR. ARTHUR AGATSTON, CREATOR OF THE SOUTH BEACH DIET EXPLAINS CARBS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR DIET BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE THE BODY WITH ENERGY...BUT HE POINTS OUT...THERE ARE GOOD CARBS AND BAD CARBS.

(Q)What should we stay away from?

(A)White bread, donuts, white rice, baked potatoes and certainly all the sugary soft drinks are probably all the worst.

AGATSTON SAYS CONSUMING TOO MANY BAD CARBS CAN LEAD TO OBESITY AND RAISE THE RISK FOR CERTAIN DISEASES.

the bad carbs will absorb very rapidly, will exacerbate swings in blood sugar so we're walking around hungry all the time, they pre-dispose to diabetes and pre-diabetes.

(Q)What are some of the good carbs we should be incorporating into our diet?

(A)Carbs are very good for us.  they are essential.  the good carbs are the vegetables, whole fruits, whole grains, a lot of fiber and literally thousand of nutrients.

AGATSTON SAYS GOOD QUALITY CARBS MAKE YOU FEEL FULLER LONGER... AND THAT MEANS YOU ARE LESS LIKELY TO OVER EAT.

FOR TODAY'S HEALTH MINUTE, I'M JUDY FORTIN.