Carbohydrates have a bad reputation and are viewed among the evils of the food world. In reality carbohydrates can be very good and can be only slightly bad, depending how you look at it. Carbohydrates are used as energy within the body. When you exercise in large amounts and need small spurts of energy, like when running, carbohydrates are the nutrient that is absorbed. Of course these energy sources are short-lived but are effective and healthy.

Carbohydrates are composed of sugars, though not all carbohydrates are made of white sugars or grains. When we think of carbohydrates we most often of bread, rice, and pasta. These are the most well-known, but they also come in other forms. Complex carbohydrates are the best for the body because they burn slower and are not broken down as pure sugar. This means they are healthier. For instance whole grain breads are better for the body than white breads, even though both are made of grains. Refined sugar and processed white flour are broken down further than natural food stores, leading to a lower grade of product.

No-carbohydrate diets are popular because processed carbohydrates are associated with weight gain. But the body needs carbohydrates. They build molecules for both energy and protein productions. Glucose is a specific kind of carbohydrate that keeps the brain healthy. Most carbohydrates contain fiber, a nutrient that the body requires to function properly.

The bad carbohydrates that the media associates with fat production are not in all foods. In reality the carbohydrates that work negatively with the body are those containing white flour and those that are processed. For instance whole wheat crackers are healthier than boxed cookies and whole wheat pasta is better than white fettuccini.

The old food pyramid used to include nearly twelve servings of grains a day. That number has been greatly reduced to be in balance with the other food groups. There are people that are in fact reactant to grain and carbohydrates. These people have tendencies to gain weight because of high intakes of carbohydrates. Very few people actually have this problem. So don’t throw out all carbohydrates or obsess about how many you eat a day. Everything is fine in moderation. If you want that sandwich, then eat the sandwich. If you want that serving of pasta, then eat it. Just be careful how much you eat and you don’t have to deprive yourself.