Are carbs bad for me?

Answer:
The dietary trend of cutting out carbohydrates, or

carbs, is one that reappears from time to time. Many different commercial diets, such as the South Beach Diet, limit the consumption of carbs to various extents. However, to determine if carbs really are bad for you, it is important to look at how eating them actually affects the body.

One of the body’s main sources of energy is carbohydrates, in different forms. Carbs are found in sugars and starches, in both simple and complex forms. Simple carbs are very easy for your body to break down and provide immediate energy, often with a feeling of “crashing” when this wears off. Simple carbohydrates can be found in refined sugar and flour, among other sources, and food made with refined products. On the other hand, complex carbohydrates -- such as those found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains – take longer to digest and usually provide many more health benefits, such as dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, than simple carbohydrates.

When carbs are eaten to excess, the body can’t use all of them for fuel. The excess glucose from the carbs you have eaten is stored as fat in the body. This is especially true with simple carbohydrates, also known as “bad carbs.” Cutting out or reducing bad carbs can cause a quick and significant weight loss. “Good carbs,” or complex carbohydrates, can cause you to feel full faster, encouraging you to actually consume less.
Besides weight gain, bad carbs can also raise your risk for Type II Diabetes. The constant supply of insulin your body has to produce in order to use the glucose you have consumed can lead to an inability to regulate insulin. This risk can be lowered by eating more complex carbohydrates than simple carbohydrates.

While carbs may not be universally bad for your health, many people do consume far too many carbs. Lowering your intake of carbs, especially simple carbohydrates, may provide many health benefits, both in the short-term and long-term. In general, it is a better to eat whole grains and non-refined products than refined sugar and white flour.