Everyone has heard of the low or no carbohydrate fad diets. These diets imply that all carbohydrates are bad. This is not true. Sure, there are some that are not good for you, but others are very healthy. A list of carbohydrates, both good and bad, can be found in this article.

Carbohydrates are an important part of a well-balanced diet. They can affect your body, mind, and blood sugar. Your body requires carbohydrate intake because it is used as fuel for all the cells.

Carbohydrates are classified as either simple or complex. The simple carbs, or simple sugars, are quickly metabolised. This can cause significant fluctuations in your blood sugar, energy, and mood. The complex carbs, or starches, are metabolised more slowly metabolised. This causes a more steady flow of fuel, thus, avoiding extreme fluctuations.

Simple sugars can be divided into bad and good categories. The bad simple sugars are foods that contain a large amount of sugar such as: chocolate, cakes, canned fruits, and honey to name a few. These are what you want to stay away from, especially, if you want to lose weight. Good simple sugars consist of natural foods such as: apples, plums, melon, and strawberries. You can eat as much as you want from these good simple sugars and not gain weight.

Eating a diet rich in complex carbohydrates can help you with weight loss. Since they are metabolised slowly, they leave you feeling satisfied longer after eating. This curbs the need to snack between meals.

Natural unprocessed whole grains are the best complex carbs such as: wholegrain breads, oatmeal, and wheat germ. Other good food choices are: pasta, potatoes, wholegrain cereals, beans, and lentils.

Carbohydrates need to be a part of your diet. Without them your body is deprived of fuel, which can make you feel sluggish. It is best to eat a meal rich in complex carbs before exercising. This can give you an added boost. A list of carbohydrates can be used as reference in order to make good dietary choices.