In the midst of the low-carb diet craze, some people may have lost sight of the fact that many carbohydrates are healthful. Good carbs, also known as complex carbohydrates, are rich in fiber, filled with nutrients and conducive to balanced blood sugar. If you are attempting to lose weight or simply stay at a healthy weight, carbohydrates such as whole grains and some fruits and vegetables can do you no harm. According to Reader's Digest, the difference between good carbs and simple, or bad, carbs is that bad carbohydrates consist of white flour, refined sugars and white rice.
White Bread
Made from white flour, white bread is one of the main bad carbs. Simple carbohydrates can cause rapid fluctuations in blood sugar, as well as promote additional carb or sugar cravings. According to Reader's Digest, you should eat whole grain bread at home, and when dining out, ask whether a whole grain option is available in the bread basket.
Sodas and Juices
You might not automatically think of sodas or juices as carbohydrates, but according to the website Kids Health, these sugar-loaded beverages, unless they're diet, are high in simple carbs. Even fruit juices, which generally have a favorable reputation, are high in simple carbohydrates. You can cut back on bad carbs by eating whole fruit rather than drinking fruit juice, and drinking water with your meals rather than soda.
Candy and Cakes
This news is unlikely to be a surprise, but candy and cakes are high in sugar and white flour and, therefore, high in bad carbohydrates, reports Kids Health. These foods are dense in calories and offer little nutrition. When reading a label for a sweet snack, you should be aware of the many names for sugar, which include sucrose, fructose, maltose and corn syrup.
White Rice
Reader's Digest advises that the next time you visit your favorite Chinese restaurant, you should request brown rice rather than white rice. This is because brown rice is unprocessed, and offers nutritional benefits such as high fiber that white rice lacks. In either case, you should watch your intake of rice, as it is fairly caloric and can add up if you're not careful.
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