Carbohydrates provide your body with energy to function properly. They are available in a variety of foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, reports the Harvard School of Public Health. Some people also avoid carbohydrates to stabilize or reduce their weight. Carbohydrates should be consumed in moderation to maintain a balanced diet. Adjusting your diet to safely include carbohydrates helps moderate starch and sugar intake.
Vegetables
In addition to vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, most vegetables contain carbohydrates. Vegetables with low or modest carbohydrate amounts include radishes, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, cucumbers, lettuce, artichokes and beets, reports Massachusetts Institute of Technology. High carbohydrate vegetables include yams, turnips, carrots, potatoes and other starchy roots vegetables.
Fruits
Whole fruits are carbohydrates primarily of glucose and fructose, which are simple forms of sugar, notes the "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" by health expert Phyllis Balch. Fruits are considered complex carbohydrates despite their high sugar content. They are also rich in minerals, vitamins and fiber, all of which assists your body in digesting them slowly.
Grains
Grains are in pasta, bread and baked goods. Although they contain some of the highest carbohydrates, they are also healthy, reports MayoClinic.com. Bran and other grains help clean your gastrointestinal tract out. However, some grains are refined by industrial food sources. These grains are often reprocessed and stripped, which destroys the health benefits of the food group. Examples of healthy whole grains include bulgar, rye, whole grain bread, whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat rice, brown rice, oats and spelt.
Junk Food
Junk foods such as potato chips, candy, ice cream, cake and soda are simple carbohydrates. Although these sugary sources provide your body with necessary energy that doesn't last long, notes the University of California Student Nutrition Awareness Program. They also don't add any nutritional benefits. When simple sugars enter your body, it produces insulin, which releases sugar from your bloodstream. As a result, you are left with a drained feeling.
References
- Harvard School of Public Health: Carbohydrate Food List
- MayoClinic.com: Whole Grains
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Carbohydrates in Foods
- New Mexico State University: Carbohydrate Food Groups
- University of California's Student Nutrition Awareness Campaign: The Complexity of Carbs
- "Prescription for Dietary Wellness"; Phyllis Balch; 2003



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