Plant Power Challenge Day 18      

Carbs –Good or Bad?

 “Our motivational systems have been hijacked. Seeking the most pleasure for the least pain and effort is what we’ve adapted to—consuming animal protein, dairy, packaged, processed foods, laden with oil, sugar and salt—more calories per bite and devoid of fiber. Doing the wrong thing is now what feels right. Unprocessed, all natural plant food is what human beings were designed to eat. We have to detox and realign our systems.”
~ Doug Lisle, PhD, Author of The Pleasure Trap

Carbohydrates are the main source of calories in a healthy diet and are the primary fuel for the brain and muscles. What’s most important is to choose the best carbohydrate source. That means two things: You want complex carbohydrates (starches)rather than simple carbohydrates (sugars). And you want carbs that still have their fiber, like brown rice or brown bread, rather than white rice or white bread, from which the fiber has been stripped away.

Simple carbohydrates are made of just one or two sugar molecules. They are the quickest source of energy, as they are very rapidly digested. Examples include-table sugar, honey, fruit drinks, sodas, candy, brown sugar, maple syrup, molasses, jams and jellies.

Complex carbohydrates may be referred to as dietary starch and are made of sugar molecules strung together like a necklace or branched like a coil. They are rich in fiber, thus more satisfying and health promoting. Complex carbohydrates are commonly found in whole plant foods and therefore are also often high in vitamins and minerals.

Great sources include: fruit, green vegetable, potatoes, pumpkin, beans, lentils, peas, whole grains and whole grain products such as oatmeal, pasta, breads, brown rice, corn, and quinoa.
Unfortunately, popular low-carb diets that are high in animal products –meat and dairy- lead to increased intake of cholesterol and saturated fat, less fiber, minerals and vitamins and virtually no phytonutrients and antioxidants that are found in the complex carbohydrates. In the end, any short-term weight loss associated with these diets is counterbalanced by the associated cardiovascular, chronic degenerative and malignant diseases produced by a high meat diet.