Good vs Bad Carbs: Then, What Is This Debate All About?
As a matter of fact, there is no classification system that categorizes carbs as good and bad. One way to categorize carbs is into “simple” and “complex”.
People often say simple carbs are bad and complex carbs are good. But the problem with this belief is that the sugars found in whole foods are beneficial while the same sugars present in processed foods have little nutritional value.
For example, starches in sweet potatoes, quinoa and legumes are healthy but those in refined flour can cause numerous health problems. It makes a perfect sense why eating an apple is better than drinking a sweetened apple juice.
For this reason, it is better to classify carbs based on their sources rather than the actual type of sugar present in foods.
Complex carbs: Obtained from whole, unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.
Simple carbs: Refined sugars that contain little to no natural fiber and nutrients.