Good Carbs vs. Bad Carbs.

Over the years the two forms of carbohydrates have been termed "good" and "bad." A "good" carbohydrate is a complex carbohydrate while a "bad" carb is a simple carbohydrate. Labeling these carbs good and bad can be very misleading. Simple and complex carbs both serve important purposes. Simple carbohydrates are converted into glycogen (the form of sugar in the bloodstream used for energy) very rapidly and can produce energy quickly. While this will result in a quick drop in energy (a crash) it is useful sometimes. The most appropriate time for simple carbs is immediately after a workout. Examples of simple carbs include milk, fruit, sugar, and honey. Complex carbohydrates take a longer time to break down and contain more vitamins and minerals than simple ones. The majority of your carb intake should be complex carbs since they will provide energy for longer periods of time. Examples of complex carbohydrates are vegetables, breads, cereals, legumes and pasta.