Good Carbs Vs. Low Carbs

Overview

You've probably heard the debate over which carbohydrate-based foods represent good, healthy food choices. If you need to lose weight, it's possible that a low-carb diet can help you drop those excess pounds a bit faster than a low-fat diet in which you count calories rather than carbohydrates. However, even if you're eating a low-carb diet to lose weight, or because you believe it's healthier, you should make sure that the few that you do choose include "good" carbs.

Low-Carb Diets

Your body needs carbohydrates for fuel -- carbs represent the primary source of energy for your cells, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.. People following a low-carb diet for weight-loss or health reasons generally restrict carbohydrate intake to around 50 grams each day -- far less than what most people normally consume. Some low-carb diet programs also restrict the types of carbs you can eat; for example, the South Beach diet places limits on bananas, which can contain up to 30g of carbs each.

Good Carbs

Despite the prohibitions on carbohydrates in typical low-carb diet programs, many types of carbs can help you improve your health, and are actually good for you according to the Harvard School of Public Health. These "good carbs" include vegetables and fruits, along with whole grains such as quinoa, barley, whole wheat and oatmeal. These types of carbs provide critical vitamins, nutrients and fiber to your body, and represent some of the healthiest foods you can eat.

Good Carb Foods

To ensure you're eating good carbs even if you're eating low-carb, look for whole grain foods such as brown rice, whole wheat and steel-cut oatmeal to add to your diet, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Omit white potatoes from your diet -- they contain little fiber -- and substitute healthier options such as spinach or asparagus. You may also opt to add beans -- another good carb food -- to your diet, since they provide plenty of fiber.

Considerations

Don't automatically believe a food represents an unhealthy choice just because it contains a fair amount of carbohydrate in the form of sugar. According to Columbia University, many fruits contain plenty of sugar, but they also contain vitamins and fiber, both of which benefit your body. Foods that contain sugar and fiber won't affect your body the same way as foods with similar amounts of sugar but no fiber. When in doubt, reach for fruit instead of a muffin, even if they both contain the amount of total carbohydrates.