A recent article in the Chicago Tribune, Good Carb, Bad Carb, caught our eye because of its title “Good Carbs, Bad Carbs”. Carbohydrates, to remind you, are one of the three macronutrients making up almost all foods, alongside fat and protein. Over the years both fats and carbs have been vilified and exonerated, to the point where it seems today there is no agreement in the scientific community on their health benefits.

So what are we to do with all this confusing information?

The truth is that the majority of nutrition researchers today agree that fats as a group are not bad, only certain types are. And the same goes for carbs. While highly refined carbs such as sugars and enriched flours are “bad carbs”, there are certainly entire groups of good carbs, mostly fruits and non-starchy vegetables.

According to Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health, there are 4 factors that determine if a carb is good or bad:

1. Dietary fiber (more is better)

2. Effect on blood sugar rise, also known as glycemic index (the slower the better)

3. Whole grain content, where relevant (more is better)

4. Carb structure (intact is better than liquid, milled, or pulverized)

So for example, soft drinks are bad because they contain no fiber, they spike blood sugar, and they are simple carbs in liquid form. A tomato, on the other hand, has fiber, low glycemic index, and is a complex carb in its natural state.

So now everything is clear, right?

Not so fast. Some carbs are still undecided because they may be good in some of the 4 criteria but bad in others.

The debatable carbs are:

• Corn

• Popcorn

• White potatoes

• Pasta

• 100% fruit juice (limited quantities)

Take potatoes for example. Not in their french fried mode, but baked in the oven. They are a very cheap and good source of nutrients, including fiber. But they have a high glycemic index despite their carb structure which is why they are hotly argued. Interestingly enough, sweet potatoes don’t spike blood sugar as much as white potatoes, despite their name.

What to do at the supermarket:

1. Spend more money in the produce aisles than in the processed food aisles.

2. Buy whole grains and whole grain products (brown rice, 100% whole wheat bread, etc..)

3. When reading nutrition labels, do the carb ratio test: The total carbs to fiber ratio should range from 10 : 1 to  5 : 1 . That means around 10-20% of the carbs are fiber.

4. Some surprising sources for good carbs are beans and lentils (usually considered for their protein). Another reason to eat more…

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