What is a “good carb?” All carbs contribute to your diet is energy in the form of glucose. Your body can also get energy from protein which will not trip the insulin switch resulting in fat.
There’s nothing innately wrong with carbs, Atkins gave them a bad rap but the real “problem” we have with carbs in this country is the ones we eat generally are not in food that has anything of nutritional value in it and are consumed on the couch. Carbs that have proteins and vitamins and consumed in a period when you will burn the energy are perfectly fine. It’s the trail mix conundrum, trail mix tends to be lots of carbs but also lots of protein, if you eat the trail mix on the trail doing trail type stuff it’s perfectly healthy, if you eat it on the couch it gives you a fat ass (though at least you’re getting some protein so you’re doing better than doritos).
Here it is in a nuthell. Carbs are good or bad based upon its response to insulin in the body. Bad carbs spike insulin then blood sugar plummets causing hunger low blood sugar, good carbs release insulin slowly which gives stable blood sugar and nice long steady energy.
Good carbs adequately and positively address 1) Insulin Balance and 2) Nutrition. Bad carbs cause your insulin levels to swing, and provide no nutrition. If given the choice, of course one should go with good (complex) carbs like oats, potatoes, etc
Also according to the Institute of Medicine, the brain needs at least 130 grams of carbohydrates per day in order to function properly.
GOOD CARBS:
Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Sweet Potato, Vegetables, Whole Grain Bread, Quinoa,
BAD CARBS:
White Bread, Any type of sugar, Syrup, Soda,