Whats safe and whats not

[lizzylouwho]

I am 32 years old, weigh about 210 lbs and I am 5'4". I have started to change my eating habits such as cutting out sodas (it has been 7 days since I have had one!) and switching to splenda in my coffee. My question is this; what it a safe amount of carbs to consume per day, and in what form should the carbs be consumed? There is so many varying opinions about this, and I don't want to go to extremes. I love bread, but also know that they are source of a load of carbs, sugars and empty calories. So, again, what is a healthy amount of carbs per day and in what for are the carbs best consumed? Thanks in advance for any help!

[lizzylouwho]

Thanks so much! I kind figured what the good carbs were, but just wasn't sure about the intake...thanks again!
~Elizabeth~

[tigerlilly5909]

I just looked up an article that said the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest that half of your calories come from carbs. If you eat 2000 calories per day you should be eating about 250 grams of carbs per day.

There are good carbs and bad.

Complex carbs in fruit and veggies, whole grain breads, crackers, cereal and pastas are good. Nuts seeds and legumes are complex carbs also. These are good carbs.

Bad carbs are sugar, white bread, white pasta, deserts, cookies, donuts, pop and chips. Stuff like that.

I would also keep away from high carb foods at night. I have also found that simple carbs make me very hungry. This is because your body gets a rush of sugar and then it drops suddenly making you hungry. Your body thinks it needs to eat but doesn't. This is also the reason you might get tired a few minutes after a high carb meal. Your sugar spikes and then crashes leaving you tired. Complex carbs give you a steady stream of sugar for energy and they last longer so you can make it to your next meal with more energy and not being as hungry.