*written by Andrew Akhaphong, Mackenthun's Registered & Licensed Dietitian The Trend for Low-Carb DietsAccording to Kristin Kirkpatrick, Registered Dietitian and Wellness Manager of the Cleveland Clinic, a celebrity registered dietitian on Dr. Oz and The Today Show, "People often say that carbs are fattening". Kirkpatrick believes this perspective stems from how carbohydrates affect insulin response. To simply put it, carbohydrates are known to raise blood sugar levels, prompting your pancreas to release insulin which absorbs glucose (the simplest digested form of carbohydrates) into the cells throughout your body. This is a normal occurrence that actually should happen within your body if you are not a Type 1 Diabetic. Even protein triggers our pancreas to release insulin which helps us absorb amino acids into our cells - amino acids are the basic digested form of protein. This goes the same with fat we consume from our food. What does matter is the type and amount of carbs you are consuming, not the carbohydrates themselves - that cause weight gain. Many foods we categorize as carbs contain excess calories from added fats and sugars that increases our risk for weight gain. There are Complex Carbs and Refined CarbsComplex carbs and refined carbs are confusing. You do not see them on food packaging or labels, but may have heard those terms in conversation or online elsewhere. Refined Carbs are also known as simple carbs or processed carbs. What this means is the carb food source has been stripped completely of all their fiber, vitamins, and minerals. An example of this is enriched all-purpose flour. Enriched means the food manufacturer has added back some nutrients that were lost from processing the wheat grain like the B-Vitamins. Refined carbs also include sugar. Yes - sugar from sugarcane, sugar beets, and agave are natural, but they are also processed in order to produce the product for consumer use. Some sugars are better to use given their sweetness level per serving. Complex Carbs are the opposite of refined carbs. Just like what you probably have thought, complex carbs are more wholesome, fibrous, and nutrient dense. This image represents the anatomy of a generic grain. The whole grain on the left is considered a complex carb while the white grain on the right is considered a refined carb. So Why Do We Have Refined Carbs in |