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Health

Good carbs, bad carbs

Eating bread, potatoes and pasta will pile on the pounds, right? Forget what you've heard—our bodies need carbs. Here's how to enjoy them without adding extra inches
By Diane Peters
Good carbs, bad carbs Good carbs, bad carbs
What is a carb?

First, let's be clear on what a carbohydrate really is. Carbs are not just breads, cereals and pastas. In fact, a carbohydrate is anything your body converts to glucose, or blood sugar, for energy—energy you need to keep your brain, heart, organs and nervous system working. Vegetables, fruit, legumes and sugars are all carbohydrates. What's more, all dairy products contain some carbohydrates. Think of it this way: most foods that aren't a fat or a protein are a carbohydrate. The trick is knowing which carbs to choose.

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The cover of Chatelaine magazine's spring 2025 issue, reading "weekend prep made easy"; "five delicious weeknight meals", "plus, why you'll never regret buying an air fryer"; "save money, stay stylish how to build a capsule wardrobe" and "home organization special" along with photos of burritos, chicken and rice and white bean soup, quick paella in a dutch oven, almost-instant Thai chicken curry and chicken broccoli casserole in an enamelled cast-iron skillet

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