Vegan Nutrition with Jill Nussinow, MS, RD

Jill Nussinow is a Registered Dietitian, culinary educator, cookbook author, speaker and consultant and all around proponent of a plant-based diet. She teaches vegetarian and vegan cooking at Santa Rosa Junior College in California and other places around the US. She has a son who is almost 15. One of her greatest joys is sharing her enthusiasm for vegetables and pressure cooking with anyone who will listen.

What is the difference between good and bad carbs?

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I don't generally like to call things "good" or "bad" so how about if we call them "best" and "not best"? The best carbohydrates for you are ones that contain the complete food as it occurs naturally. Whole grains fall into this category. They contain the bran, which is the protective outer layer containing many nutrients, fiber among them, the germ, where the fat is stored, and the endosperm which is the starch portion of the grain.

When you combine all 3, you get nature's perfect food, as the fiber helps slow the absorption of the starch and the little bit of fat that exists contains fat soluble vitamins such as Vitamin E, and adds to the balance. In contrast, the "not best" carbs have been stripped of the bran and usually the germ, hence the difference between brown rice and white rice. Also included in the list of best carbs are legumes, which include beans, peas and lentils of all types.

They contain soluble fiber that can help lower cholesterol and are a great source of protein. Most vegetables and fruit also have the better for you carbs but especially with the fruit, eating too much can be a problem for some people with their blood sugar and/or triglycerides. Generally, the best carbs come as is, the "not best" carbs have been processed in some way. Eating foods as they arrive from the field or farm provides the best nutrition.

Visit Jill's website TheVeggieQueen.com and her blog theveggiequeen.blogspot.com.

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Disclaimer: The advice given here is for eductional purposes only. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider.
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