Just becuase the label says wheat doesn't mean it's good for you.

There’s been a surge of people making attempts to eat “healthy” by choosing complex carbohydrates over simple carbohydrates – which is fantastic!  However, there is some label confusion over what is really good for you and what to avoid.

Simple carbs (ex. sugar, white bread, and white rice) are processed by the body more quickly, spike blood sugar levels, and do not help sustain energy.  Complex carbs (ex. wheat bread, sweet potatoes, oatmeal) on the other hand, are processed slowly and help the body stay full and sustain energy longer.

Many people believe that foods labeled “wheat” are automatically complex carbs and a good choice.  This isn’t correct and many of these so-called wheat items aren’t any better for you than any other simple carbohydrate.

Packaging can be very deceptive if you don’t know what to look for.  Just because the manufacturers label something “healthy” doesn’t mean it is a good choice.

Before blindly grabbing and consuming food simply because the package says it’s healthy, take a moment and glance over the nutrition label on the side.  If items such as bread, cereal, crackers, tortillas, and rolls do not have at least three (3) grams of fiber per serving, than it’s not a good choice, even if it says “wheat” on the package.  This is because the wheat used in the item has been so processed that it lost much or most of its nutritional value.

Complex carbs are crucial to sustaining your energy levels and a healthy diet.  To make sure you are making good complex carb choices, just check the fiber levels on the label before tossing items into your shopping cart on your next trip to the grocery store.