Are carbohydrates good or bad?

Which carbohydrates should you eat most: starchy or fibrous?

And why do so many people have digestive problems when they add more “good” carbohydrates to their diet? 

Carbohydrates, also known as carbs or saccharides, are a food source often debated in the nutritional world. One piece of information is not controversial: we should cut down our consumption of simple sugars, meaning reducing or eliminating sodas, refined sugar, and foods with high-fructose corn syrup.

High sugar intake is linked to Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Our bodies produce enzymes to help break down carbohydrates to sugars, most notably the sugar glucose. While glucose is considered a simple sugar, it is necessary as fuel for brain and muscle function. 

By using carbohydrate-busting enzymes, the body can convert many complex “bad”carbs to glucose without causing a large increase in blood sugar. 

Drinking a glass of apple juice results in a large bolus of sugars being absorbed at one time - whereas eating an apple and letting enzymes digest those carbs results in a more moderate and prolonged rise in blood sugar.

This prevents the large and rapid fluctuations in blood sugar and blood insulin that can wreak havoc with the body’s systems. 

So which carbs should we eat? 

Complex carbs consist mainly of 2 types: starchy or fibrous. 

Starchy carbs are found in brown rice, baked potatoes, oatmeal, pasta and whole grains. 

Fibrous carbs are found in veggies like asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and other leafy greens. 

Do stay away from carbs that are processed or refined. This means going to the farmers’ markets and getting fresh foods not canned goods. 

But many find that eating more unrefined complex carbs causes some digestive problems. Bloating, gassiness, and loose stools are the main complaints. 

This happens because many people have fast-moving guts. The food moves more quickly through the stomach and GI tract.

Some of this is because the raw foods may actually be perceived as an irritant to the gut and the gut responds by trying to move it out more quickly. Bloating and gas occur when partially digested carbs come into contact with gut bacteria which use the carbs as a food source.  The bacteria multiply and produce more carbon dioxide and methane gas. 

Some of the complex carbs we eat can’t be digested because humans don’t produce the right carbohydrase enzymes to break them down.  

These are the carbs stachyose and raffinose found in beans, broccoli, and other greens. If these carbs aren’t broken down in the gut they can actually ferment which also contributes to the bloating problem.

Two excellent enzyme products for carbohydrate digestion are Zyme Prime and ZyCarb.

Zyme Prime contains amylase and glucoamylase, lactase, alpha-galactosidase and other enzymes to help break down complex carbs and ease the bloating and gas caused by unrefined veggies and fruits. 

Take Zyme Prime at the beginning of each meal to make sure you prolong the contact between enzymes and foods in the stomach.

Zyme Prime has been in the Houston Enzyme product line-up for years and has helped many to better tolerate diets high in complex carbs. Zyme Prime tends to firm stools. If you'd rather avoid the stool-firming effect, try our other product for carbohydrates, ZyCarb. 

ZyCarb is similar to Zyme Prime with xylanase added to break down fiber and help soften stools a bit. Like Zyme Prime, ZyCarb supports the digestion of complex carbs. 

With the right enzymes in your diet, you can enjoy the carbs you love whether they're "good" or "bad".