What to eat and what to avoid #2

WHICH CARBS TO AVOID WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES?

A gestational diabetes diagnosis doesn’t mean eliminating carbs from your diet. Instead, it’s about incorporating good carbs and balancing them with protein, fats, and fiber. But which carbs are bad carbs - those to avoid?

White bread and pasta: Foods made from refined grains, such as white bread, white rice, and regular pasta, lack fiber and nutrients, resulting in quick digestion and elevated blood sugar levels.

Sugary snacks and desserts: Foods like cookies, cakes, pastries, candies, and other sugary treats are loaded with added sugars and provide little to no nutritional value. These items can cause sharp increases in blood sugar levels and should be limited or avoided altogether.

Sweetened beverages: Sodas, fruit juices, energy drinks, and sweetened teas often contain high amounts of added sugars, contributing to rapid spikes in blood glucose levels. Opt for water, herbal tea, or unsweetened beverages instead.

Processed and packaged snacks: Chips, crackers, cereal bars, and other processed snacks often contain refined grains, added sugars, and unhealthy fats, making them high in carbohydrates and low in nutrients. Choose whole-food snacks like nuts, seeds, or vegetables instead.

Sugary breakfast cereals: Many breakfast cereals marketed as "healthy" are actually high in sugar and refined grains. Check the nutrition labels and opt for cereals with higher fiber and lower sugar content.

Bad carbs, also known as simple carbs, are rapidly broken down into glucose by the body, causing rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. Therefore, it's best to avoid these and instead focus on complex carbs. Complex carbs take longer to digest, leading to a slower and more sustained release of glucose into the bloodstream.