For every piece of health advice we receive, there always feels like there's an element of confusion. Don't eat too much fat ... except for the good fats. Stay away from too much protein ... except for lean proteins. And on and on it goes, except for sugar. Sugar, we know, is very bad for you (though we love it anyway).
One of the biggest categories of nutrients, carbohydrates, is also one of the most misunderstood, and it's easy to see why. Carbs were villainized in the early 2000s by food plans like the Atkins Diet, which advised a low-carbohydrate diet. Though the system has largely been discredited in recent years (and the company has revamped its plan to include exercise and "phases" of eating), people are still confused about how carbohydrates affect their bodies and their weight.
In the video above from TedEd, Richard J. Wood does an excellent job depicting what exactly happens to your body when you eat carbohydrates. From explaining which are good to why it's such a problem to only ever eat carbs, this will probably help you understand what you eat better than anything ever has.
And in case you were wondering? The key to eating carbohydrates properly is (say it with us) moderation. As for the best food options for your body, the DASH Diet (which focuses on lowering blood pressure, and emphasizes whole grains, poultry, fruits and vegetables) was recently voted the best option for 2015.
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