Why carbs are necessary but not all are created equal

Carbs often get a bad rap.

But as Toby Tannas from Beach Radio finds out from Nutritionist and Health Coach Tania Gustafson, don't put all carbohydrates in the off-limits category.

She says one of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to health and weight loss is to eliminate entire food groups.

Carbs are necessary to keep our bodies functioning properly but they're not all created equal. Gustafson says to stay away from processed carbs as much as possible and focus instead on fruits and vegetables.

She adds that it's fun to use colour as a healthy carbohydrate reference. Bright orange yams for example, are lower on the glycemic index than white potatoes.

So load up your plate with colour and you can't go wrong.