Not all carbohydrates are bad.

Quinoa, bananas, apples, beans, and carrots are all relatively high-carb foods, and studies repeatedly show that people who eat a wide variety of these foods, in addition to whole grains, tend to have trimmer waistlines and lower blood-pressure levels.

It's true, however, that once grains are stripped of their protein-hefty bran and germ, they're not great at providing key nutrients or satiating us for hours after we eat. That's why it's still a good idea to avoid refined carbs, which are used to make items like cookies and white bread.