Whats so bad with refined carbs?

Aslong as you burn more calories then you consume, shouldnt it be okay to eat them with a balanced diet?

for example , whats so wrong with this egg bagel?

Lender's Individually Wrapped Bagels/Plain Sliced


Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 2.01 oz (57.0 g)

Amount Per Serving
Calories 150Calories from Fat 5
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.5g1%
Sodium 320mg13%
Total Carbohydrates 30.0g10%
Dietary Fiber 1.0g4%
Sugars 2.0g
Protein 6.0g

nothing wrong on the calorie side of things but refined sugars are not the best choice from a healthy perspective.

Not to say you can't eat them but some choice are just nutritionally better, like whole grain bagels, but even then you need to read the labels.

whole grains have a better nutritional value. anything that has the word "enriched" in it has been stripped of most of it's nutritional value, and then has a fraction of it added back.

you're absolutely right about the calorie part, but it's more what your body does with the food after you've eaten it and how you use the energy it gives.

the real difference for dieters is how the body breaks down the refined carbs compared to the whole grains.  refined carbs break down quickly, spiking your blood sugar level, spiking your insulin production, followed by rapid drops in both blood sugar and insulin.  Besides other side effects, the problem this presents for dieters is that the food doesn't provide lasting fullness -- you are hungry again, or you crave more food to get back that sugar high.  This leads to over-eating.

whole grains are broken down much slower, providing a steady flow of sugar in the bloodstream.  The result is feeling full longer, without the cravings.

whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables are a dieter's best friends. 

Very basically speaking, why would one want to consume something (and calories) that adds no nutrional value to their diet?

That's an over-generalized answer as to why that kind of stuff is, not necessarily bad for you, but not good for you either.

Well Said, jazzislove.

hence the term : indulgence :)