JULIE CORLISS | Harvard Health Publishing

NUTRITION | ADVICE

Carbohydrates, protein and fat are the three major nutrients your body needs to function well. A wide range of foods — black beans, bread and bananas, for example — contain carbohydrates. But the unique mix of fiber, starches and sugar (the three main components of carbohydrates) in carbohydrate-rich foods can affect your health in different ways.

"Carbohydrates can definitely be confusing, and many of the patients I work with have questions about them," says Nancy Oliveira, a registered dietitian and manager of the Nutrition and Wellness Service at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.

People who want to lose weight or better control their diabetes often try to cut back on carbs. "But I always emphasize that incl

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