In short, no, but, you should be careful with them. Carbohydrates are necessary, but too much of one thing can also be bad. Being careful with carbohydrates means understanding how they affect your body, and choosing the right ones to eat.

Carbohydrates are made up of starches, cellulose, and sugars, and can be found in many food groups, such as pastas, cereals, fruits, vegetables, and processed foods. They are also one of your body’s primary energy sources. However, to get the energy, your body must break them down and convert them into a simple sugar known as glucose. The production of glucose stimulates the production of insulin, a hormone that allows your body to distribute glucose all over.

There are two kinds of carbohydrates: simple and complex. Health experts have also deemed them good carbs and bad carbs, inversely. Simple, or bad, carbs are easiest for your body to digest and breakdown. Therefore, they tend to provide quick, short-lived bursts of energy. Also, since they are easy to digest, you often feel hungrier faster. This type of carb can be found in foods such as cakes, candies, white breads, and other foods containing refined sugars.

Complex carbs, also known as good carbs, are long strings of molecules made up of starches and fibers. Their composition is more difficult for the body to break down, and therefore keep you feeling fuller longer. These carbohydrates are often found in high fiber foods such as legumes, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Furthermore, they are rich in nutrients such as vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc. Lastly, since complex carbohydrates keep you fuller longer, you are less likely to overindulge on them.

While eating carbs provides your body with much needed energy, overindulging on them can have negative side effects. One such side effect is weight gain. Excessive carb intake results in excess glucose production. Though the liver and muscles are designed to store excess glucose as glycogen, they can only hold so much. Any excess glucose that cannot be stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles is stored as fat in the body.

Another risk of bad carb overindulgence is the possible development of Type II diabetes, a condition in which your body is either unable to produce adequate insulin, or your body simply ignores the available insulin. Again, overeating carbs results in the overproduction of glucose, which results in the overproduction of insulin. Overproduction of insulin makes it possible for your body to become overwhelmed by the constant need for insulin, and thus unable to regulate insulin production.

To keep your body healthy and energized, focus on maintaining a moderate intake of complex carbohydrates that are found in fiber-rich, whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables. Also, pairing your meals with a small salad or light soup will help you feel fuller faster.