No matter what people might tell you, carbs are not necessarily the enemy of weight loss. You just need to know what you’re doing. Sure, if you pig out on chips all evening while you’ve kicked back on the couch, after having eaten a sky-high mountain of pasta for dinner, then you’re not doing yourself any favors. But if you choose your carbohydrates strategically, then you won’t have any problem at all.
Carbs, particularly the right ones, can do a lot for your overall health and your ability to lose weight. They are a fast source of energy and can help you to make sure you’ll be able to hang in there throughout the length of your busy day, without dropping in your tracks.
The key is to make sure you’re always eating the right kinds of carbs. They’re not the white, processed carbohydrates you’d find in refined sugar and white flour. Instead, they’re found in whole grains and other very high fiber, nutrient dense options. These are the types that will help you to lose weight. Aim for options that have a minimum of 2 to 3 grams of fiber in every 100 calories.
The reason that works is that fiber is broken down very slowly and what is not digested moves slowly through the rest of the digestive system. Therefore, you feel full for a longer period of time and will be less inclined to overeat when you have snacks between meals.
A few options that can be great to keep your belly feeling full and your energy levels high include:
• ½ cup barley – 97 calories’ worth of barley comes with 3 grams of fiber and 22 grams of carbs.
• 2 ounces dry whole grain pasta – it may ring in at 198 calories, but you’ll bet a fantastic 5 grams of fiber along with the 43 grams of carbohydrates.
• ½ cup green peas – at just 67 calories, you’ll get a whopping 4.5 grams of fiber and 12.5 grams of carbohydrates.
• 1 cup cubed acorn squash – you’ll only take in 115 calories in order to obtain a tremendous 9 grams of fiber and 30 grams of carbs.
• ½ cup low-sodium black beans (canned) – here, you’ll have only 109 calories but will stock up on 8 grams of fiber and 20 grams of carbohydrates, making this an easy favorite to add to many meals from salads to stir fries.
