Carbs: To Avoid or Not Avoid That is The Question

A common question I get is: What are good complex carbs?

Let me review what a complex carb means.

In a nut shell, complex carbs contain longer chains of sugar molecules (your probably thinking, ok this means nothing to me), but it means that it that the body longer to break down and use. Therefore, lower amounts of sugar will be released and you avoid spikes and lows in sugar levels. This is all good because you’ll feel fuller longer, helps curb cravings and unnecessary snacking. In turn as I mentioned in a previous post, consuming unnecessary empty calories leads to weight loss!

So which complex carbs should you focus on?

Fruit

Vegetables

Lentils

Whole grains- brown rice, quinoa, sprouted grain bread, Old Fashioned Rolled Oats

Beans

Nuts/seeds

Sweet Potatoes

Grains

Additional info on grains; not all grains are the same. Here’s a tip- Scan the ingredient label for these words (these are terms used to describe ingredients made from an entire grain kernel):

Cracked

Rolled

Stone-ground

Crushed

Graham

Whole

 Which grains to avoid?

Enriched

Unbleached

Flour

If you can’t avoid all then make sure it is NOT listed in the first 3-5 spots

So don’t be scurred of no carbs…Your body needs carbs for energy, but you have to focus on the complex carbs, the body doesn’t need simple carbs to fuel the body.

What do you struggle with the most when it comes to nutrition?