It’s true! Not all carbs are bad carbs. Many carbs are important because they get turned into fuel for your body. Carbohydrates are naturally found in plant-based foods, and these are typically good carbs. This type of carb is also called a complex carb, which promotes a healthy digestive system and metabolism. Keep reading to learn more about complex carbs, and which ones we recommend!
Complex Carbs
According to WebMD, Simple carbs are the bad kind. These are carbohydrates that have many of their necessary nutrients removed. Simple carbs are digested quickly, causing spikes in blood sugar and making you feel hungry sooner. The short-lived fullness leads to overeating, weight gain, and conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Complex carbs are the good kind. They are often packed with nutritional layers like bran and fiber that make you digest them slower. Not digesting as fast also leads to a slow but steady release of glucose, preventing spikes in blood sugar.
Fueling these organs strengthens them and prevents conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, extra carbs are stored in your muscles and liver, so if you don’t get enough carbs later, your body still has stored up energy to use.
A diet without enough carbs can lead to:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Lack of focus and difficulty concentrating
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Choosing Healthy Carbs
It can be difficult to quit bad carbs. Rather than cutting away pieces of your diet, find replacements for them. With a little bit of work, you can replace bad carbs with good carbs. Here are a few that we recommend:
- Zucchini Noodles
- Sweet Potatoes
- Carrots
- Spaghetti Squash
- Cauliflower Rice
- Brussel Sprouts
- Fruit
- Nuts
- Nut & Seed-Based Bread
Join The Aspen Clinic – We Have 9 Locations in Louisiana
Looking for more nutritional support? Join us at the Aspen Clinic! The Aspen Clinic program is based on lifestyle changes, not temporary dieting. In summary, our program is designed to increase your metabolism and help you develop a new set of eating and activity habits. We will individualize your program according to your daily caloric needs to ensure that you are losing fat and avoiding the loss of lean muscle mass.
Visit any of our Aspen Clinic locations across Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Covington, Hammond, Harvey, Houma, Lafayette, Metairie, Prairieville, and Slidell, or schedule an appointment today to get started!
You can also visit our online store, we carry all the weight loss essentials including water bottles, vitamins / supplements, protein powders, and more!