Good carbohydrates are an important source of energy. But thousands of weight watchers these days are reducing or even eliminating carbs from their diet. If you’re wondering whether you should do that too, this article offers some helpful guidance.
What Are Carbs?
Carbohydrates are molecules that supply energy through glucose. They can also be stored for the future, in the form of fat. They’re mostly found in starches, sugars, and fibre. Carbs can be natural or refined. And as most of you know, the latter is the unhealthy kind.
Should I Eat Lesser Carbs?
There are many who might need to up their carb intake. Ayurveda advises Vata types to eat sufficient carbs. Those who are underweight, have low stamina, suffer from frequent mood swings, and involved in athletics can benefit from plenty of healthy carbs.
Low carb diets are mostly followed by those trying to lose weight. But there are also others who may benefit from eating carbs in lower quantities – diabetics, cholesterol patients, those with hypertension, and folks with mood disorders are some examples.
However, to those in the second category, Ayurveda recommends eating healthy carbs in moderation or limitation rather than going zero carb. So, what are healthy carbs?
Eating Healthy Carbs
If you’re confused about whether a certain food is a source of good carbohydrates or bad, ask yourself how natural it is. If the food was grown on soil and has minimal or no added ingredients, it’s most likely a healthy source. Here’s a useful list of good carbs:
1. Whole grains
Whole grains are good carbohydrates. They shouldn’t be eliminated from your diet since they come with many essential nutrients like fibre, iron, and protein. Enjoy quinoa, oatmeal, and brown rice.
2. Fruits & Veggies
All vegetables are healthy sources of carbohydrates. High carb veggies include beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, and beans. Low carb veggies include spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, and celery.
Fruits like bananas, apples, and raisins are high in carbs…while watermelons, berries, and avocados are low carb options.
3. Legumes
Legumes are healthy carbs that contain lots of fibre and protein among other nutrients. Red lentils, kidney beans, peas, and green gram are all good options.
4. Nuts & Seeds
The list of good carbs also includes nuts and seeds. They are energy-boosters and packed with nutrition. Enjoy almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds – just take it easy if you are overweight but you can definitely enjoy a few per day.
Takeaway Message
As you see, going zero-carb would mean denying your body the benefits that most of these foods have to offer. You’d be missing out on many important nutrients your body needs to function properly.
So as we said, except if recommended by your doctor, eat limited rather than no quantities of good carbs so that you don’t miss out on their many health benefits. If you are suffering from a condition, consult your doc before making any major changes to your diet.
Eat healthy, live happy!
Note: Posts on Ayurvedum are solely for the purpose of sharing the goodness of Ayurveda and bringing awareness about natural and healthy living. Please do not substitute it for professional medical advice. Ingredients discussed can interfere with certain medications. So, before using anything to treat yourself, always consult an Ayurveda doctor or practitioner.
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