Many dieters have a “hate-fear” relationship when it comes to carbs, but that doesn’t have to be the case at all. Truth be told, carbs can be a good source of quick energy to keep your body fueled. That said, it’s also important to recognize that there are in fact two main groups of carbs: good carbs and bad carbs.
Bottom line, if you want a flatter belly and you also want to eat carbs, you definitely want to focus on the good kind.
So if you’re curious about which good carbs are healthy choices to add to your diet, check out the video where I share 4 good carbs that help keep your body fueled and also help promote a flatter belly.
Here are a few more good carbs that could help:
Mixed Beans: Beans are an excellent plant-based source of protein, and depending on the type, they provide upwards of 12 grams of fiber per 1-cup serving. Dietary fiber and protein are two nutrients researchers have found to be positively associated with satiety (feelings of fullness).
Overall, the research is quite clear that adding 3 – 5 cups (per week) of beans to your diet may have some significant beneficial effects on your body composition as well as your cardiovascular health. There are many options to choose from, including black beans, dried peas, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, lentils, lima beans, navy beans, pinto beans, and more.
Quinoa: While this “ancient grain” has the taste, texture, and feel of a grain, quinoa is a gluten-free seed, which contains double the protein of brown rice along with greater fiber content and a lower glycemic load.
Not only that, quinoa is the ONLY grain-like food to contain the full spectrum of amino acids, making it a “complete” protein. Quinoa has a unique, nutty taste and chewy texture. It is also high in several antioxidants in the vitamin E family, and it is a good source of the essential nutrients manganese, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, folate, and zinc.
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Sprouted Grain Bread: Sprouted grains are distinctly different from their traditionally harvested high-glycemic, refined-carbohydrate counterparts, and they have many favorable advantages over conventional grains like wheat. What’s more, sprouted grain breads are completely flour-free.
That’s right, you’ll actually be consuming the whole grain. Sprouted grain breads are truly made with whole grains, unlike the vast majority of store-bought breads, which are made from wheat flour. The pulverization of a grain into flour essentially creates a heavily processed carbohydrate, which rapidly enters the bloodstream.
Some of the benefits of sprouted grains include increased digestibility, increased absorption of minerals, increased antioxidants (including vitamin C and B vitamins), increased fiber, and a source of complete protein.
In addition to sprouted grains, other minimally-processed, intact whole grains are also good carbohydrate choices, including whole or steel-cut oats; wild, brown, or red rice; amaranth; buckwheat groats; kamut or spelt grains; maize; millet; and barley.
Dr. Phoenyx Austin is the founder of the FitBeauty Shop, a best-selling author, fitness entrepreneur, and communications consultant. A passionate fitness and nutrition expert, Dr. Phoenyx loves sharing amazing products and practical tips to make healthy living simple, fun and awesome! To learn more about Dr. Phoenyx, check out her
