Monday, September 1, 2008

Curb Your Carb Intake

In order to lose weight it's best to curb your carb intake. The simple carbohydrates are often times referred to as the bad carbs. The main difference between good and bad carbs is how the body processes them. With simple carbohydrates, they don't have the fiber needed and your body metabolizes them quickly.

Some of the simple carbs are maple syrup, corn syrup, granulated sugar, fruit juices, honey, molasses, soda, pasta and white bread. Complex carbohydrates are fruits, vegetables, whole grain bread and cereal, legumes, brown rice, bulgur, whole wheat pasta and dried fruit.

You need to curb your carb intake because when you eat too many bad carbs you will most likely gain weight since the fast blood sugar rise will trigger the release of the hormone known as insulin. Insulin's purpose is to lower blood sugars and transport fat around your body. If you have too much insulin your body will have to produce more insulin to try to get to a normal blood sugar level. That's typically when you become hungry right away after eating something like pasta, because your blood sugar will drop which is signaling hunger.

So you certainly want to avoid simple carbohydrates, especially if you are trying to lose weight. Sugar may taste good, but the results from eating sweet foods isn't worth it. If you are craving sweets, you can have fresh fruit which is an excellent source for fiber and to satisfy your sweet tooth. Also, be sure to check fruit juices as most of them are loaded with sugar.

The bad carbs also make you crave more bad carbs. So if you give up these simple carbohydrates, you will realize in a couple of weeks those cravings have diminished. When you are hungry, reach for vegetables that you enjoy. If you like cucumbers, you can slice them and cut them into chunks and put a little bit of red wine vinegar on them, then sprinkle with pepper and enjoy. You'll take in few calories, but you'll be getting fiber from a water based vegetable that will fill you up quickly.

It's best to try to curb your carb intake permanently as they are downright bad for your overall health. A way to make sure you don't eat the simple carbohydrates is by not buying them in the first place. When you are hungry for a snack, they won't be there for you to impulsively reach for and consume. There is a diet plan that is really successful that will plan your meals for you so you won't have the concern of which carb is good or bad. Discover how you can lose tons of weight and refer back to this plan forever.

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