One of best improvements David and I made to our diets was to eliminate simple carbs and only eat complex carbs. This is how David was able to drop his body fat into single digits so quickly!
A lot of people think they have to eliminate almost all carbs from their diet to lose fat. It couldn’t be further from the truth! It’s all about the Simple & Complex carbs!
Eat simple carbs = body stores it as fat
Eat Complex carbs = your body burns fat
Simple carbs spike your blood sugar, which releases insulin, which removes all the sugar from your blood and stores it as fat!
Complex carbs DON”T spike your blood sugar and they actually improve digestion!
In our Top 25 Nutrition tips, we refer to simple carbs and complex carbs. We get a lot of questions asking for examples of both. Ask and ye shall receive!!! See below!
Complex carbohydrates are high-fiber foods, which improve your digestion. They help stabilize the blood sugar, keep your energy at an even level, and help you feel satisfied longer after your meal.
In contrast, sugar and other simple carbohydrates can alter your mood, lead to cravings and compulsive eating, cause wide swings in your blood-sugar levels, and cause weight gain in most people. In addition, a high consumption of sugar can lead to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when you finally decide to improve your diet and forgo the sweets.
Healthy foods containing complex carbohydrates: (EAT THEM)
| Spinach | Whole Barley | Grapefruit |
| Turnip Greens | Buckwheat | Apples |
| Lettuce | Buckwheat bread | Prunes |
| Water Cress | Oat bran bread | Apricots, Dried |
| Zucchini | Oatmeal | Pears |
| Asparagus | Oat bran cereal | Plums |
| Artichokes | Museli | Strawberries |
| Okra | Wild rice | Oranges |
| Cabbage | Brown rice | Yams |
| Celery | Multi-grain bread | Carrots |
| Cucumbers | Pinto beans | Potatoes |
| Dill Pickles | Yogurt, low fat | Soybeans |
| Radishes | Skim milk | Lentils |
| Broccoli | Navy beans | Garbanzo beans |
| Brussels Sprouts | Cauliflower | Kidney beans |
| Eggplant | Soy milk | Lentils |
| Onions | Whole meal spelt bread | Split peas |
Foods containing simple carbohydrates: (DON’T EAT THEM)
Simple carbohydrates are more refined, are usually found in foods with fewer nutrients, and tend to be less satisfying and more fattening.
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If you are trying to eliminate simple sugars and carbohydrates from your diet, but you don’t want to refer to a list all the time, here are some suggestions:
Read the labels. If the label lists sugar, sucrose, fructose, corn syrup, white or “wheat” flour, they contain simple carbohydrates. If these ingredients are at the top of the list, they may contain mostly simple carbohydrates, and little else. They should be avoided.
Look for foods that have not been highly processed or refined. Choose a piece of fruit instead of fruit juice, which is very high in naturally occurring simple sugars. Choose whole grain breads instead of white bread. Choose whole grain oatmeal instead of packaged cold cereals.
The closer you get to nature, the closer you get to health.
Simple carbohydrates, like sugar and corn syrup, are created in a factory – while complex carbohydrates in vegetables and whole grains are designed by nature, and help you maintain your health.
Credit to https://howtothinkthin.com for this list!
