Good carbs

Posted by: Curt | Under: General Fitness | (0) Comments

As new research sheds light on nutrition and diet, we are finding that some of the “diet hype” is not just off base a little, it is completely wrong. The anti-carb crowd is loud and has captured a lot of media attention in the past few years. But, science and common sense tells us that we need carbs to function- just not the wrong type of high sugar carbs that are so prevalent in American diets. Just remember, that the example give here about potatoes and rice assume you are not deep frying them (French-fries) or covering them with sour creme, bacon and cheese. You still need to be smart about how you prepare these foods. So enjoy, but be smart about it. From Prevention-

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A kind of dietary fiber known as “resistant starch” is emerging as a new weight loss powerhouse. A 2008 Swedish study found that people who ate a resistant starch at supper (in the form of barley bread) felt much less hungry than those who munched on plain white bread — and the hunger-quenching effect lasted past breakfast the next day. Found in beans, slightly green bananas, and potatoes (white and sweet), among other foods, this kind of fiber “resists” being digested. Because the starch doesn’t enter your bloodstream, it stabilizes blood sugar levels and may lower diabetes risk. It also boosts levels of healthful bacteria that nurture the immune system.

Stay healthy
Load up your diet with these indigestible carbohydrates, also found in brown rice and corn, says Leslie Bonci, RD, author of the American Dietetic Association Guide to Better Digestion. Because the starch becomes resistant during cooling, serve these foods at room temperature or from the fridge — think three-bean or (low-fat mayo) potato salad. You can find foods fortified with a resistant starch made from corn under the brand name Hi-maize (see our picks at prevention.com/starch). “If you’re eliminating carbs to watch your weight, you’re not doing yourself any favors,” Bonci says. “Adding these starches is an easy way to control both hunger and blood sugar.”