7 Best Sources of Carbs for a Slimmer, Healthier Body

Lisa Franchi October 20, 2014

Carbs – this word makes many dieters raise their eyebrows. But contrary to its bad rap, carbohydrates are essential to our health. They serve as a ‘fuel’ that give our body and brain the energy to maintain their functions every single day. Yes, we can’t just live without carbohydrates.

But it’s not enough that you consume carbohydrates. You have to make sure you’re choosing the right type of carb that will benefit your body. Pasta, bread and pastries are common sources of carbs but they don’t provide you with the ‘fuel’ your body needs. What you want to eat are complex carbohydrates or those which are made of fibre, not sugar. There are many great sources of complex carbohydrates that you can easily add to your diet. Here are some of them:

Oatmeal

If oatmeal has been your morning buddy ever since, know that you are supplying your body a good amount of complex carbs. Oatmeal, especially the rolled varieties, is a great source of fibre that has been proven to lower bad cholesterol levels. Ditch the sugar and other sweetened toppings. You don’t need them. Add fresh or frozen fruits instead, such as berries, strawberries, apple slices, etc.

Quinoa

Replace white rice with quinoa. Aside from being a great source of carbs, it is also a wonderful source of complete protein, which means it’s a perfect rice substitute if you’re trying to lose weight! Quinoa contains nine of the essential amino acids, some of which the body cannot produce on its own.

Banana

Going to the gym? Eat a medium-sized banana first. This calorie-dense, natural ‘power’ bar is the best rival of artificial ‘energy drinks’. And just in case you don’t know, banana is an excellent source of potassium which is an electrolyte that is lost during intensive sweating sessions.

Sweet Potato

Health experts agree that the single most important dietary change one could make would be to replace fatty foods with foods rich in complex carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes, with the skin on, are also loaded with carotenoids found in squash. They also contain vitamin C, protein and potassium.

Berries

A cup of blueberries only contains 84 calories, but these tiny gems offer an abundant of health benefits! Apart from fibre, berries are rich in antioxidants that lower your risk of developing heart disease, cancer and other diseases, and may help slow down cognitive decline.

Popcorn

If you want something crisp and tasty while being low in calories, grab yourself some air-popped popcorn. It doesn’t only satisfy a snack craving. It also a whole grain – which means it isn’t bad for your health! One cup of popcorn has 6 grams of carbs, 1 of which is fibre, and has only 31 calories. So yes – you can always go for another cup. Just make sure to leave out the cheese, salt or caramel.

Barley

Barley is a wonderfully versatile cereal grain with a rich nutlike flavour and an appealing chewy, pasta-like consistency. Barley is an excellent source of fibre which promotes better digestion, stronger heart, and slimmer body. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests barley’s fibre has multiple beneficial effects on cholesterol. The fibre in barley can also help to prevent blood sugar levels from rising too high in people with diabetes.

Carbohydrates are important to your health as they give you the energy needed to engage in your daily activities. But you have to choose the right type of carbs to get such amazing benefits. The ones listed here are just a few of the many excellent carb sources, but they provide additional benefits that power up your health to the max.