Healthy Starchy Foods

Carbohydrates and the starch that is found in them have always been perceived as the enemy in terms of weight gain. Numerous diets have also been based on the myth that carbs are the real culprits behind all those pounds you may have been gaining. However, there are also a certain kind of healthy starches that can actually help you lose weight and provide you with all the health benefits of consuming carbohydrates.

Healthy starchy foods, also termed as complex carbohydrates, are the ones that are known to also be rich in fiber and as such, keep you fuller for longer. They help you burn calories and have you feel energized. These fiber rich foods are also known to be heart-healthy as they help reduce cholesterol levels. So, what kinds of foods are we talking about here? Let's find out.

Starchy foods that are also healthy and provide the aforementioned benefits have been enlisted here. These foods are known to contain resistant starches as they don't break down in the digestive system immediately to provide instant energy. Instead they digest slowly so that you are kept feeling fuller for longer time periods as well as energized.

• Brown Rice
• Bread: Wholemeal, Multi-grain, Seeded
• Wheat Pasta
• Whole grain Breakfast Cereal
• Oats (preferably whole or steel-cut)
• Quinoa

• Barley
• Bulgar Wheat
• Couscous
• Beans (of all varieties) and Lentils
• Unripe Bananas

All these foods do contain calories, but these are calories that are healthy for the body, not the ones that get stored up.

In fact, some studies have proven that consuming these foods actually help burn fat cells thereby resulting in weight loss. Also, these foods do not raise blood sugar as do simple carbohydrates that are found in refined foods such as bread, white rice, and pasta.

Avoiding carbohydrates altogether in an endeavor to lose weight is one of the biggest mistakes made by people who are in desperate need to lose weight. By giving up on these foods, they end up losing out on a lot of nutrients that may in fact be extremely healthy for them.

The benefits of these foods have already been mentioned. Instead of avoiding them and finding yourself suffering from hunger pangs every so often, it is definitely a good idea to include these foods in your diet and see how you lose weight.

Health experts suggest that for effective and accelerated weight loss, the foods mentioned above should be enjoyed with fiber rich foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. At least five portions a day of each should be consumed so as to attain maximum benefits.

Some of you may find the aforementioned list extremely boring, and you may wonder how you can include it in your diet. Here, we give you a few ideas by which these foods can make delicious (and definitely nutritious) additions to any meal.

• Oats with a bowl of yogurt and fresh berries makes for the perfect breakfast.

• Try brown rice with lightly stir fried vegetables, or cook it with a variety of beans in a light sauce for flavor. Brown rice can also be added to salads for better flavor.

• Wheat pasta can be enjoyed by preparing it like regular pasta (try to use lesser cheese based or white sauces - enjoy with tomato based sauces instead). However, when you do prepare it that way ensure that you have more pasta and lesser sauce in the meal. Wheat pasta can also be added to salads and soups.

• Make a delicious sandwich with whole grain bread, a piece of grilled or steamed chicken (skinless), some lettuce, tomatoes, and mustard. This sandwich gives you all the necessary nutrients without adding too many calories to your diet.

• Enjoy a bowl of breakfast cereal with a glass of skimmed milk, a handful of nuts (such as almonds and walnuts), and some fresh fruit.
• Boiled potatoes can safely be added to salads and will definitely be more nutritious if you leave the peel on.

As you can see, this list of healthy starchy foods that is also extremely healthy can be easily enjoyed in a variety of manners without you having to compromise on taste, and even burn calories in the bargain. Enjoy these foods and see the difference it makes to your body, your mind, and your overall health.