Healthy Eating and weight loss tips: Carbohydrate Control
Many people who are looking to loose weight focus too much on the amount of fat they consume. While this is a factor its far more important and easier to limit the amount of simple carbohydrates consumed.
Simple Carbohydrates do have a place in a health conscious persons diet however they should only be consumed during or after exercise to aid in fast recovery. To avoid simple carbohydrates there are some easy changes that can be made to your regular diet.
For those of you that love sandwiches try changing what kind of bread you eat to reduce your sugar intake. White bread is the worst you could opt for, so often people go for wholemeal bread instead but even one slice of wholemeal contains around 1.6 g of sugar. The best bread for cutting out your sugar is sourdough bread as it has minimal sugar but still gives you the same great taste.
Yogurt is often regarded as a healthy snack but the flavoured varieties can come in at around 20g of sugar, just for a small serving pot. If you’re craving something creamy then try Greek yogurt instead of the fruity, flavoured ones. It is 30% protein and can be combined with sliced fruit or berry’s for a tasty, satisfying snack.
When you buy cereal you may think you’re avoiding the ones that are overloaded with sugar but even brands that are advertised as being healthier can be up to 25% sugar. If you want to avoid a huge sugar-hit at the start of your day then try porridge instead. It has low sugar levels but also provides you with high doses of Vitamin B, vitamin E and iron.
Granola bars can often be advertised as a healthy snack but an average granola can contain up to 14g of sugar. If you want a healthier on-the-go snack then try some jerky. It has no sugar and can provide a solid dose of protein, so it’s great as a post-workout snack.
If you’re a sucker for sauces with your meals, be it tomato sauce or brown sauce, then try making your own instead. Many of the sauces you buy can have around 5g of sugar, even in the tiny one serving packages. Making your own sauce is simple, all you need is some tinned tomatoes, a bit of onion and garlic and pinch of basil, and it cuts out a lot of the unnecessary sugar.
If you typically drink a glass of fruit juice in an effort to reach your five-a-day then try just fruit on it’s own instead. A normal glass of fruit juice can provide you with around 25g of sugar, whereas the fructose sugar hit that a piece of fruit provides you with comes with a good dose of fibre, helping to balance out the sugar.
