2. Decreased Refined Carbohydrates
The only way to truly see how carbohydrates affect humans is by looking long-term and, since nutrition is currently in a revolutionary period, this is more of a waiting game for all of us. With that said, the one thing most nutritionists, dietitians, and medical practitioners can agree on is that refined carbohydrates should be avoided at all costs.
Refined carbohydrates — also called simple carbohydrates — refer to “sugars and refined grains that have been stripped of all bran, fiber, and nutrients,” and include popular processed food items such as “white bread, pizza dough, pasta, pastries, white flour, white rice, and many breakfast bowls of cereal.” What’s the issue with these products?
Refined carbohydrates are digested “quickly and their high glycemic index” floods your bloodstream with sugar causing “unhealthy spikes in blood sugar levels.” Refined carbohydrates are also super low in fiber and micronutrients, which are essential for a healthy body leading to the term “empty calories” — basically, you’re consuming calories that aren’t offering any nutritional value.
Refined carbohydrates are basically the opposite of nutritional self-care.
Instead, focus on healthy carbohydrates referred to as complex carbs such as legumes, rice, and starchy veggies! Complex carbs also happen to be a staple in plant-based diets such as this Black Bean, Quinoa, and Walnut Loaf, this Kidney Bean and Lentil Curry, or this Sweet Potato Veggie Biryani.
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