Carbohydrates are painted as villain nowadays. Many dieticians say that we must cut carbs from our meals to lose weight fast. But understand this. Carbohydrates are very important macronutrients for our body. If the body doesn’t get rich amount of carbohydrates, and that too each day, it would have serious problems. Remember, carbohydrates are primary source of energy of our body.
They are crucial for brain function, for protein absorption, and for overall cellular function. So don’t blankly turn carbohydrates into villain. If you are worried about putting on weight with carbs, don’t worry. Let’s see 5 carbs in food item that are excellent source of nutrients and won’t increase your weight.
Water chestnuts, also known as Singara in Hindi
This traditional item is an excellent source of complex carbohydrates. Water chestnuts are low in fat and high in vitamin B6 and potassium. They are also rich in fiber, which aids in digestion and helps maintaining a stable blood sugar level. Water chestnuts are good source of manganese and copper, both essential for different body function.
Read, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-healthy-high-carb-foods
Isn’t it a powerful ingredient which gives you so much? Now, water chestnuts can be eaten in varieties of different ways. You can either add them in salads or boil them and eat them. Another great way of eating water chestnuts is to incorporate them in soups for added texture. For a different culinary experience, you can also make water chestnut Singara’s flour and make varieties of dishes. And adding the benefits of this powerful chestnut to your diet.
Pumpkin
Pumpkins are nutritious powerhouse packed with vitamins, minerals, and fibers. One of its very strong feature is that it has high beta carotene. Our body converts carotene into vitamin A and vitamin A is very important for healthy vision, immunity, and skin health. If you are worried about getting fat with carbs, then remember, pumpkins are low in calories, but high in fiber.
The high fiber content helps you to feel full longer, making it excellent for weight management. Now let’s see how you can eat pumpkin. Many Indian households make delicious sabzi with pumpkin. You can also make pumpkin raita by adding pumpkin into yogurt or curd. In raita, you can put some roasted cumin and spices of your choice. For a quick and nutritious drink, blend pumpkin puree with Greek yogurt, a banana, and a dash of cinnamon for a delicious smoothie.
Jackfruit
It is rich in fiber, vitamin C, and several B vitamins, making it highly nutritious. Jackfruit also contains antioxidants that help fight inflammation and support overall health. Ripe jackfruit is eaten as a fruit in southern parts of India, and the raw tender ones are cooked into curries. But did you know that nowadays you can get even jackfruit flour? Use this flour to make your rotis. Eating these rotis at least twice a week can help you with sugar control, glowing skin, and strong hair. And so try it out.
Tapioca
It is a starchy root vegetable, which is rich in carbohydrates, making it an excellent healthy source and is powerful. It has manganese and folates, which are important for both health and cell growth. To add tapioca in your diet, simply boil it with some salt in water, then temper it with some oil, mustard seed, crushed black pepper, curry leaves, and turmeric. Or you can make a stir fry with other vegetables. But remember to always boil the tapioca by boiling it in water thoroughly in the beginning.
Lotus root
Lotus root is nutrient-rich and dense vegetable. It’s an excellent source of dietary fibers, vitamin C, potassium, and several B vitamins. Lotus root also has antioxidant properties, which help protect your body from oxidative stress and inflammation. You can thinly slice lotus root and stir fry it. You can use soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil. You can also add lotus root to soups.
Also read, https://beinghealthyyy.com/stop-your-mind-chatter-overthinking/
You can also provide pickle for a tangy snack. Remember, carbs are not villains in your weight loss journey. What you need to learn is to choose the right type of carbohydrates. Always choose whole grain, minimally processed carbohydrate sources. Choose carbs that are also rich in nutrients and fiber.
Nutrient-dense carbs like chestnuts, pumpkin, tapioca, jackfruit, and lotus root give you the benefit of carbs without compromising your health and even fitness goals. So make a weekly plan with each one of these for five days and enjoy your healthy food.