What Is It About Carbs?

In my practice there is a question I am asked at least once every week:

Why do I always crave carbs???

There are many reasons. Simple carbohydrates, are cheap, easy to find, tasty and most always one of our life long comfort foods - in other words, they are quite addictive. Old habits die hard, but with a little education, and some small changes they can be broken. 

Ask yourself a few questions:

•  Are these foods you eat everyday or several times a day? 
•  When you say 'sweets' do you mean candy bars, pastries, ice cream?
•  How often do you eat these things?
•  Do you eat much cereal? What kind? 
•  How is your energy throughout the day?

Think of your body like a furnace. If you give it 'white' or refined carbs - things that easily are broken down into simple sugar - glucose, it is like using kindling for fuel.  Every time you eat something like this your 'furnace' gets an intense hit of energy that immediately burns or is quickly stored. Your cells get a sugar hit, but very limited nutrients and are still 'hungry'. You essentially have not been fed. The only answer is to feed it more - another bagel, a quick candy bar, a soda. Your 'motor' suffers - foggy brain, fatigue, cravings, unsteady energy, desires for caffeine etc.

When you eat complex carbohydrates - plant based foods, you get a decent size log on the fire, that can burn steadily without compromising the rest of the body. Vegetables and beans are tops - they contain a lot of water, have lots of fiber, protein and good starches that slowly release glucose into the blood stream. They are loaded with nutrients of all kinds. You feel satisfied, but not stuffed after you eat them.

Whole grains - brown rice, whole wheat, quinoa etc. are complex carbs too. Unlike pasta or bagels, the wheat in the grains are whole - bran and all. Like vegetables and beans, a whole grain takes time to break down creating a steady stream of energy. In non-whole grains or white flour products (mentioned above), the fiber is removed, leaving only the starchy part of the grain. Your body sees that as straight sugar in a matter of minutes - cheap kindling.

What can I do to change?

• For breakfast a nice green smoothie made with a bit of fruit, some protein - almonds, chia or flax seeds, some dark greens like romaine, spinach or kale and lots of pure water, will satisfy, hydrate and delight your body with a nutrient bath to start your day!
• If you desire something more hardy, try a multi-grain (unsweetened) cereal, with nuts, raisins, some seeds and a little almond or organic milk. A bean burrito with some brown rice and mild salsa on a whole wheat wrap is also a delicious vegan alternative. 
• Snack on raw nuts, fruit or vegetables during the day. Drink lots of water. 
• For lunch have a huge salad with lots of mixed crunchy veggies, beans and nuts. Make the dressing light and free of added sugars. 
• Make dinner full of raw vegetables - another salad, and a small serving of whole grain pasta, brown rice, quinoa or another grain, with beans or another vegetable. Mix up the textures and spices. 
• If you're looking for something sweet, which you may be at first, have berries or a piece of fruit with almond butter.
•  Keep drinking lots of water and herbal teas. Limit caffeine and alcohol.

You will find that in no time the cravings disappear as your body learns the magic of 'burning' on life giving whole foods!