There was a comment on one of my other posts last week about low carb diets and how they’re “all meat” and very unhealthy. I replied by explaining that not all low carb diets focus on just eating meat (like Atkins does), several actually allow carbs in the form of healthy veggies (like The South Beach Diet does). The reasoning behind that is the simple fact that not all carbs are created equal. Sweet potatoes and bread are both carbs, but they are very different in the way the body responds to them and how they are digested.
What Are Resistant Starch Foods?
Resistant starch foods are carbs that do not fully digest. Instead, they travel through the digestive tract and end up in the large intestine. Resistant starch foods aren’t easily broken down by digestive enzymes because they have very tightly packed molecules. In regular starches, the fat and oils are distributed throughout the body. Resistant starches are not, which means they get eliminated from the body much quicker. This makes resistant starch a natural fat-burner, it further increases satiety, and even diminishes hunger.
Resistant starch foods include some of the following:
- Sweet Potatoes
- Beans
- Lentils
- Quinoa
- Green bananas
- Barley
- Plantains
- Oatmeal
How Much Resistant Starch Should I Eat?
As a general rule of thumb, everything should be eaten in moderation. Experts actually recommend having two servings of starch resistant foods per meal at least twice a day. The good news is that adding these foods to your diet isn’t as difficult as one might think. You simply need to replace more starchy carbs with resistant starch foods, which can be as easy as swapping white toast with oatmeal instead at breakfast.
How Can Resistant Starch Foods Help You Lose Weight?
The Fullness Factor – Resistant starch foods help you feel full faster and longer, meaning you can eat less during and between meals. Resistant starch foods are also high in fiber, which makes them more filling. Fiber also helps keep your digestive track clean, which promotes normal bowel movements and reduces bloating.
Counting Calories Made Easy – Eating resistant starch foods makes counting calories a little easier. You can have a plate full of resistant starch foods and it’ll have far fewer calories than four ounces of your favorite starchy carb. Resistant starch foods are generally low in calories, which allows you to eat a lot of them without loading up on calories.
Boost Your Vitamins – Resistant starch foods are loaded with vitamins. Many of the vitamins they have are essential for regulating metabolism, which helps you burn calories and lose weight.
Additional Resources:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/483814-resistant-starch-foods-for-dieting/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/27/resistant-starch-foods_n_815018.html
Adding resistant starch foods to your diet is an easy way to increase your nutritional intake while decreasing your caloric intake. Just like Skinny Fiber, these foods also make you full faster which allows you to eat less. If you’re not a fan of resistant starch foods or simply want to do everything you can to lose weight as quickly as possible, order Skinny Fiber below!
