For most of us, the New Year means embracing a healthier lifestyle. One of the best ways to do so is by reducing the intake of white foods in your diet. Wondering what we mean? Well, white foods are basically the bad carbs like sugar and baked foods prepared with white flour. You know what the worst thing is? You invariably find yourself eating these foods because it’s so easy to be addicted to sweetened beverages and breads. Here’s more on these white foods.

Smart carbs VS bad carbs

Agreed that carbs are of importance to our body. But what our body needs is the smart carbs like fruits, veggies and whole grains. That’s because these are not striped of their nutrients and have ample fiber in them. The body needs carbs as its source of energy and smart carbs release energy slowly and steadily as opposed to sudden bursts of energy that are released through processed carbs.

The white foods you should stay away from…
 

Wheat flour

Wheat flour

If you’ve taken a resolution to be healthy, this is the time to say a big no to pastas, pastries and breads made of wheat flour. These foods produce rapid increase in insulin and lead to accumulation of fat in the body.

Trade with: If you’re a true blue pasta fan, opt for dried pasta made from spinach or zucchini that’s rich in fiber. As for breads, to know if your brown breads are authentic, look for the label that says ‘100 percent whole wheat’.

 

White sugar

White sugar

Did you know that a single teaspoon of white sugar contains as much as 16 calories? Agreed that white sugar is a carbohydrate but to meet your carb requirements, you must rely on fruits and vegetables instead.

Trade with: You can trade your white sugar with coconut sugar, which contains traces of iron, calcium and even potassium along with antioxidants. Moreover, this sugar also contains a fiber known as inulin, which slows down glucose absorption. Your other option could be maple syrup since this one contains manganese, which is important for several enzymes that are needed for the production of energy in the body.

 

White rice

White rice

Yes, we all love white rice but truth be told, this rice has a higher Glycemic Index. This just means that it is broken down much faster into sugar in the body. This leads to insulin resistance and this is also when the glucose levels are spiked up, which might lead to type 2 diabetes.

Trade with: Opt for brown rice instead. This one is lower on the glycemic index and in fact, decreases the risk of diabetes.