What is Resistant Starch and How Does it Help You Lose Weight?

Carb lovers rejoice. Recent studies have shown that carbohydrates actually help people lose weight and keep it off. Now, before you go grab a guilt free bagel or a muffin it’s important to know that there are specific carbohydrates that help you lose weight. They’re called starch resistant carbs.

What Are Starch Resistant Carbs?
Starch Resistant Carbs are carbs that actually take a while to digest. Starch Resistant Carbs are carbs which aren’t easily broken down by digestive enzymes. They have tightly packed molecule and your body has to work harder to digest them. It also takes longer to digest them and that’s the key.

Examples of resistant starch include but are not limited to:

* Sweet Potatoes
* Whole Grain Pasta,
* Beans,
* Lentils,
* Whole Grains Like Quinoa and Wheat Berries
* Green bananas
* Barley
* Plantains

Now before you throw your hands up in the air because you never eat those foods, notice that you can find resistant starch in whole grains. That means whole grain bread, cereal, and pasta are okay. What you don’t want to do is eat white bread and pasta. Those digest quickly and burn fast.

How Much is Okay?
Too much of anything isn’t great. However, experts recommend having two servings of starch resistant carbs per meal during at least two meals per day. Getting them into your diet isn’t as difficult as you might think. Replace your starchy carbs with starch resistant carbs in your pantry. Begin making a whole grain side dish for each meal. Add beans and other legumes to your daily diet too.

How Do Starch Resistant Carbs Help You Lose Weight?
Fullness Factor – Starch resistant carbs help you feel full faster and feel full longer. This means you eat less during and between meals. These types of carbs are high in fiber and fiber is filling. Fiber also helps keep your digestive track clean which reduces bloating.

Calorie Counter – You can have a plate full of starch resistant carbs and it’ll have fewer calories than four ounces of your favorite starchy carb, protein, or dairy product. Starch resistant carbs are low in calories so you can eat a lot of them without paying the calorie price.

Vitamin Vitality – Finally, starch resistant carbs are packed with vitamins. Many of these vitamins are essential for regulating metabolism. An optimized metabolism helps you burn calories and lose weight.

So start packing on those carbs, starch resistant carbs that is. Enjoy the benefits of feeling full, enjoying great foods and lose weight.