Consuming too many refined carbs is one of the reasons why so many people struggle to lose weight — especially stubborn visceral fat that lingers around the belly.
Unfortunately, too many of us mix up refined and unrefined carbs and assume none are healthy if your goal is to keep weight off. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Refined carbs are foods that have been stripped of much of their nutritional content and, as a result, are lacking in fiber, vitamins, and minerals — which are superstar nutrients you’ll find in unrefined carbs.
Examples of refined carbs that are worth staying away from include French fries, potato chips, pretzels, white bread, white rice, and pasta.
But these four fat-burning carbs offer the opposite: heavy-hitting nutritional benefits.
Brown Rice
You don’t have to eat your homemade beef and broccoli solo — but substituting white rice for brown rice is an excellent way to incorporate this carb and gain much-needed fiber and B vitamins, without spiking your blood sugar levels.
Bananas
Need a quick boost of energy, but also a long-term solution that won’t leave you crashing in an hour like sugary carbs can do to your body? Grab a potassium-rich banana and benefit from its carb content, as well as its nutrients that help moderate blood sugar levels and improve digestive health.
Quinoa
Quinoa is considered a whole grain and a complete protein, thanks to the fact that it contains all essential amino acids (a rarity). It’s also chockfull of protein, fiber, and will fill you up fast, without weighing you down.
Vegetables
Talk about a food you can eat non-stop — veggies are one of the healthiest carbs around. Choose leafy greens like kale and broccoli whenever possible and benefit from their incredible fiber content, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.