10 Carbs You Should Always Keep In Your Diet

Carbohydrates generally get blamed for weight gain, and so often, you'll indeed have found the culprit. Eating too many of the wrong carbs causes insulin levels to spike quickly, and this makes the body's natural fat burning capabilities much less effective. However, it's crucial not to forget that carbohydrates are essential to our functioning, and the best source of energy. Even if your goal is to lose weight, eating the right portion of carbs is essential. Cutting carbs out of the diet completely is not a healthy way of going about weight-loss (nor, frankly, is it practically possible, no matter how hard you try).
 

1 - 6. Healthy Fruits!

Try blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, pomegranate, cranberries and acai berries for an instant energy boost. These fruits are also very high in anti-oxidants, enzymes, phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals, and even fiber. These super fruits are high on the list of healthy carbs, and they even have a very small calorie count. Never feel guilty eating any of these awesome fruits!

7. Brown Rice

This is a healthy grain that is a great source of energy. Brown rice is a high quality rice with a low glycemic index. This rice burns away nice and slow, providing several hours of energy to the body. Be sure to get the type of brown rice that still has the husks on. This is a big source of fiber, and is easy on the digestive system, causing no bloating or gas. Keep portion sizes small with brown rice; boiling more will only cause you to need to throw it away, as you will fill up quickly. Don't forget to chew the rice properly and slowly!

8. Quinoa

This is a grain that has gained a lot of popularity as people learn about the benefits of eating this cereal grain. The grain is easy to digest, low in calories, and high in fiber and minerals, even compared to rice and oats. Quinoa rates well, but a lot of people aren't a fan of its taste and texture. It looks a lot like couscous but with a very bland flavor. You may want to try mixing it with some oats, veggies, and spices to create a more interesting taste. Quinoa is even very nice cold, incorporated into salads. 

9. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is, of course, an old favorite. Be sure you are getting whole oatmeal, rather than rolled oats, since they are much higher in fiber and minerals, and a great source of energy. Eating oats for breakfast is a carbohydrate great choice, even though whole cut oats take a little longer to cook. Adding honey or maple syrup for flavor is a great idea, and really enhances the taste of the oats without the negative effects of raw sugar. Are you tempted to grab the easy, ready-made variety to save time? No need. Making oatmeal overnight is super easy in a slowcooker, and much healthier!

10. Beans

You can try kidney, black, red, white and almost any other kind of beans, chickpeas, and all varieties of green peas. These are great for a unique reason; they contain plenty of protein. The protein along with the high quantity of fiber gets you filled up with relatively small servings, and keep insulin response slow and steady. These are best cooked slowly after soaking.
 
Try incorporating these ten fantastic sources of carbohydrates into your diet to get on a healthy track. These will help to cleanse your system, boost mineral and vitamins stores, and keep your energy levels high. Be sure to eat a variety each day. This keeps things interesting, and will also ensure you get all of the different health benefits that each can uniquely provide. If you are measuring your intake of carbs to lose weight, you will need 1 gram of carb per day for each pound of body weight. That means, for a person 150 lbs, have no more than 150 grams of carbs per day.