Simple carbohydrate diet is a healthy diet plan that allows you to consume complex carbohydrates for your well-being. Your health status considerably improves and you also lose some extra pounds while being on this diet plan. Read on…
One should not confuse the simple carbohydrate diet with consumption of simple carbohydrates. Rather, this diet form entails intake of complex carbohydrates that could be easily digested. Also known as Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), it was formulated by Dr. Sidney V. Haas. But it become popular only when Elaine Gottschall, a renowned biochemist made people aware of its health benefits. Gottschal believed that undigested carbohydrates cause an overgrowth of harmful microorganisms that can produce toxins and trigger damage to the lining of the small intestine that results in malabsorption of nutrients and impairment of immunity. Your daily intake of calories is also reduced when you take complex carbohydrates regularly. We shall share some useful information about this diet below.
Simple Carbohydrate Diet: An Overview
Complex carbohydrates, unlike simple ones, do not pose any health risk and they are also gentle on our digestive system. This diet is usually recommended to people suffering from Crohn’s disease, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and several other types of digestive and gastrointestinal problems. It’s also useful for those who have undergone a surgery and have been advised to consume light foods. The foods get digested completely by the body and they do not trigger growth of microorganisms.
Doctors usually recommend this diet plan for a period of six months for noticing the improvement in health. A simple carbohydrate diet is also useful for those who are wanting to lose weight. Within the time span of six months your body gets accustomed with the diet regimen and you can well experience the health benefits. Strict restrictions are imposed in this diet plan on consumption of simple carb foods and you should follow it religiously.
The basic motive is to eliminate foods that are rich in calories and are difficult to digest. White bread, white pasta, processed rice, refined sugar and other types of foods containing sucrose and disaccharides are eliminated completely. To suffice your sugar cravings, you can have honey, jaggery or unsweetened sugars like Stevia. You are also not allowed to eat fast foods, junks, aerated drinks, jams, jellies and sweetened fruit juices.
Restrictions are also imposed on consuming whole cream milk and fat rich dairy products. You can have cheddar cheese, skimmed milk yogurt, cottage cheese and low fat butter. Soybeans and garbanzos are also eliminated from the diet while lentils, lima beans, navy beans, barley, wheat and corn are allowed. Have plenty of nutritious fruits, like oranges, grapes, apples, bananas, watermelons, etc. and restrict yourself from sugary fruits like cherries and strawberries.
A simple carbohydrate diet is composed of easily digestible foods that include oats, cornflakes, wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, etc. You can make soups and stews with green leafy vegetables while avoiding potatoes, artichokes, yam and sweet potatoes (as they are rich in starch). Cook in minimal amount of vegetable oil (prefer using extra virgin olive oil) or have them in boiled form. You can also combine protein rich foods like lean meat, chicken breast, turkey, fish and tofu with complex carbs.
From the aforementioned facts, it’s clear that your body is deterred against health complications when you replace simple carbs (especially refined sugars and white flour products) with complex carbohydrates. Although the time period is set for a maximum period of six months, you can extend it according to your own convenience. You can resume your normal diet plan once you have recovered completely. Thus, following this diet plan not only helps to strengthen your digestive power but you also meet your weight loss goals within the stipulated time period.
