By Joan Kent
Okay, let's start by clarifying which foods we mean when we say "carbs." After all, vegetables are carbs, and so are fruits. Yet few people consider them carbs. In any case, they are, but the ones I'm talking about in this article are starches.
Starches include quinoa, lentils, parsnips, turnips, sweet potatoes, yams, rice, squash, beans, pumpkin, and such. They also include bread, pasta and cereals, but those aren't as healthful, so we'll focus on the first list above.
As you probably know, everyone seems to be avoiding starches (or in common parlance, "carbs") lately. Everyone's reading about avoiding carbs. Everyone is recommending that we avoid them, too. Everyone has lots of reasons to avoid them.
So why am I recommending the opposite? Why should you eat starches? When might starches actually be good for you?
They Help Defeat Sugar Cravings - That's Good!
Eating the right kinds of starches -- such as those in the first list above -- in controlled quantities within a meal or snack throughout the day can help prevent sugar cravings.
The reverse is also true. Avoiding starches may lead to cravings for sugary foods or even for wine or other alcohol.
Best Practice
Combine the starches with protein, vegetables and healthful fats - both at meals and even for snacks - and you can reduce the likelihood, and the severity, of sugar cravings. You may even stop the cravings altogether.
My research and clinical practice show this works and makes starches good for us - and worth eating.
If you'd like more help with sugar cravings, perfect! That's what I do. Please grab your free copy of "3 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Trying to Quit Sugar" when you visit http://www.FoodAddictionSolutions.com.