Yes!! You heard it correctly…. No bread/ noodles/ buns/ pasta/ white rice/ cakes/ tortilla/ biscuits… I just wanted to try how it feels like to eat natural food and I think I tried my best.
Why Refined Carbs are Bad
Refined Carbs or processed Carbohydrate are known as an unhealthy food type that leads you to many diseases such as type 2 Diabetes, heart diseases as well as obesity.
Image from SkinnyChef
Naturally, the grain contains three parts; Bran, Endosperm, and Germ. Bran and Germ are full of fiber, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and protein. But, after processing, Bran and Germ are removed and it ends up as a grain only with the Endosperm part which contains only carbs that digest quickly.
Digest quickly means you feel hungry within a few hours. This issue becomes the reason for overeating that leads to obesity. Its linkage with insulin resistance shows that high consumption of refined carbs can cause type 2 diabetes as well. Furthermore, as it increases blood triglyceride levels creating chances of heart diseases.
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Along with all the reasons I found plus that bloated and heavy feeling I get after eating a bowl of pasta, I decided to eat only whole food for a week. Displayed meals are the main meals (they are Vegan too) I took. Apart from them, I had some chickpeas, green gram (Mung bean), Lemon water, Coffee, fruits and a lot of water.
Additionally, I did a 24-hour liquid fasting on the 5th day…
Day 1
Pumpkin, Spinach, Broccoli, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Pepitas, Chickpeas
Day 2
Mix salad leaves, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Chickpeas
Day 3
Pumpkin and carrot noodles. It was super delicious!!! Time to get a Spiral Vegetable Slicer to make it at home…
Mix salad leaves, Chickpeas, Tomatoes, Coconut scraps
Vegetable soup
When I asked the waitress for a noodle soup without noodles she gave a priceless look 😀
Burning my tongue trying to have this hot soup, but finally feeling its taste… #happy
Thanks Gio for the soup and capturing those photos 😀 .
Day 4
Green Gram with Coconut scraps
Day 5
I had a lot of water, lemon water, Coconut water and my favourite Genmaicha. They all are just liquid without solid food. It was not my first 24h fasting actually. I have done it before and day by day it is getting easier.
Warning!!! Due to the massive liquid intake, get ready to use the toilet 10 times more than you normally use. 😀
Genmaicha time!
Coconut water and lemon water
Just wanted to go to the park and relax… Air was my food.. so maybe I can call it liquid+air fasting 😀
Day 6
A vegan coleslaw
Mung beans with Yau Choy
Day 7
Quinoa, Broccoli, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Zuccini
Quinoa, Broccoli, Potatoes, Kale, Mung beans, baby corn, Zuccini
Mis salad leaves, Chickpeas, Quinoa, Broccoli, Potatoes, Zuccini
Some Kombucha to finish the no-refined-carb week
How I felt…
I felt amazing!!!! I basically don’t believe the numbers on the scale much as it’s all about how you feel inside and listening to your body.
I did not feel hungry as I used to feel. Also, I did not feel bloated after having a big bowl of Salad although I felt full. The energy in the morning was higher than it was and it stayed throughout the day.
It is true that everyone is busy with work and just try to grab “something edible” to fill the tummy instead of really concerning what is there inside, unconsciously forgetting that everything you have and earned can be gone if you get sick. It may not possible to go 100% no-refined carb diet depending on your existing lifestyle. But if you really think of it, you will surely find ways such as preparing meals ahead to add more whole grains and vegetables to your diet limiting refined carbs.
Finally, it is your responsibility to take care of yourself no matter what the other priorities are because if you are happy only you can make your environment happy… 🙂
References
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/why-refined-carbs-are-bad#section5
http://skinnychef.com/blog/whole-grains-for-kids
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318630.php
