How can I reduce my carb cravings?

To reduce your cravings for bad carbs, you need to remove the "carbage" from your diet and focus on healthier, slower carbs, along with protein and good fats. Dietician Ashley Koff, RD, shares her tips for eating healthier carbs.

Transcript

00:00

Carbohydrates actually help our serotonin levels, and that makes us feel happy and good. [UPBEAT MUSIC]

00:13

Are you a self-professed carb craver? Gosh, I have so many people that literally break into tears in my office, and they're just like,

00:19

I can't give up. You know-- the pretzels, the bagels, the chips. Like, having them all together at the same time--

00:26

we need those carbs. Well, the reality is that we may really actually need and, slash, want those carbs because carbohydrates

00:34

actually help our serotonin levels, and that makes us feel happy and good. But the carbs-- you know, the potato chips and the bagel

00:41

and the pasta, and especially the ones that are the really refined white versions we're taking all the nutrients out--

00:48

those are actually-- I call those carbage, unfortunately. There are junk food carbs. And the issue is there, while they may give us

00:55

the happy serotonin high, as soon as that wears off, we're right back low. And so we're going to be chasing the carbage all around town.

01:03

So what I want you to do is I want you to turn around and say, hey, if I improve the quality of carbs that I have and if I don't have them

01:10

just by themselves, if I choose what I'll call slower carbs, which are going to have fiber in them, as well as making sure I get my omega-3s and even

01:19

some protein in there, I am going to do so much better. So some of my favorites are organic toasted edamame,

01:26

and that's especially if you want that crunch and crispy. That's great replacement for the pretzel or the chips. And then I'll also do something like a corn

01:33

tortilla with some avocado and then my hemp seeds. And my hemp seeds are going to give me protein, but also my essential fatty acids,

01:39

in particular, my omega-3s. And wrapped up in that small, organic corn tortilla, what's going to happen there is I'm going to get that chewy, delicious carbohydrate.

01:48

So for all those bagel lovers, if you're doing the bagel and cream cheese, I suggest trying that one. So remember this-- carb craving, not such a big issue.

01:56

Deliver it with the slow food carbs, the omega-3 fatty acids, some proteins. But, come on, people.

02:02

Let's get rid of the carbage. [AUDIO LOGO]