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Women’s Health: Grains, Grains And More Grains!

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Muhlenberg chapter.

Okay, let’s be real—we all like our carbs, am I right?! #Duh because not only do they taste really good but also they make us feel full and satisfied. Well, that’s because complex carbohydrates have tons of fiber and nutrients that make us feel that way! And fiber, as I’ve said before, helps us to go to the bathroom easily! Fiber = natural diuretic. Also, energy!

What are complex carbs, you might ask? Complex carbohydrates come from foods like:

  • sweet potatoes
  • quinoa
  • brown rice
  • vegetables
  • beans/lentils
  • oatmeal

#YUM

Simple carbohydrates, on the other hand, are the opposite of complex in that we want to eat less of them because they don’t help to #health our bodies because they don’t have any nutrients in them. They’re just kind of… there. They don’t really have a job in our bodies, unlike complex carbs.

Examples of simple carbs:

  • white table sugar
  • candy
  • soda
  • white breads/rice/flour
  • cereal
  • baked goods

Don’t get me wrong, though! I like my fair share of yummy cereals and breads as much as the next person! #cake

However, something to think about is getting more complex carbs, aka grains, in our diets more than the simple carbs because they will ultimately make us feel better.

If you’ve ever felt tired, sluggish or maybe you’re, sorry to say, constipated? It’s probably because you’re not getting enough fiber in your diet from foods like brown rice, quinoa, vegetables, and fruits. And to be honest, grains like quinoa even have protein!

The ‘Berg dining hall, although filled with simple carbs like those delicious chocolate chip cookies (when they’re soft), also has healthier complex options like quinoa, barley, and oatmeal! They even have grain breads, which are SO much better for our bodies than white breads.

So, as a final thought, don’t #wonder (bread brand) why you might be feeling eh and start taking control so you can feel amazing! And if you have to have that cookie or that slice of white bread, have it. Don’t deprive yourself! But try not to let it be your only source of carbs.

And on that note thanks for reading and health with me next week when I’ll be talking about healthy ways to help prevent and/ or get rid of those Muhlenplagues! 

HELLO! My name is Sabrina and I'm a Muhlenberg senior theatre major with a concentration in acting, so I love to play! Health is something that I'm super interested in, and I want to get other people interested in it as well. In case you want to know more about my health process, I have a personal blog where you learn more about me and how I deal with it while at school and back home...basically all of the time we are all #healthing. Check me our here: https://sweetbowlofkale.wordpress.com and on HerCampus so we can all be happy and healthy together :)