Over the years, carbohydrates—commonly referred to as carbs—have gotten a bad reputation for being hard to digest and for aiding in weight gain—seemingly being blanketed as the villain. But, not all carbs are created equally. In fact, some carbs are actually allies and sidekicks in a journey to a more nutritious lifestyle.
Contrary to popular belief, carbs are a much larger food group that goes beyond white bread and pizza
What even are carbohydrates?
Carbs are an essential type of macronutrient found in certain foods. Our bodies turn these starches, sugars and fibre into glucose, which gives our bodies the energy to function.
There are also a lot of misconceptions and myths surrounding carbs. For one: carbs extend to a much larger group of food than just potatoes, rice and wheat. Fruits, vegetables and beans are all also carbohydrates.
The Myth: Carbohydrates are bad for you
Though complex carbohydrates take longer to digest, some—like fibre—aids digestion. Though your body cannot break down this carbohydrate, this does not mean it’s unhealthy. In fact, quite the opposite. Fibre passes through your digestive track and stimulates digestion. It also contributes to your body as a more stable energy source, regulating blood sugar, lowering cholesterol, and keeping your body feeling full longer.
As the body’s main source of energy, the absence of carbohydrates in a diet means your body will use other sources for energy—including protein and fat. Diets that remove carbs altogether can also make getting enough fibre difficult, which can have long term health repercussions.
Though some carbohydrates are highly processed and refined, which make them less nutritious and contributors to weight gain, high cholesterol, heart disease, and risk of diabetes; unprocessed and unrefined whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans promote good health and are an amazing source of vitamins, minerals, fibre, and phytonutrients.
At Queen Street Bakery, we understand the importance of gut-friendly foods—ones that are full of functional, clean, and nutritious ingredients. We believe “free-from” food companies should be as transparent about what they put in as what they take out. That’s why all our products are made with simple, functional ingredients like chia and beans instead of the cheap rice flours.
By committing to using only the best-tasting and best-for-you ingredients, all our products are able to stay naturally free from gluten, nuts and dairy while being naturally high in fibre and protein—aiding in a more nutritious lifestyle.
Don’t ditch, switch!
Rather than ditching carbs, try making these switches instead:
From processed breads to fibre-rich loaves:
White bread and buns can leave a person feeling bloated. Instead, opt for a naturally high in fibre and protein option.
Queen Street Bakery’s products are supercharged with the benefits of superfoods. With more plant-based fibre and protein than whole wheat bread, you can feel good eating bread again. No bloating, no gluten and only natural ingredients.
The White Bean and Millet loaf is a loaf packed with fibre-infused and magnesium-rich millet seed for added nutrition, crunch and texture. The Chia Classic loaf is a chia-based option that is similar to a typical rye-style bread. Chia seeds carry 3x more antioxidants than blueberries and are a natural source of vitamins and minerals. They also carry more protein than oats, wheat and barley. The Artisan Buns are perfect for those heavily stacked burgers and sandwiches, and are packed with white beans, which offer fibre, b-vitamins, and important minerals and inulin. Inulin is a soluble dietary fibre that is found in certain plant foods, such as chicory root. For its nutritional benefits, some people take chicory root daily as a supplement. Inulin has been associated with improved digestive health, such as decreased constipation, improved nutrient absorption, increased beneficial gut bacteria, and better overall immune health.
From juice to real-fruit smoothies:
It is no secret that fruits are packed with natural sugars. As a simple carbohydrate, our bodies are able to break them down quickly for energy—this can lead to a spike in blood sugar and what is commonly known as a “sugar rush.”
Smoothies are naturally more nutritious than juice, because the pulp and skin is incorporated into the smoothie. This part of the fruit is vitamin-packed and fibrous.
Juices, though less calorie-dense, can often leave an individual still hungry after consumption and loses out on the added vitamins and fiber from the body of the fruit.
With a great number of beneficial nutrients, minerals, and phytochemicals, fruits when consumed in moderation can make for a great addition to your diet.
From wheat flour pasta to chickpea flour pasta:
Packed with nutrients, chickpeas are plant-based powerhouses loaded with health benefits. Naturally gluten-free, chickpea pasta is high in protein, promoting bone health and muscle strength. Since it’s bean-based as opposed to wheat-based, the pasta has greater amounts of fibre, iron and potassium. The protein and fibre allow us to feel full longer, as it is more slowly digested.
About Queen Street Bakery:
Queen Street Bakery is a Canadian commercial bakery specializing in gluten-free products. With a goal of making goods that people feel good about eating, the bakery produces bread, buns, baking flour, and pizza dough supercharged with the benefits of superfoods. Utilizing only natural ingredients, Queen Street Bakery brings bread back to the basics, while still having more plant-based fibre and protein than whole wheat bread. Built on the belief that food companies should be as transparent about what they put into their food as what they remove, Queen Street Bakery is proud to make their products from functional ingredients that are healthier to eat and are naturally free from gluten, nuts and dairy.
