We have all heard while growing up about pairing or avoiding certain food combinations. The idea behind the whole concept is that there are some foods that don’t go well together and thus should be consumed separately.
On the contrary, there are some combinations that go well together and offer added benefits in comparison to when consumed separately.
Making adjustments to our diet plan for some additional health benefits sounds good, but what if these adjustments aid weight loss? Sounds GREAT, isn’t it?
Yes, it is true that just by knowing some easy-peasy food pairing tricks, you can not only enhance your nutritional intake but also achieve your weight loss goals.
Carb pairing is one such effective food combining diet to look forward to…
What Is Carb Pairing?
Pairing carbohydrates with proteins is basically called carb pairing.
The objective of this diet is to introduce a healthy source of protein in combination with healthy complex carbohydrates. This combo enhances your nutritional intake, works great for supporting muscle recovery post workout, fights hunger, and keeps your blood sugar from spiking.
How does carb pairing work?
We all know protein and carbs are nutrients that provide calories to our body. On consumption, our bodies break down proteins into amino acids. Carbohydrates are broken down into small units of sugar.
When we take carbohydrate rich food individually, they get broken down into sugar, which when absorbed spikes the blood sugar levels in our body.
Combining carbohydrates with protein foods reduces the rise in blood sugar levels.
Furthermore, fiber, which is a type of carbohydrate, helps fight hunger by making one feel fuller for a longer period of time. Therefore, it is recommended to choose carbohydrates with at least 3 grams of fiber for better results.
It is worth noting that whole-grain carbohydrates supply more fiber in comparison to refined versions.
Carb Pairing Trick You Must Try!
Carb pairing is a great diet trick for controlling blood sugar as well as appetite. Here are a few carbohydrate and protein foods you can pair up to aid your weight loss goals.
Carbohydrates Pair with Meat, Fish, and Poultry
1. Chicken and Cayenne
Who knew adding chicken with a dash of cayenne powder could not only add tremendous flavor to your meal but also make it healthier?
According to this research study, protein-rich poultry food increases post-meal thermogenesis, whereas Cayenne pepper is proven to burn belly fat. The two combined can comprehensively encourage weight loss.
2. Fish and Garlic
This is a great food pairing to boost metabolism. Fish is a rich source of healthy protein and hosts long chains of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help lose body fat. Fish is also known to decrease inflammation and reduce triglycerides.
Garlic on the other hand also targets belly fat and is research proven to decrease BMI (body mass index) in women. Throwing some garlic into your fish will add a great flavor and also make it a powerful meal for weight loss.
3. Tuna and Ginger Sushi
Combining tuna with ginger in a sushi roll is a great way to get the best of the health benefits of this recipe. Ginger has proven medicinal benefits, owing to which it has been used for ages as a home remedy, especially for stomach ailments.
The ginger in this recipe is going to help support your metabolism and clear your stomach. Tuna is a rich source of omega-3 fats and docosahexaenoic acid, which will aid fat burn. This combo will together regulate fat genetics in the stomach, leading to the abolition of excess fat storage by the cells.
4. Whole Wheat Crackers and Tuna
This is a great quick snack recipe that you can grab hold of to satisfy your hunger or cravings at any time. Health fiber-rich whole grain wheat crackers together with protein-rich tuna make a nutritious snack as a part of a weight loss diet.
This combo is a good source of docosahexaenoic acid and omega 3 fats that will aid in preventing belly fat cells from enlarging.
5. Bell Peppers and Eggs
We are sure you might have never thought that such delicious delicacies could befriend you on your fitness journey.
This egg and bell pepper combo is as healthy for the stomach as it is beautiful to the eyes. Choline from the egg will help boost your metabolism, and bell peppers will serve as a good source of vitamin C. Together, this pair is going to avert fat accumulation in the belly by fighting off cortisol.
Carbohydrates Pair with Legumes, Nuts, and Seeds
6. Chickpeas and Salsa
Adding chickpeas to salsa is another easy, effective, and tasty carb pairing to enjoy. In fact, chickpeas teamed up with salsa would further stimulate your metabolism and make you feel fuller for longer.
Chickpeas are a rich source of iron, protein, and fiber, as well as cholecystokinin, a hormone that suppresses appetite. Combining them with an organic salsa (of onions, tomatoes, and peppers) is going to turn this combo into a protein, nutrient, and energy-rich snack.
7. Almonds and Yogurt
This duo is a rich source of nutrients, protein, and vitamins.
It is not a secret to anyone that yogurt has amazing benefits for digestive health. Low-fat yogurts are especially used as a source of protein by everyone on a weight-loss diet. Almonds, on the other hand, are a filling snack great for bone and gut health.
Almonds and yogurt combined make for a powerful combo of vitamins D, A, and E. This is an amazing no-effort snack for keeping a healthy weight.
8. Walnuts and Raspberries
Insoluble fiber is said to control hunger due to the presence of a hormone called ghrelin. Raspberries contain 8 grams of fiber that aids in feeding the healthy bacteria in our gut.
Walnuts are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and thus have amazing appetite-control powers. Pairing polyunsaturated fats from walnuts with fiber from raspberries activate genes that improve insulin metabolism and reduce fat storage.
9. Apples/Banana and Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a great source of protein and fat that all of us love to enjoy at any given time. Interestingly, it also contains nutrients called resveratrol and genistein which are known for decreasing fat storage in the cells.
On the other hand, fruits such as bananas or apples are rich in fiber content, which is proven to aid weight loss by curbing appetite. Smearing a spoon of peanut butter over any of these fruits will not only make for a tasty snack, but also one that fights weight gain.
10. Sunflower Seeds with Oats
Sunflower seeds along with oats make a very healthy snack combo to munch on.
We all know oats are considered amongst the healthiest grains. They alone make for a healthy meal for weight loss. Sunflower seeds are rich in several essential minerals, vitamins, and fiber. Thus, tossing some sunflower seeds into your bowl of oats further enhances its health benefits by multiple folds.
Carbohydrates Pair with Fruits and Vegetables
11. Stir Fry
This is the best carb pairing trick when you don’t have specific ingredients to go for any of the aforementioned pairs. Just take the veggies you have available out of your fridge as they can offer the perfect combo of carbs and nutrients that you need.
You can pick peppers along with squash, zucchini, jalapenos, or onions and add them to a wok or pan. All you have to do is toss them while stirring in a small amount of very hot oil (healthy oil of your choice). Now add in some protein, whatever you have handy, such as pork, seafood, spicy sausage, or chicken.
This is all you need for this carb pairing trick. There is a lot of room for innovation in this recipe. You can also try different available combinations from your kitchen each time.
12. Avocado Oil and Spinach Combination
Avocado oil is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and oleic acid. There are several benefits to using avocado oil. Along with being heart-healthy oil, it also improves eye and skin health. Furthermore, avocado oil enhances the absorption of nutrients by the body.
Spinach is also known to be a powerhouse of nutrients and antioxidants. These two combined become a great superfood rich in Vitamin K, iron and other nutrients. You can either cook spinach with avocado oil or add this duo to a whole grain pasta dish.
13. Bananas + Spinach
Bananas are a rich source of potassium, which plays an important role in the process of digestion.
Slightly unripe bananas contain resistant starch that resists digestion and, in-turn boosts satiation. Because of the presence of this resistant starch, the body has to work harder in order to digest the food, which reduces abdominal fat and promotes fat oxidation.
Combined with spinach, which is a superfood in itself, this becomes a great carb pairing for weight loss. You can simply put a banana and some spinach leaves into your morning smoothie and reap the benefits.
14. Spinach + Lemon Juice
Lemon is a well known source of vitamin C, and spinach is a rich source of iron. According to the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research, vitamin C is required to promote the bioavailability of iron.
Therefore, when consumed together, they make a great team. Vitamin C from lemon increases absorption of dietary iron coming from spinach.
Thus, by combining lemon and spinach into a smoothie or spinach dish, you get the best of both worlds.
15. Leafy Greens and Egg Salad
For this carb pairing, you can use the green leafy veggies of your choice, such as collard greens, kale, or spinach.
All these are loaded with nutrients and antioxidants that help in promoting weight loss. Pairing eggs (boiled or as you like) with any of the leafy greens of your choice will give your normal salad a boost of essential proteins and fats.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carb Pairing
Does Carb Pairing Really Work?
Yes, carb pairing works because there is a simple science behind it. Carbohydrates and proteins, when paired together, control appetite. As fiber takes longer to be digested by the body, we feel fuller for a longer period of time after consuming this combo. When we are less likely to feel hunger frequently, it keeps us from gaining weight.
What Is Carb Pairing Trick for Weight Loss?
Eating a complex carbohydrate with a healthy source of protein at every meal or snack is called carb pairing. This combination keeps one feeling fuller for a longer period of time, which makes such combos great for diet and weight loss.
For example, pairing spinach with a fruit like banana or apple is a great carb pairing trick for weight loss.
What Foods Eaten Together Burn Fat?
Carbohydrate rich food when consumed together with protein rich foods, are considered great for burning fat. The aforementioned 15 carb pairing combos in this article are great for burning fat and promoting weight loss. Let us give you a quick recap of the same:
- Chicken and Cayenne
- Fish and Garlic
- Tuna and Ginger Sushi
- Whole Wheat Crackers and Tuna
- Bell Peppers and Eggs
- Chickpeas and Salsa
- Almonds and Yogurt
- Walnuts and Raspberries
- Apples/Banana and Peanut Butter
- Sunflower Seeds with Oats
- Stir Fry
- Avocado Oil and Spinach Combination
- Bananas + Spinach
- Spinach + Lemon Juice
- Leafy Greens and Egg Salad
What Are Carbohydrate Combinations?
These are some carbohydrate combinations that work great in terms of enhancing nutritional intake and prompting weight loss:
- Carbohydrates pair with Meat, Fish, and Poultry
- Carbohydrates pair with Legumes, Nuts, and Seeds
- Carbohydrates pair with Fruits and Vegetables
Conclusion
In this blog post, we introduced you to some great food combinations for weight loss. These delicious combos will fend off hunger and make you feel fuller for longer, comprehensively encouraging weight loss.
So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of these carb pairing tricks by making them a part of your weight loss or smaller waist diet plan!
Furthermore, if you are looking for foods that make your thighs bigger, do check out this amazing post.
I’m a triathlete and life coach, with a focus on holistic health, fitness & women’s issues.
I also write about my gastronomic adventures and my love for the outdoors.