In the world of weight loss, foods like pasta are known as the official bad guys. Without giving it much of a chance, people immediately assume it’s a reservoir of carbs. While it may be true that refined pasta is one of the most popular high-carb foods, it does not mean that it’s the food with the highest carb count in your diet. In fact, comparatively speaking, pasta is actually not all that carb-dense. On the contrary, there are many surprising high-carb foods with significantly more carbs than your average bowl of pasta.
A bowl of pasta has about 33 grams of carbs per serving, while all the foods below (healthy and not so healthy foods) have much more than 33 grams of carbs. Check them out;
Pizza
Carb content: 35 grams per average-sized plain slice
Pizza and pasta are a huge no when you want to go on a diet, but for low-carb dieters, pizza is the worst of two evils. Though it’s not that much more carb-laden, the average cheese-topped slice serves up two more grams of carbohydrates than a plain bowl of pasta.
Soda
Carb content: 38–50 grams per 12 fl oz
It is common knowledge that soda is filled with chemicals and sugar, but even more interesting is the fact that it packs more carbohydrates than an entire bowl of pasta. A 12-ounce can of Sprite has 38 grams of carbs while a classic cola has about 39 grams (and a cream soda has 50!).
French Fries
Carb content: 54 grams, per restaurant serving
While most people know that potatoes are starchy, what you may not realize is that French fries are super carb-laden. These deep-fried taters pack twice as many carbs as a bowl of pasta in a standard family-style serving. It gets worse: Vegetable-oil-fried foods like fries contain high levels of something called inflammatory advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are inflammation-causing compounds that form when certain foods are cooked at high temperatures.
Bananas
Carb content: 35 carbs, per extra-large (9″ or longer) fruit
Even though they get a pass in the weight loss citadel, they still are some of our high-carb foods. Bananas are a good source of magnesium, a nutrient that aids protein synthesis, which, in turn, increases lean muscle mass. Magnesium also helps boost lipolysis, the process by which the body releases fat from its stores.
Smoothies
Carb content: 44 – 55 grams per 15-ounce bottle.
This may come as a surprise, because smoothies are one of the most low-stress and portable ways to consume a wholesome meal filled with produce and protein. However, since they’re made with flavorful fruits, which generally carry a hefty dose of carbs, they’re not always the best bet for folks trying to dial back their carb intake.
Mango
Carb content: 50 grams per fruit
If eating a well-rounded, vitamin-filled diet is your goal, then you’re good to go with a mango, however, if you’re trying to eat low carb “meal”, a mango may not the best choice. Just half of one packs an entire day’s worth of vitamin C, a nutrient that wards off fat-storing cortisol spikes. If mangos typically make an appearance in your daily smoothie, add a scoop of protein powder and a handful of raw oats, too. This ups your drink’s protein and fiber content and slows the digestion of the fruit’s sugars, keeping you fuller, longer.
Sweet Potato
Carb content: 40 grams per large potato
Sweet potato is yet another healthy food that’s a carb heavyweight—but don’t let that scare you away. Sweet potatoes are low on the glycemic index and rich in fiber which helps tame that out-of-control appetite many people have after they exercise.
Cranberry Sauce
Carb content: 56 grams per ½ cup
A half-cup serving of the tangy, sweet condiment packs 220 calories, 48 grams of sugar, and 56 grams of carbohydrates.
Pie
Carb content: 59 grams per 1 piece
Pies are heavenly, but owing to all the added sugar and fruit-filled centers, a slice of pie manages to serve up more carbs than a bowl of pasta, and what’s worse is that a grand total of 36 of those grams of carbs are pure sugar.