| Carbohydrates come from a wide array of foods | | | | Carbos in fact make up less than 10 percent, |
| - bread, pasta, fruits, doughnuts, ice creams | | | | and in some cases, less than 5 percent of the |
| and pie. Carbohydrates refer to a group of | | | | daily calorie intake. |
| molecules that is made up of small sugar | | | | |
| units composed of carbon, hydrogen and | | | | Low carbohydrate diet for one, go for foods |
| oxygen. They are needed by the body and | | | | that are low in sugar. Processed sugar should |
| therefore included in our diet as a major | | | | be greatly reduced, if not totally eliminated |
| source of energy. Some carbohydrates are | | | | from the diet. Low carbohydrate diet food is |
| simple and are made up of small units of | | | | made up mostly of vegetables, more |
| sugars while others are made up of several | | | | specifically non- starchy ones. A serving of |
| units of sugar arranged in chains or | | | | at least 3- 5 cups per day is highly |
| branches. A healthy diet cannot go without | | | | recommended for this type of diet. |
| these molecules. | | | | |
| | | | Protein is also an essential parts of a low |
| Carbohydrates give body cells the source of | | | | carbohydrate diet so foods rich in it are |
| energy to support all their activities. This | | | | highly recommended. One low carbohydrate but |
| is the reason why when the body's sugar level | | | | protein rich food is soy - based food like |
| is so low, the person experiences a feeling | | | | tofu and certain meat substitutes. |
| of weakness and lack of energy. This can be | | | | |
| observed with diabetics when their blood | | | | Fruits that are low in sugar are also tops in |
| sugar level go below the normal level. They | | | | the list of low carbohydrate diet foods. A |
| also provide us with fiber, one of nature's | | | | serving of 1-3 per day is enough. As much as |
| brooms to purge the body of toxins and waste | | | | possible, it is recommended to eat the fruit |
| materials. However, one major concern in | | | | itself and to not simply drink the juice to |
| carbohydrates is that when they are taken in | | | | also meet the body's need for fiber and |
| excess, some of them get converted to stored | | | | vitamins. Fruit juices also tend to increase |
| forms such as fat and stored in certain | | | | the body's blood sugar so it is best to eat |
| tissues of the body, usually under the skin. | | | | the fruit instead. |
| This accounts for pot bellies and love | | | | |
| handles and other unsightly bulges on certain | | | | Nuts and seeds as well as legumes are also |
| areas of the body. | | | | some low carbohydrate foods that can be |
| | | | included in the diet. Nuts and seeds are even |
| If you are very serious about trimming your | | | | used by some to replace starchier foods. They |
| waist and dropping pounds, one diet program | | | | are also excellent source of healthy oils and |
| that you might want to try is one that is low | | | | fiber. Legumes like beans and peas may |
| on carbohydrates. Low carbohydrate diet | | | | contain carbohydrates but they are those that |
| programs are quite popular these days in the | | | | can easily be broken down and digested so |
| form of the South Beach Diet, Atkins diet and | | | | there is no need to get rid of them entirely. |
| Zone Diet. Basically these diet programs | | | | The same thing is also true for whole grains |
| promote one thing: restriction of consumption | | | | like brown rice and whole grain pasta. |
| of carbohydrates. | | | | |
| | | | As for oils and fats, a low carbohydrate diet |
| This is on the basis of researches that show | | | | opts for oils coming from olives as well as |
| the connection between high carbohydrate | | | | from fish. Fish oil is rich in omega-3 which |
| consumption affecting blood insulin levels to | | | | is good for the heart. So eating more fish to |
| cause metabolic syndromes and obesity. Low | | | | get the full benefits of omega 3 and protein |
| carbohydrate diet programs therefore limit or | | | | is highly recommended too. |
| replace foods rich in carbohydrates with | | | | |
| those that contain more proteins, fats and | | | | Going on a low carb diet does not necessarily |
| fiber. In a low carb diet, there is less | | | | mean sacrificing a lot of food and getting |
| bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, and cereals. | | | | deprived. It simply means shifting to foods |
| They usually eat more vegetables, meat, fish, | | | | that are less in carbohydrates and more on |
| cheese, eggs, and nuts. When one opts to go | | | | proteins and even fats. The foods included in |
| on a low carbohydrate diet, one has to | | | | the low carb diet are even more flavorful |
| replace carbohydrates with fats and proteins. | | | | since they contain proteins and fats. |