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