Low carb diet foods

Carbohydrates (or carbs) can be described as organic compounds that are required by the human body, for it to function properly. They are the main source of energy of the body and can be found in various foods that are plant based. There are mainly two types of carbs – Simple carbs and Complex Carbs. Simple carbs can be found in foods like sweets, cakes, chocolates, pastries, cookies, chips, jam, honey and other processed foods as well as dairy products. The body usually digests simple carbs very easily and then stores them in the form of fat, for future use.

Therefore, simple carbs are usually regarded as being unhealthy, as they add to obesity, weight gain and other health problems like diabetes. This is why their consumption should be avoided or at least limited.

The body takes a lot more time to digest complex carbs and after that these carbs are used up by the body, without much delay. These carbs can be found in foods like vegetables, oats, muesli, yams, pulses, chickpeas, sweet corn, nuts, brown rice and whole grain breads. Complex carbs help the body remain full for a longer time and therefore they help in reducing one’s caloric intake. Consumption of foods that are high in complex carbs can be an effective way of balancing one’s body weight.

A low carb diet food list

Although certain carbohydrates are good for the body, people who are on a diet are generally advised to limit their consumption of carbs to around 20 g to 70 g, depending on their levels of activity. In case you are trying to lose weight and are watching your carbs intake, make sure that the amount of carbs you consume each day does not exceed 20% of your total caloric intake. There are several low carb diet foods that can be eaten in certain quantities, throughout the day, in order to lose weight. Stocking up on low carb healthy foods can help you stay full and lose weight at the same time. Given below is a list of some common low carbohydrate diet foods:

Fruits:

Blackberry
Lime
Raspberry
Cranberry
Lemon
Rhubarb

Vegetables:

Broccoli
Avocado
Cucumber
Green leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce and chard
Zucchini
Sprouts
Mushrooms
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Brussels sprouts
Celery
Peppers (Red, green and jalapeno)
Radish
Bok choy
Sea vegetables
Asparagus
Eggplant
Tomato
Onions
Garlic

Herbs:

Rosemary
Parsley
Basil
Thyme
Cilantro

Meats:

Lean chicken
Turkey
Lamb
Beef
Pork
Fish like tuna and salmon

Carbs are present in plant based foods and therefore meats are naturally no carb foods. However, there may be a few exceptions; for example, pieces of meat should not be dipped in breadcrumbs before cooking. At times, meats are served in sauces that are high in carbs. Moreover, several processed meats like ham or luncheon meat generally contain some amount of sugar. Foods like oysters and mussels also do contain some amount of carbs in them.

Several weight loss groups have created low carb menus which include low carb breakfast foods, lunch foods, dinner foods and snacks. It is quite easy to find books or online resources for recipes that contain primarily low carb diets foods.

Before switching over to a low carb diet foods plan, it is strongly recommended that you check with your physician or even a qualified dietician about the feasibility of restricting carbs in your daily diet, especially if you are suffering from any medical conditions like diabetes and so on.

Submitted on January 16, 2014