By now the common consensus is that low carb diets are the way to go. For the last twenty or more years, a diet of no carbs, has been used by a lot of people, and that fad diet has now been replaced with a far better low carb diet plan. The no carb diet gave people false hope with their health at stake. Eating in moderation can do a lot of good for your overall health, even when you are eating such things as good carbohydrates. The trick is figuring out how to switch from a high carbohydrate diet to a low carbohydrate diet. Here are a few hints and tips that will help you out.
Foods made from vegetables are your best option. While gluten based foods such as wheat are high in carbs, vegetables are quite a bit lower on this scale. You should keep this in mind when you eat out or order food to go at a deli. Look for veggie based side dishes like salads and vegetarian options on the menu.
Vegetables are not really carbohydrate-free, but they are low in carbs and the carbohydrates contained within them are good for you. There are many healthy and tasty low carb side dishes and snacks, such as broccoli, carrots and cauliflower. A diet based on natural foods is your best alternative. Since processed foods are usually high in unhealthy carbs, people who are used to these have to work extra hard when they try to adhere to a low carb diet. Most diet foods that are packaged for people on low carb diets tend to leave you feeling hungry and wanting something more. In fact, many diet foods will just make you want to go back to a high carb diet. Foods that are natural, however, are more nutritious and satisfying. If you want quick energy, for example, try eating some cashews or almonds rather than a diet product with an artificial sweetener that causes you to crash twenty minutes later.
By focusing on whole grains, you can immediately start eating a healthier diet. Whole grains are also very helpful at keeping you on your low carb diet. These are the the healthy, nutritionally dense type of carbs that can replace refined flours and other such unhealthy carbs. You can easily find whole grain alternatives. Breads, pastas, breakfast cereals and other foods can all be found (or made from scratch) with whole grains rather than refined grains and flours. Whole grain foods make it a lot easier for you to substitute in low carbohydrate foods for high carbohydrate foods without having to give up anything you love.
Some people go on low carb diets and start eating a great deal of meat. You can eat meat on a low carb diet if you want, but you should be discerning when making your choices. Eating lots of hamburgers and bacon, for example, isn’t the best thing for you. You want to stick to the fat free cuts of meat that you can get from the butcher. Try to find a source of naturally prepared meat in your area and, while this is more costly, it’s better to eat less of this kind of meat than larger quantities of unhealthy meats. The idea is to know what you’re eating.
Eating a low carb diet isn’t such a challenge, as we’ve seen. You don’t even need to quit carbohydrates 100%, just cut down on them. You should be conscious of what kinds of carbohydrates you eat; get them from natural, whole grain and vegetable sources and limit your portions. A health practitioner you trust can be a good ally when going on a diet. If you find the idea of a low carb diet complicated or intimidating, your doctor can help you sort it all out.