Simple Overview of Low Carb Dieting

steakdinner The term “carb” is often substituted or short for carbohydrate. Most carbohydrates break down in the body as sugar, which is why some doctors suggest a low carb diet for people with certain blood sugar issues. Not all carbs are bad, though. There are some low-glycemic carbs which do not break down as sugar which are good for you and these are the carbs that contain fiber. This is because the fiber causes the carb to break down more slowly in our bodies, not causing an instant rise in the blood sugar or glucose.

As with any successful diet program, low carb dieting is not only intended to help you lose weight, but it is also used to train and help you transform your new eating habits into a way of life for good.

While there are several popular low carb diets, like the South Beach Diet and the Atkins Diet, you can incorporate a low carb lifestyle without having to follow a rigid food plan. The basic idea behind a low carb diet is to not provide your body with sugar to burn. When sugar is present, the body burns it first, never allowing it to reach the fat stores, therefore preventing weight loss. When you remove sugar from your diet, your body is able to reach the fat stores and use those for energy, burning off the excess fat.

Another reason low carb dieting works so well for weight loss is because the pancreas no longer has to pump out large amounts of insulin to balance out the blood when sugary or starchy snacks are present. Without sugar and starches available, your body uses fat for energy, and the insulin turns any excess sugar into fat. Therefore, your body is no longer able to make fat stores.

Once your blood sugar is stabilized, you no longer have cravings for sugary and starchy foods. This transition may take a few days or a week for your body to adjust to, but once it does, you’ll notice that you are satisfied much quicker, as well as hungry sooner. When you feel hungry, you can eat as much as you want until satisfied as long as you stick with low carb foods.

So, just what low carb foods can you eat? It’s best to stick with lean proteins, such as chicken, fish, lean beef, eggs and poultry. They are high in protein and carb free. Most cheeses are very low in carbs as are most nuts. High fiber foods such as whole grain breads, brown rice and whole grain pasta are also acceptable on most low carb diets. Consumed in limited amounts, low carb fruits are cantaloupe, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, lemons and limes. Most vegetables can be consumed on a low carb diet. However, there are some vegetables to avoid, such as potatoes, corn, beets, winter squash, carrots and peas.

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