Monday, December 17, 2012

Find Out More About Types of Condiments Allowed on a Low-Carb Diet

When you are on a low carb diet, there are herbs and sauces to keep and condiments to toss. Dieters should avoid barbeque sauces, steak sauce, and ketchup. There are 0.2 grams of fiber and 4.1 grams of carbs in 1 tablespoon of ketchup. Half a cup of chowchow contains no fiber and 4.9 grams of carbohydrate. Other condiments to toss include Teriyaki sauce, Tartar sauce, and dressings with added sugar. 

If you use fresh herbs and vegetables, you don’t need to add excess oil or sugar. You can use herbs such as horseradish, tarragon, oregano, mint, and basil. Keepers include dried bark, seed, and root. Dieters can use ginger, coriander, cumin, and black pepper. The spices you can use depend on the diet of choice. Dieters who follow the South Beach diet can use sugar-free peanut sauce, pesto, clam sauces, and other condiments. Lemon and lime juice are keepers. Dieters can have tomato-based sauces, including sugar-free marinara, pasta sauce, and pizza sauce. Sauces with added sugar should be avoided.

You can make low-carb dressings and dips such as cheese dips, homemade vinaigrette, and guacamole. Avoid sauces such as Alfred, Béchamel, and Bearnaise. If you want to prepare a cheese dip, use full-fat cheese such as blue cheese or cheddar. You can add onion, cream, cream cheese, or spinach. Guacamole is a delicious and easy to make low-carb dip. You will need ripe avocado and tomato, red onion, lemon juice, and seasonings such as cilantro, serrano chiles, salt and pepper.
You can use capers, olive oil, almond and vanilla extract, and pesto. If you want to use healthy oils for salad dressings, you can choose from olive oil, canola oil, and soybean oil. There are many delicious recipes for homemade salad dressings. You can make vinegar and oil dressing, blue cheese dressing, or lemon and garlic dressing. To make vinegar and oil dressing, you will need shallot, garlic, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Another option is to make strawberry vinaigrette, which is very easy to prepare. You will need red wine vinegar, strawberries, olive oil, and mustard. If you like cranberries, you can prepare cranberry dressing from frozen or fresh fruit. This is a healthy and tasty salad dressing for a green salad. You can prepare green salad from celery, tomatoes, nuts, and blue cheese. You will need cranberries, cider vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper for the dressing. The dressing is very easy to make – just blend all ingredients in the blender. This is a good low-carb salad dressing, which contains 2 grams of healthy fiber and 4 grams of carbs.

Dieters can use salsas, mustard, wine vinegar, and hot sauces. Salsa is on the list of allowed foods during the first phase of the Atkins Diet. Low carb groceries also sell salsa. If you want to make salsa, you can mix lime juice, fresh cilantro, chopped tomatoes, chopped chiles, and diced onion.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Infographic Presents Healthy Low-Carb Diets That Meet Dieters’ Nutrient Needs

LowCarbFoods.org offers a new infographic that presents popular low-carb nutritional approaches as a healthier alternative to yoyo diets.

Toronto (PRWEB) November 28, 2012

Art Branch, Inc., the parent company of LowCarbFoods.org today announces the release of a new infographic (http://www.lowcarbfoods.org/low-carb-diets-visual-guide.php), intended for people who wish to lose weight.

Designed by Tsveta Todorov, the lead web designer at Art Branch Inc., the infographic presents 6 popular low-carb diets that can help people to lose weight in a healthy way. Obesity and overweight increase the likelihood of serious and chronic diseases. A new study at the Johns Hopkins Medicine indicates that low-carbohydrate diets reduce the risk for inflammation and heart disease. Compared to dieters on a low-fat diet, people on a reduced-carbohydrate diet have a greater decrease in body fat and BMI and lose more weight.

“People interested in losing weight and learning more about low-carb lifestyle can greatly benefit from simple, yet powerful visual comparison of low-carb diets,” said John Williams, marketing consultant at Art Branch, Inc.

The new infographic compares popular low carb diets such as the Paleo Diet, South Beach Diet, and Sugar Busters Diet. The Paleo Diet, for example, is a nutritional approach that mimics the diet of Palaeolithic people and works with our genes. Our diet is based on sugar, trans fats, refined products and carbohydrates that are not essential. People are dependent on products of modern farming which the Paleo Diet aims to eliminate. The Sugar Busters Diet is another nutritional approach that promotes healthy weight loss. Dieters can have eggs, lean meats, and vegetables, cutting out the convenience foods. This diet is a lifestyle phenomenon that helps people to lose weight and improve their cholesterol levels. The Atkins Diet makes our bodies to burn fat as an alternative fuel. Pastries, muffins, processed foods, and starchy vegetables are squeezed out, and dieters lose weight. The South Beach Diet encourages eating healthy protein and carbohydrate, combined with strategic snacking. Dieters avoid foods that are packed with saturates and consume nuts, olive oil, and other heart-healthy fats. The Zone Diet, known as the 40-30-30 plan, is based on eating foods in the right proportions so that the body functions at peak performance. Fat is not the enemy as low-fat diets claim. The Zone Diet restricts the intake of low-nutrition carbohydrates. The Low GI Diet emphasizes eating low GI foods that are nutrient-rich and help dieters to maintain their metabolism cardiovascular health.

There is a lot of misinformation about low-carb diets in the media and online. The new infographic covers basic facts and presents a visual comparison of popular low-carb diet nutritional approaches. The aim is to offer a starting research point to visitors of LowCarbFoods.org. This will help them to decide if they want to learn more about one of the weight loss and control plans presented in the infographic.

About LowCarbFoods.org: LowCarbFoods.org is an informational resource developed by its parent company, Art Branch, Inc., designed to offer unbiased information on low-carb foods and low-carb diets.

About Art Branch: Art Branch, Inc., located in Toronto, Ontario, is the parent company of LowCarbFoods.org and has developed several consumer websites targeting Canadian and international audience. The goal of Art Branch is to provide visitors to company sites with free and useful guides, helping consumers to make educated decisions about their lifestyles.

LowCarbFoods.org offers informative guides that can serve as a starting point for further research. Art Branch, Inc. and LowCarbFoods.org remind that professional advice should be sought if medical assistance is required. Art Branch does not render any professional services.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Low-carbohydrate Diets for Dogs

There are no maximum or minimum carbohydrate requirements for dogs. A carb-restricted, high-protein diet can be a good method for weight loss in dogs, shows a study published in the American Society for Nutritional Sciences journal.

In fact, as long as dogs are fed protein and fat, they can live on a zero-carb or low-carb diet. At the same time, many dog foods offered on the market contain grain byproducts and grain, which supply inexpensive carbohydrates. Grains are a source of energy and provide protein and glucose, but dogs need a higher amount of fat than people. It is important for organ health and energy. Truly, some gods require more fiber and carbohydrates. Low-carb diets are not suitable for all dogs, for example, dogs with diabetes because it is more difficult to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Dogs that eat food high in carbohydrates may develop pancreatitis if fed on a high-fat diet. Thus, it is important to gradually replace commercial dog food with food high in protein and fat.

There are different options when it comes to dog food. Some manufacturers offer grain-free, low-carb food with sweet or white potatoes as the main source of carbohydrates. Freeze-dried dog food is another option, as it contains small amounts or no carbs. Some dog foods include turkey and a variety of vegetables such as potatoes, celery, spinach, and carrots. Some of the recipes are also hormone-free and contain herbs and fruits such as apples, bananas, cranberries, and rosemary. Low-carbohydrate food is available for adult dogs and puppies. Low-quality food, on the other hand, contains fillers such as bone meal, which is more difficult to digest.

Gluten-free food is a good choice for dogs that have intolerance to grains. In general, it is important to choose food with high quality protein. Poor-quality food has killed and sickened many dogs. Waste products that are unfit for human consumption are used for dog food, including cancerous and diseased organs, hooves, heads, udders, and intestines. Some manufacturers of dog food also make personal care and household products using animal byproducts.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Sample Low Carb Menu Offers Delectable Dishes for Quality Nutrition

LowCarbFoods.org presents a sample low carb menu to help dieters to counter monotony and enjoy a variety of food options without declaring war on dieting.
 
Toronto (PRWEB) September 26, 2012
 
Art Branch, Inc., the parent company of LowCarbFoods.org today announces the publication of a sample low carb menu (http://www.lowcarbfoods.org/sample-low-carb-diet-menu.php), intended for people who are looking for a sample weekly menu with delicious and healthy food options.
Created by the content and web development teams at Art Branch, Inc., the menu is based on extensive research and feedback from colleagues and friends. The sample menu adds interesting and tasty dish recipes to LowCarbFoods.org, a website that offers information on popular low carbohydrate diets and lifestyle.

“The main reason why people fail at dieting is lack of proper planning. The LowCarbFoods.org sample menu offers dieters many low–carb meal ideas and recipes, which makes sticking to their diet easier,” said John Williams, marketing consultant at Art Branch, Inc.

The menu is designed as a 14-day meal plan and includes low carb snacks and meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Visitors of LowCarbFoods.org enjoy a large selection of meal options such as Tomatoes Stuffed with Eggs and Greek Omelet. Eating the same foods can lead to diet boredom, making it more difficult to stay on a diet. Variety is the spice of life. Unfortunately, once culinary boredom sets in, dieters develop cravings and go on a quest for forbidden foods. This leads to poor food choices and quick weight gain. The key to banishing diet boredom is adding variety to one’s diet. Dieters should think of variety as an ally that helps them to venture into uncharted culinary territories.

Eating the same foods day in and day out is not only nutritionally unwise, but makes it more difficult to tame temptation. Having a sample menu helps people to stay on their diet as it offers a selection of tasty meal ideas. LowCarbFoods.org offers a sample plan to encourage people to move forward and help them to avoid diet failure.

Although the information on Low Carb Foods is not a substitute for professional medical advice, its informative and stimulating guides serve as a starting point to whet the appetite for healthy eating. Low Carb Foods and its parent, Art Branch remind the visitor to seek professional advice before beginning any diet.

The plan can be downloaded in a printable PDF format. A major benefit is that each meal goes along with easy-to-follow cooking directions.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

LowCarbFoods.org Infographic Dispels Low Carb Myths to Help Dieters to Make Health-Conscious Choices

A new infographic highlights some common low carb myths and addresses extreme dieting and the problem of inadequate nutrition.

Toronto (PRWEB) August 16, 2012
Art Branch, Inc., the parent company of LowCarbFoods.org announced today the publication of a new infographic (http://www.lowcarbfoods.org/low-carb-diet-myths.php), intended for people interested in learning the facts about low carb diets and lifestyle.

Created by the web design and content development teams at Art Branch, Inc., the infographic aims to dispel some common myths and misconceptions about low carb diets. It highlights the myths and reports the facts in an effort to counter misinformation and help people to choose the right diet for them.

“When most people hear the words “low carb diet”, they imagine an extreme diet, which is hard to follow and might be dangerous for your health. The facts are a well nutritionally balanced low carb diet can offer great health benefits to healthy individuals,” said Peter Todorov, President of Art Branch, Inc.

Many people are hesitant about going on a low carb diet. This is understandable given that some nutrition myths sound like legitimate concerns. The truth is that any diet can be dangerous when dieting improperly. Misled by myths and misconceptions about low carb diets, some people push the limits of their bodies. This could wreck the dieter’s health, leading to osteoporosis, reduction in metabolism, poor concentration, depression, and other problems. The new infographic offers the facts about low carb diets to help people to make educated choices and avoid going into extremes. A well balanced low carbohydrate diet helps dieters to lose weight and maintain healthy weight. Low carb diets are used to prevent and treat epilepsy, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. They help lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels and decrease blood pressure.
About LowCarbFoods.org: LowCarbFoods.org is an informational resource developed by Art Branch, Inc. and designed to offer unbiased information on low carb diets and lifestyle.

About Art Branch: Art Branch, Inc., located in Toronto, Ontario, is the publisher of LowCarbFoods.org and has produced several consumer oriented websites targeting Canadian audience. The goal of Art Branch is to provide visitors to company sites with free, useful guides, helping consumers make educated choices.

Low Carb Diet Myths Busted

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Ready-Made Foods on a Low-Carb Diet

There is a variety of low-carb, ready-made foods and grab and go meals for people on a diet. You can choose from premade salads, salad bars, deli food, home-delivered meals, and more.

At the deli counter, for example, you can try shrimp, chicken, or tuna salad in a tortilla or have it on its own. You can also look for alternatives to high-carbohydrate snack mixes and crackers at the grocery store. The problem is that readymade products contain high amounts of sodium, and few of them are low-carb or carb-friendly. One idea is to cook several meals during the weekend and freeze them. Meals that freeze well include quiches, veggie lasagna, and soups. If you don’t have time to cook, you can either try some quick low-carb recipes or order home-delivered meals. There are plenty of quick meals you can make – salmon burgers, roasted broccoli with lemon, beef and noodle broth, etc. Some meals take just 15 minutes to prepare. You can make peppered lamb chops or tuna salad, for example.

Home-delivered meals and packaged diets are another option, and there are different brands to choose from. Packaged diets have become quite popular among dieters who have chosen to follow low-carb meal plans or count calories. Many find it easier to stick to a packaged diet than to cook meals. Dieters can choose from different options such as low carb, vegetarian, and low fat. There are different calorie levels depending on one’s individual preferences, and dieters can customize their meal plan of choice. In addition, dieters can choose from lunch and dinner only and 3 meals and a snack 7 days a week. Companies that offer packaged diets deliver frozen food, with breakfast items and snacks packed in separate plastic bags. A sample menu may include cranberry juice, applesauce, and mixed berry crepe at breakfast, and veggie salad and bacon cheeseburger meatloaf at lunch. At dinner, you can have carrot coins and Apple Penne Pasta. Balanced meals include lean protein and smart carbs, and dieters can exclude certain products, based on allergies and preferences. Source: http://www.lowcarbfoods.org/

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Low Carb Foods New Infographic Dishes Up the Skinny on Low Carb Eating

A new infographic for dieters makes it easy to digest, download, or embed low carb foods information.

Toronto (PRWEB) June 14, 2012

LowCarbFoods.org, today announces publication of its new infographic, designed to make it easier for the dieter to recognize and choose healthy, low carb foods.

With summer just around the corner, many dieters are working hard to shed extra pounds. The new infographic from LowCarbFoods.org helps them take the first step in healthy eating.

Peter Todorov (president of Art Branch, Inc., the parent company of Low Carb Foods.org) enlisted the help of Art Branch lead web designer Tsveta Mircheva to design the low carb infographic.

"We are bombarded daily with many ads for supposedly healthy foods through many different advertising channels including TV, radio and billboards. Many advertised foods are heavy with processed sugars and other additives. Yet, some sugars are less harmful than others. This infographic explains how and why, " said Todorov.

The infographic uses simple images to explain the difference between “good” and “bad” carbohydrates, how refined sugars can negatively affect the body, and the health benefits of choosing the right carbohydrates.

Foods that contain bad carbs are often loaded with preservatives, flavorings, colorings, and other additives as well as added, processed sugars. Bad carb foods are too quickly absorbed by the body. Especially those with added sugars, bad carb foods are full of calories, near-empty of nutritional value, and can cause various health risks.

As well as these unhealthy, fattening foods the infographic provides a short menu of the foods necessary to a healthy diet, the "good" carbs that are gradually absorbed by the body. The infographic also gives an overview and summary of the difference between the glycemic index and the glycemic load, information that is very important to understanding diabetic diets.

Art Branch has chosen to make this valuable tool freely available to, not only visitors to LowCarbFoods.org, but also to other web sites. The infographic is licensed through the Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License which allows redistribution both commercial and noncommercial as long as it is unchanged and credited to Low Carb Foods.org.

Although the information on Low Carb Foods is not a substitute for professional medical advice, its informative and stimulating guides serve as a starting point to whet the appetite for healthy eating. Low Carb Foods and its parent, Art Branch remind the visitor to seek professional advice before beginning any diet.

About LowCarbFoods.org: LowCarbFoods.org is an informational resource developed by parent company, Art Branch Inc. and designed to offer unbiased information on low carb foods and low carb diets.

About Art Branch: Art Branch Inc., located in Toronto, Ontario, is the parent company of LowCarbFoods.org and has developed several consumer websites targeting both the Canadian and an international audience. The goal of Art Branch is to provide visitors to company sites with free and useful guides, helping consumers make educated decisions about their lifestyles.

About Creative Commons: Creative Commons.org is a nonprofit organization that enables the sharing and use of creativity and knowledge through free legal tools.

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Low Carb Diet Quiz Crunches Low Carb Diet Questions

Low Carb Foods.org cooks up brain food in a new quiz that feeds the dieter's knowledge with answers to low carb diet questions.

Toronto (PRWEB) June 06, 2012

Art Branch, Inc. the parent company of Low Carb Foods.org, today announced the publication of the Low Carb Foods Quiz.

"We decided that creating a low carb foods quiz is a fun way of presenting valuable information in a simple and interesting way. Instead of creating a boring white paper describing the benefits of low carbohydrate food lifestyle, the Low Carb Food Quiz offers our visitors a quick way to test their knowledge on the subject and learn more about it," said Peter Todorov, President of Art Branch Inc.

As an epidemic of obesity spreads throughout the Western world, knowledge about the benefits of low carb diets becomes a critical element in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Obesity poses serious health risks and is often cited as being a prime cause of conditions such as Hypertension and Type Two Diabetes. The mission of http://www.lowcarbfoods.org is to show the advantage of eating foods low in sugar in promoting a lifestyle practiced by hundreds of thousands around the world.

The short, 15-question quiz ends with a score card and links to relevant articles on low carb dieting. Although the information on Low Carb Foods is not a substitute for professional medical advice, its informative and stimulating guides serve as a starting point to whet the appetite for healthy eating. Low Carb Foods and its parent, Art Branch remind the visitor to seek professional advice before beginning any diet.

About LowCarbFoods.org: LowCarbFoods.org is informational resource developed by parent company, Art Branch Inc., designed to offer unbiased information on low carb foods and low carb diets.

About Art Branch: Art Branch Inc., located in Toronto, Ontario, is the parent company of LowCarbFoods.org and has developed several consumer websites targeting both the Canadian and an international audience. The goal of Art Branch is to provide visitors to company sites with free and useful guides, helping consumers make educated decisions about their lifestyles.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

A Guide to the Atkins Nutritional Approach

The Atkins Nutritional Approach or Atkins diet is a low-carb diet that restricts the amount of carbohydrates as to covert stored fat to energy. This diet restricts digestible carbohydrates or net carbs that impact blood sugar levels. Preferred foods on the atkins low carb diet are unprocessed foods with a low GI. Some foods with a low glycemic index such as black rice should be avoided. The same goes for white bread, sugar, and other high GI products. The list of allowed foods includes most protein-rich foods such as eggs, seafood, and meats. They have no or little carbohydrates. Most types of cheese contain less than 1 gram of carbs per ounce, but it is important to check labels. Some cheeses have more. You can have cream cheese but avoid farmer’s cheese, cottage cheese, and other fresh cheeses. Adequate fat content is important, and Atkins recommends consuming foods that are rich in natural fats. Trans fats should be avoided. Eat plenty of foods such as cold-water fish and other fish meats that contain omega-3 fatty acids.
You can use grapeseed oil, peanut oil, or canola oil for stir-frying, especially those that are expeller-pressed or cold-pressed. Avoid sunflower, safflower, soy, and corn oil or consume in small amounts. Opt for regular full-fat mayonnaise when choosing mayonnaise. Australian mayonnaise, for example, contains thickening agents, citric acid, flavor enhancers, and sugar. It has macadamia nut oil or other healthy oils, but it is low in fat and high in carbohydrates.  The same rules apply when choosing salad dressings. Check labels and watch for added sugars.

Small amounts of lime or lemon juice (2 – 3 tablespoons) are allowed on the Atkins diet. You can have 10 to 20 olives, 1 ounce of sour cream, or 2 – 3 tablespoons of heavy cream. You can also have low-carb snack bars and other controlled-carb convenience foods and half a small avocado.
Finally, you should avoid anything made with grains, including pastries, cakes, and bread. To find the types of foods on the acceptable food list, look for a low carb diet guide with examples of foods, recipes, and meals.

One important question involves the type of diet that is best for you. One way to find out is to use a bmi formula to calculate your body mass index. People with a body mass index over 40 are considered very severely obese, and those with a BMI between 35 and 40 are severely obese.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Sources of Protein on a Low Carb Diet

Low-carb, high-protein diets have been promoted as a quick and effective approach to losing weight. Low-carb dieters receive between 30 and 50 percent of their calories from different protein sources. In contrast, the American Cancer Society, the National Cholesterol Education Program, and the American Heart Association recommend that dieters receive a smaller percentage of calories from protein.

Protein is essential to the repair, maintenance, and building of tissues in the human body. There are different sources of protein on a low carb diet. As a rule, one ounce of fish or meat has 7 grams of protein. Most cuts of beef contain about this amount, and a steak has 42 grams. Other meats to include in a high-protein diet include chicken, pork, and fish. Other high protein foods are nuts and seeds, beans, and cheese. You can choose from different types of cheese such as soft cheeses, hard cheeses, and medium cheeses. Soft cheeses (Camembert, Brie, and Mozzarella) have 6 grams of protein per ounce, and medium cheeses (Swiss, Cheddar) have 7 – 8 grams per ounce. Parmesan and other hard cheeses have approximately 10 grams of protein per ounce.

Nuts and seeds are also good sources of protein for dieters on the atkins diet or another low-carb, high-protein diet. Dieters can consume peanuts, peanut butter, cashews, and seeds such as flax seeds and pumpkin seeds. Other sources of protein include beans and eggs. One large egg has 6 grams of protein, and a cup of cooked soy beans contains 28 grams. Dieters on a high-protein diet can consume soy milk and soy beans and split peas. One cup of soy milk has between 6 and 10 grams of protein.

If you want to correct a health problem or lose a lot of weight, you can have up to 30 grams of carbohydrates a day. Divide this amount throughout the day. You can add up to 55 grams of carbohydrates if you need to lose a couple of pounds. You can choose from a variety of low-carb foods. You can have low-carb vegetables such as green beans, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes. You may be surprised, but avocado is low in carbs and high in fat. A glass of light beer or wine is OK, but remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Artificial sweeteners and diet sodas are permitted in moderation. Read more about good and bad carbs here: http://www.lowcarbfoods.org/

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Chinese Food on a Low Carb Diet

From the subtle flavors of Canton to the spicy food of Hunan and Szechuan, Chinese cuisine is a challenge for people on a low carb diet. Besides noodles and rice, most dishes have some starch or sugar. It is possible to eat a tasty low-carb meal in a Chinese restaurant, but this depends on the low-carb plan you follow (i.e. Atkins Induction or moderate-carb plan).

The list of low carb foods you can choose from includes egg drop and other clear, thin soups, stir-fried dishes without starch and sugar, meat and vegetables, and black bean sauce. When it comes to carbs and weight control, there are certain foods to avoid. Among them are rice, including steamed rice and fried rice, breaded meats, and egg rolls. Avoid deep-fried wantons and noodles such as chow fun, lo mein, and chow mein. It is not easy to tell which sauces contain a lot of sugar by just looking at the menu. However, some sauces have quite a bit, such as hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, and plum sauce, which is usually served with mu shu. Keep in mind that thick sauces and soups are usually thickened with cornstarch. There are 7 grams of carbohydrate in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. A cup of sour soup will have about 2 grams of carbohydrate or a teaspoon of cornstarch. Some dishes are very sweet (e.g. lemon chicken), and spicy sauces contain a lot of sugar. You can have Mu Shu pork without hoisin sauce and the wrappers. Mu Shu is usually served with several thin, steamed, tortilla-like wrappers, called Mandarin pancakes or moo shu pancakes. Some Chinese restaurants in the U.S. serve Mexican-style tortillas instead, which are more brittle and thinner. Other foods you can have include egg foo yung, walnut chicken, and Mongolian barbeque. You can choose your own vegetables and meats.

With low carb food drinks you can order include water, tea, coffee, and other sugar-free drinks. Avoid fuzzy drinks like soda, Sprite, Fanta, and Coke, with the exception of Pepsi Light and Diet Coke. Low-carbohydrate diets also exclude beer and hard liquor because the body uses alcohol as fuel, and fat burning will slow down. Moreover, alcohol consumption may lead to carbohydrate withdrawal pains and sugar cravings. Of all drinks, liquors contain a lot of sugar and are certain to ruin your diet. If you plan a night out, never drink on an empty stomach. For more information visit this low carb foods list: http://www.lowcarbfoods.org/low+carb+foods+and+recipies/



Friday, April 27, 2012

The Best Snacks on a Low Carb Diet

Ice cream, cookies, chips, microwave popcorn, and candy bars are some of the popular snack foods. Unfortunately, they have little nutritional value and are packed with carbohydrates and empty calories. What are your options for low carb foods and snacks then?

You can choose foods that feature carbs with low glycemic indexes, contain heart-healthy fats, are balanced with protein, and are high in important nutrients and fiber. There are plenty of healthy snacks for people on a low carb diet. You can make peanut butter and celery sticks, Caesar salad with grilled chicken, avocado and shrimp cocktail, or carrot sticks and hummus. You can cut a large carrot into coins or sticks and serve with hummus. One serving contains 133 calories, 0.9 g saturated fat, 5.8 g fiber, and 15.8 g carbohydrates. Cold or hold soy latte is a low-carb beverage you can prepare at home. Blend a shot of espresso with a cup of light soymilk and serve with crushed ice.

Other healthy low-carb options include deviled eggs, celery with tuna salad, cheese sticks, and cheese with a few apple slices. You can make lettuce roll-ups by rolling tuna, egg salad, vegetables and luncheon meat in lettuce leaves. Alternatively, you can prepare lunch meat roll-ups. Roll vegetables, cheese, and other fillings in lunch meat. Making a low-carb dip is a good idea. You can spread spinach dip or bean dip on lettuce or lunch meat and roll it up. Another option is to have spinach dip and raw veggies or mushrooms with cheese spread. Other healthy options include ricotta cheese with nuts and fruit, pepperoni chips, low-carb snack bars, and parmesan crisps. You can have pork grinds as well and if you are a vegetarian, you can prepare fried tofu chips. Toasted squash seeds or pumpkin seeds are yet another option for low-carb dieters.

You can find low-carb snacks in the store as well, but make sure you look at the label. Sugar alcohols in low carb snacks include sorbitol, xylitol, and maltitol. Sugar alcohols are not fully absorbed by your body, and they provide fewer calories. Sugar alcohols aid your weight management efforts and don’t promote tooth decay. Some low-carb sweeteners also inhibit bacterial growth in the mouth. At the same time, sugar alcohols ferment in the intestines, and this can cause diarrhoea, gas, and bloating. Low-carb dieters have different reactions to artificial sweeteners, and experts recommend careful experimentation. 

To read more about low carb food snacks go to: http://www.lowcarbfoods.org/

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Condiments Allowed on the South Beach Diet

The list of condiments allowed on the South Beach Diet is the same as the standard low-carb condiment list. As a rule, you should avoid foods and condiments that contain sugar.

Acceptable sauces and condiments include sugar-free peanut sauce, pesto, and red and white clam sauces. You can use tomato-based sauces such as pizza sauce, pasta sauce, and marinara with no added sugar. Basically, you should choose sugar-free foods and condiments. The list of sauces to avoid includes many homemade sauces and commercial sauces. They contain saturated fat and a lot of starch. Sauces to avoid include white sauces such as Mornay, Bechamel, and Bearnaise, and cheese sauces such as Alfredo. You can have gravies as a rare treat and after phase 1. You should avoid barbeque sauce because it contains a lot of sugar. Buy sugar-free cocktail sauce and tomato-based chili sauce. Salad dressings with sugar and regular ketchup should be avoided. The same goes for plum sauce, steak sauce, and jellies and jams.

The list of low-carb condiments includes sugar-free condiments such as dill pickle relish and low carb ketchup. The list of allowed condiments on a low carb diet also includes Tabasco and other bottled hot sauces, capers, and sugar-free salad dressings. Choose dressings that are high in monounsaturated fat and read the labels carefully. You can use mustard but avoid honey mustard and other sweetened mustards. The list of condiments also includes rice wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce, but it is important to check the labels.

Apart from condiments, there are plenty of foods you can eat on the South Beach Diet. There are a few restrictions on bacon, prepared luncheon meats, shellfish, and organ meats. You can eat poultry, including Cornish hen, goose, duck, and chicken. The list of allowed meats includes veal, lamb, and pork. Mussels and oysters are high in carbohydrates, and you should limit them to 4 ounces a day. Processed meats such as salami, pepperoni, and ham contribute carbs because they are cured with added sugar. You should avoid fish and meat products that are cured with nitrates. They are carcinogens. Avoid products that are not exclusively fowl, fish, or meat, such as breaded foods, meatloaf, and imitation fish.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Low Carb Diets - Do They Work

Low carbohydrate diets are diets that take advantage of the body's biochemistry to work. They do in fact work very well at helping dieters lose weight very quickly. A low carb diet such as Atkins, South Beach or the Zone lower the overall amount of carbohydrates and glucose (sugar) in the body. This causes a biochemical situation called ketosis to take place. If ketosis is maintained for an extended time, there will be significant weight loss.

The human body was designed to store excess calories such as carbohydrates as fat. The body did this because thousands of years ago man likely had to wait long periods of time before finding a meal. During winter months, it was possible that the fat that had been stored helped to keep man from starving. In order for a low carbohydrate diet to work, one must get around this food storage system and years of evolution. To do this, diets that are low in carbohydrates exploit this fat storage system to help burn it off.

When few carbohydrates are consumed along with very little sugar the body will begin to seek out alternative forms of energy supply. This means that once the few carbs that are eat are burned off, the body will then start to break down the excess fat. That excess fat breakdown is one of the reasons that weight loss is usually far more rapid with a low carb diet than any other type of diet. The dieter has fooled the body into burning off its own fat.

A low carb diet works very well. The induction phase that begins the process of ketosis can cause as much as two pounds of weight loss a day in that two week period. It also means that with little or no exercise a dieter can see significant weight loss and inches subtracted from their frame in a short period of time. Even when the dieter eats some fatty foods, the biochemistry of the diet will still have the metabolic processes breaking down existing fat before ingested fat.

If dieters are looking to lose inches and weight quickly they can consider the many low carb diets that are popular today. These diets are so popular because they do work very well. The one hardship on the diet is the loss of sugar (even fruit sugar) or carbohydrates. Some of these low carb diets integrate more of this than others. A low carb diet is a very fast solution to a weight loss dilemma.

To test your knowledge about low carb diets try the low carb diets quiz.

Monday, March 5, 2012

What Are The Negative Effects Of Low Carb Diets

Many people choose to follow a low carbohydrate diet and achieve good results. At the same time, negative effects occur in some dieters, mainly linked to ketones. Ketones represent a compound and a waste product when the body burns down fat deposits. In a ketosis state, the body breaks down more fat tissue in the absence of carbohydrates. Most often, ketosis is linked to a higher level of ketones in the blood stream.

Bad breath is a mild side effect of being on a low carb diet. The ketones produced by the body are found in the urine and saliva. One solution to bad breath is to chew sugar-free gums or suck mints, but that is a temporary fix. Drinking lots of water helps sometimes.

Other mild negative effects include dizziness, nausea, weakness, and insomnia. A study published in the Lancet Medical Journal has reported that side effects such as headaches, constipation, diarrhea, and muscle weakness are more common in people on the Atkins diet than in other dieters.

Carbohydrate deficiency has been associated with general weakness and muscle cramps. The muscle tissue and the brain do not receive sufficient amounts of sugar to maintain their normal functioningThe brain and muscle tissue receive insufficient amount of sugar for their proper functioning. In general, an intake of about 150 grams of carbohydrates a day is required to maintain the normal functioning of the body. With many low carb diets, the amount of carbohydrates is limited to twenty to thirty grams during the induction phase. In the next phases, it increases to up to 100 grams, but this amount is still less than the required.

The body supplies the needed carbohydrates from the liver and muscles at first, but side effects may occur.

Some dieters may experience long-term negative effects, including feeling sluggish, tired, and lethargic. These side effects gradually disappear when dieters start consuming more carbohydrates.

The average dieter may find it difficult to cut out carbohydrates completely, even during the induction phase which lasts just several weeks. Low carb dieting remains a controversial issue not only because of the possible side effects, but when it comes to results. Some claim that success may be due to consuming less food rather than the products included in the menu. Other critics point out that weight loss may be due to dehydration rather than burning of fat tissue.

Some maintain that due to the accumulation of ketones in the body, the risk of high cholesterol level and heart disease increases. At the same time, many dieters have succeeded losing weight on a low carb diet. More people have tried a low carb diet, compared to a low fat diet. Many research studies confirm the benefits of low carbohydrate diets as well. When choosing a diet, it is important to assess the benefits and risks that go with it. The aim of every diet should be not simply weight loss but lifestyle change.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

How to Eat Low Carb Diets Safely

A low carb diet is a dietary plan that limits the consumption of carbohydrates for the purpose of weight control. Dieters avoid eating foods high in carbohydrates and substitute them with products high in fats and proteins. While many recommend low carb diets, some people complain of having side effects such as tiredness, constipation, bad breath, and more. With these in mind, how to eat low carb diets safely?

First, you should not consume large amounts of foods that are high in proteins. Proteins can increase the amount of insulin that circulates in your body. This hormone signals to your body that it has to accumulate fat deposits; so, protein-rich foods should be consumed in moderation. What is the amount of proteins to consume? You need them to repair damages to the muscle tissue. In addition, proteins supply glucose needed for the proper function of your brain. The liver transforms proteins into glucose, but how much you should have depends on your height, weight, lifestyle, and how long you have been on a low carb diet. You will find some online calculators that will calculate the required amount in your case.

To avoid kidney problems, you need to consume plenty of water. The lower consumption of carbohydrates will add to the workload of your kidneys, and more water will be needed.

You should consume plenty of low-carb vegetables and fruits for the fiber they contain. The group of vegetables low in carbohydrates includes cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, etc. Fruits that are low in sugar are also good choices when you are on a low carb diet. These are papaya, blueberries, apples, watermelon, peaces, cantaloupes, and others. In general, try to have as many non-starchy vegetables as possible.

To be on the safe side, you should take sufficient amounts of minerals and vitamins. Calcium, potassium, and magnesium should be present in your diet. In this way, your electrolytes will be kept in balance, which can be a problem when you are on a low carb diet.

A healthy diet should include plenty of fresh, natural products. Avoid eating processed meals and snacks, even if they are low in carbohydrates. Processing reduces their nutritional value and besides, processed foods contain more calories, fats, and sodium.

A low carb diet will be good for your health if the amount of carbohydrates you have works for you. If you are a prediabetic, for example, you have to monitor your blood glucose so that your blood sugar level remains normal and stable. In this way, you will know what amounts of glucose your body tolerates.

Finally, it is recommended to include seeds and nuts in you diet. They are rich in nutrients and will, to an extent, substitute starchy foods. You can use nut flours to prepare baked goods, such as pancakes and muffins. Flax seeds are good for your health, and you can use them in baking. Combining the healthy fats in nuts and seeds with fiber and proteins will make your diet a healthy one.