Low-Carb Diet Tips That Work
If you’re searching for a diet program, consider the low-carb diet. For many people, this diet has provided excellent results, including weight loss, lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, lower triglycerides, and amazingly, even lower cholesterol levels. The diet, however, is not for everyone. Some people have no enegy on this program, while others seem to thrive on it.
An important aspect to remember is that this is a LOW-carb diet – not a NO-carb diet. You need some carbs to maintain your health, and according to my doctor, a no-carb diet can do severe damage to your liver and kidneys.
What can you eat on this diet? Any meat, fish, fowl, or eggs. You can also eat most cheeses, butter, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, Italian dressing, and cooking oils. Low-carb veggies include green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, mustard greens, collard greens, turnip greens, lettuce, green onions, asparagus, yellow squash, zucchini, mushrooms, cabbage, peppers, red onions, tomatoes, and Brussels sprouts. You can also have cream and low-carb real whipped cream. Dill pickles and artificially-sweetend pickles and relishes are fine.
Beverages you can have regularly on a low-carb diet include unsweetened coffee and tea, along with diet sodas. Diet Hawaiian Punch is artificially sweetened, and it has lots of vitamin C. For milk, try the Hood low-carb, low-calorie milk. The chocolate milk is awesome, and it satisfies your taste for something sweet, rich, and chocolatey, and it will provide needed calcium.
Approved desserts include low-carb cheesecake, low-carb pumpkin pie, low-carb sweet potato pie, low-carb ice cream, artificially-sweetened egg custards, low-carb yogurt, and sugar-free puddings. Even though these have much fewer carbs than their sugar-laden counterparts, they do have a significant amount of carbohydrates, so eat them occasionally, for a treat.
What you need to avoid on this diet: potatoes, corn, carrots, acorn squash, butternut squash, regular pasta, white rice, white flour, sugar, peas, most fruits, regular milk, and bread.
What you can have but need to limit: extra-fiber whole grain breads, sweet potatoes, and legumes. Fruits that have the least carbs and the most fiber are berries, including blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Berries are also a good source of antioxidants and anthocyanins which will help keep you healthy. Nuts are also low in carbs, and high in fiber and minerals, so eat a few nuts instead of potato chips when you’re craving a salty snack. You can also munch on pork rinds, as they’re carb free. Just don’t overdo it! Pork rinds are high in fat and cholesterol. Now there’s a low-carb, high-fiber pasta that’s almost as good as the original!
Keep plenty of low-carb foods on hand so you won’t be tempted. For snacks, try raw veggies and ranch dressing, beef jerky, cheese, nuts, tuna or chicken salad, sugar-free jello, or high-fiber fruits. Also keep plenty of Splenda in the pantry to sweeten low-carb foods.
Dining out is easy on the low-carb diet. Just order any meat or fish that’s grilled or broiled, a salad, and asparagus, sauteed mushrooms, creamed cauliflower, or broccoli. Hot wings that have not been battered are also allowed.
Low-carb dieting offers plenty of variety, and if done correctly, it’s a very healthy diet. For the first few days, you’ll probably crave something sweet or some bread or potatoes. You might be tempted to throw in the towel, but don’t. You’ll be amazed to discover that after a few days, you’ll actually lose your craving for high-carb foods. Good luck!
