{"id":185,"date":"2017-05-23T12:13:25","date_gmt":"2017-05-23T12:13:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=185"},"modified":"2021-03-10T16:42:37","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T16:42:37","slug":"20-foods-low-carbohydrates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/20-foods-low-carbohydrates\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Foods Low in Carbohydrates"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"There was a time when everyone was trying to avoid fats. We were told that fats added a lot of calories to our diet (which they do: 9 calories per gram) and that they were bad for our heart (which they\u2019re not).<\/p>\n

Today things have changed. No longer are fats public enemy number one; that honor now goes to carbohydrates! And this time it seems we\u2019ve got it right.<\/p>\n

Carbohydrates may be lower in calories (4 per gram), they release their energy very quickly which in turn spikes our blood sugar and causes a sudden rush of energy. This is then absorbed by the body, resulting in a \u2018crash\u2019 and increasing the likelihood that we\u2019ll store that energy as fat.<\/p>\n

People who maintain lower intakes of carbohydrates thus are able to enjoy lower risk of diabetes, better energy levels throughout the day and a host of other benefits. The only problem? Knowing what to eat when you\u2019ve taken bread, chips and potatoes out of the equation.
\nHere are ten great options that will make for some delicious meals\u2026<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0Mushrooms<\/h3>\n

Mushrooms are a great source of protein, along with a bunch of other useful nutrients. They\u2019re also especially versatile and can be used in the place of several carbs. Instead of having potatoes on the side with your steak, how about some mushrooms with melted garlic butter? Instead of bread, you can use the halves of two mushrooms to hold your sandwich<\/a> filling.<\/p>\n

\"\"2. \u00a0Avocado<\/h3>\n

Avocado is incredibly good for you and is a brilliant source of a ton of different nutrients.<\/p>\n

Not only is this a very health saturated fat that will enhance your absorption of fat soluble minerals and provide long-lasting energy throughout the day, but it is also high in protein<\/a>, omega 3 fatty acid, magnesium and lots more.<\/p>\n

\"\"3. \u00a0Tuna<\/h3>\n

Tuna is another low-carb diet staple. This is a great source of omega 3 fatty acid and is a lean protein that can build muscle and boost your brain function without giving you that surge of energy.<\/p>\n

Stick it on some toast or eat it with a tiny amount of mayonnaise<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"4. \u00a0Sweet Potatoes<\/h3>\n

Potatoes are carbohydrates and this includes sweet potatoes. However, the reason they\u2019ve been included on this list is that they are actually the good kind of carbohydrates.<\/p>\n

In other words, they are \u2018complex carbs\u2019 which means that they have enough going on that they still take a while to digest and they still release their energy very slowly.<\/p>\n

This means that sweet potatoes can be the perfect alternative to regular potatoes. And you can even enjoy them fried to make sweet potato fries<\/a>!<\/p>\n

\"\"5. Leafy Greens<\/h3>\n

Salads are going to be another staple of your diet if you truly want to go low-carb. You can make big salad mixes with a few toppings like tuna and tomatoes, or you can use salad leaves on the side of your main course.<\/p>\n

You can even use salad leaves as another bread-alternative if you get your sandwich filler and then just wrap it in a sheet of lettuce<\/a> or cabbage.<\/p>\n

A great low-carb meal is the Polish recipe golumpki.<\/p>\n

\"\"6. \u00a0Coconuts<\/h3>\n

Coconuts are super in-vogue right now thanks to their many benefits and their extreme versatility.<\/p>\n

This is the ideal food to consume if you\u2019re going low carb because the coconut will stimulate the release of ketone<\/a> bodies to provide a source of energy that doesn\u2019t rely on glucose.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re struggling with low blood sugar, coconuts are a good fix.<\/p>\n

\"\"7. \u00a0Eggs<\/h3>\n

Eggs are a \u2018complete\u2019 protein<\/a> meaning that they provide all of the necessary amino acids for human function.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re great for your brain thanks to the choline content and they\u2019re a good source of healthy cholesterol for raising testosterone.<\/p>\n

Again, eggs are also super versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. Poach some eggs and place them on top of a pile of spinach for a very healthy and filling breakfast, or try making an omelette \u2013 another good sandwich alternative.<\/p>\n

\"\"8. \u00a0Porridge Oats<\/h3>\n

Porridge oats are another of the \u2018good kind\u2019 of carbohydrate. These are whole grains that release their energy slowly and which add very few calories to your diet overall.<\/p>\n

Top them off with some whole milk to get the benefit of more saturated fats and avoid the temptation to add sugar!<\/p>\n

Oats are very healthy in themselves too, being high in manganese and molybdenum, along with biotin, vitamin B1, magnesium and of course \u2013 lots of fiber<\/a> to keep things moving downstairs.<\/p>\n

\"\"9. \u00a0Cayenne Pepper<\/h3>\n

Cayenne pepper<\/a> probably isn\u2019t so much a \u2018food\u2019 as a flavouring, but it\u2019s a great thing to have on hand as a way to add a little extra flavour to all of your low carb meals.<\/p>\n

This is especially true if you\u2019re trying to keep your calorie intake down too and so are avoiding fats and sauces.<\/p>\n

A little cayenne pepper turns a steamed chicken breast into something much more palatable and as an added bonus, it will also raise the metabolism for enhanced fat burning!<\/p>\n

\"\"10. \u00a0Peanut Butter<\/h3>\n

Peanut butter is a delicious and protein-packed spread that you can enjoy on top of all kinds of things to make them sweater and more enjoyable.<\/p>\n

You do have to be careful what kind of peanut<\/a> butter you pick up though: a lot of brands add a whole lot of sugar at which point this of course becomes a much less \u2018low carb\u2019!<\/p>\n

The very best kinds are made literally from peanuts and a little oil or butter.<\/p>\n

\"\"11. \u00a0Butter<\/h3>\n

Butter is one of those foods that feels like it should be bad for you but really isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

This might not be packed with all that many nutrients, but it\u2019s a slow-release source of energy that enhances brain function, keeps you full and improves absorption of numerous key nutrients.<\/p>\n

In fact, some low-carb dieters have actually taken to putting sticks of butter<\/a> in their coffee as a quick breakfast alternative!<\/p>\n

\"\"12. \u00a0Beef<\/h3>\n

Beef has got something of a bad reputation as a food that isn\u2019t good for us. It\u2019s a \u2018red meat\u2019 and as such, it is historically associated with heart problems, fat and people with physiques like King Henry VIII.<\/p>\n

But this reputation is not earned. It turns out that natural saturated fats like those that come from meats are not bad for us at all and in fact can help us to better absorb nutrients and improve brain function. Not only that, but beef in particular is a great source of nutrients such as iron<\/a>, vitamin B12 and more.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also packed with some naturally-occurring substances that athletes use in order to enhance their performance. Examples include creatine (which has also been shown to boost IQ) and CoEnzyme Q10. And it has zero carbohydrates.<\/p>\n

\"\"13. \u00a0Lamb<\/h3>\n

In fact pretty much any meat is going to get you a ton of protein and fair amount of healthy fat and no carbohydrates.<\/p>\n

Lamb is no different and while it\u2019s not as much as a bodybuilding superfood, it will still pack in a lot of extra goodness in the form of iron, B12, linoleic acid and others.<\/p>\n

When eating lamb or beef, always look for grass fed meat. The meat<\/a> you eat will contain nutrients from its own diet. Lamb that has eaten grass its whole life will therefore be much healthier than lamb that has been raised on corn!<\/p>\n

\"\"14. \u00a0Chicken<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re looking to lose weight or build muscle though, then chicken is actually the golden ticket. That\u2019s because chicken is another meat meaning you get all the protein but it is low in both carbohydrates and fats.<\/p>\n

While fats aren\u2019t inherently bad for you, they do pack in more calories (9 per gram versus 4 per gram for protein and carbs), so if you\u2019re looking to stay lean while becoming more toned and defined, eating lots of steamed chicken<\/a> with sides of broccoli is a great way to go!<\/p>\n

\"\"15. \u00a0Salmon<\/h3>\n

Like tuna, salmon is a great source of lean protein that has very little fat and no carbohydrates<\/a>. This makes it awesome for eating when you want to lose weight and tone up.<\/p>\n

While there isn\u2019t much saturated fat though, what you do get are essential fatty acids. Specifically, this is another great source of omega 3, meaning that you\u2019ll get all the same benefits relating to cell membrane permeability, brain function and anti-inflammation.<\/p>\n

This is a great low-carb food because it tastes delicious as well. Try putting it in a pot with some egg and some avocado for a truly delicious meal.<\/p>\n

\"\"16. \u00a0Pork<\/h3>\n

Look, we did all the other meats, so it wouldn\u2019t be fair to leave pork off the list! Pork \u2013 including bacon<\/a> \u2013 is low in carbs and this makes it another great way to give your food some delicious flavor while you\u2019re trying to avoid carbohydrates.<\/p>\n

Bacon is a processed meat though, meaning it loses a lot of the health benefits. It also tends to be very fatty meaning it\u2019s quite calorific.<\/p>\n

So it\u2019s not a health food by any means \u2013 just an option you can eat in low quantities while still keeping your blood sugar from spiking!<\/p>\n

\"\"17. \u00a0Broccoli<\/h3>\n

Here\u2019 a question a lot of people have: are vegetables carbs or not? They\u2019re obviously not fats or proteins and yet they find themselves on many low-carb lists. So, what\u2019s going on?<\/p>\n

Well, a vegetable such as broccoli is actually composed of around 7% carbohydrate and also contains protein and fiber. So it\u2019s kind of a mix but it\u2019s definitely low enough in carbs that you can eat it with a low carb diet and not worry about ruining all your hard work!<\/p>\n

And the other good news is that broccoli is mega-high in all kinds of other important nutrients. It is a great source of vitamin C<\/a> for instance, as well as vitamin K, fiber and even some anti-cancer compounds!<\/p>\n

\"\"18. \u00a0Kale<\/h3>\n

Kale is one of those health foods that is all the rage at the moment, so it\u2019s probably no surprise to find it on this list.<\/p>\n

Kale is made from 10% carbs which again means it\u2019s low enough to enjoy on the side of your meal. It\u2019s a great source of antioxidants and carotenes<\/a> and it also provides vitamin C, vitamin K and loads of fiber.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s something that any health-conscious food fan should keep in the cupboard.<\/p>\n

\"\"19. \u00a0Celery<\/h3>\n

Celery is very low in carbohydrates and in fact is predominantly made from water. This means it\u2019s also super-low in calories and a great choice for something to snack on that won\u2019t stretch your stomach.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s high in a variety of different nutrients despite its incredibly light nature and this means you can keep it around for snacking between meals. It\u2019s especially delicious if you dip it into a little something else that\u2019s low carb.<\/p>\n

How about finding some hummus<\/a> for instance? Just watch out because this is a \u2018domino food\u2019 that is all too easy to binge on and ruin your diet with!<\/p>\n

\"\"20. \u00a0Grapefruit<\/h3>\n

One of the trickiest meals to navigate when you decide to go low-carb is breakfast. You might be used to eating sugary breakfast cereals, toast or pancakes and now you\u2019re left with none of those options!<\/p>\n

If you want to go full-health-mode then, you might consider trying some grapefruit<\/a> instead. This is a citrus fruit that is similar to orange but a lot less sweet. That\u2019s because it has a lot less sugar, making it just 11% carbohydrate. That bitterness might actually aid digestion and it has also been shown to help boost the metabolism, helping you to burn more calories throughout the rest of the day!<\/p>\n

Grapefruit contains barely any calories and is high in vitamin C and some carotene antioxidants so it will be doing you a lot of good!<\/p>\n

And there you have it! That\u2019s a huge list of low-carb foods, meaning there is really no excuse for not sticking to this diet. It\u2019s an effective way to improve your energy and help you lose weight and as you can see, it\u2019s actually pretty tasty when you know what you can get away with!<\/p>\n\r\n

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