Foods containing sugar and starch are designated as carbohydrates. These foods are the ones that provide the fuel and energy for our bodies. All food groups, including carbs, are the pieces that make up a balanced diet. The basic concept is to take pleasure in eating foods in healthy portions and select compex carbohydrates whenever you can.



When you hear the term Carbs it is the shorter version of this energy source. Talk about Carbohydrates usually focuses on sugary or starchy food. If you research this, you will realize that most of the foods we eat have carbohydrates in them.

A lot of the foods that have a lot of carbs in them are junk food items, in addition to sweets, white bread, potatoes and pasta. Fresh produce is a staple of the low-carb diet. Avoid canned goods. Stick to unprocessed foods like brown rice and whole wheat bread. Plain oatmeal is a tasty treat for cereal lovers.

Carbohydrates exist in two forms, simple and complex; with simple carbs being found in sugars, pastas, white bread and rice, candies and a few of the natural fruits. This is the body's top source for energy. Complex carbohydrates finish second in creating energy. These carbohydrates make you feel full longer, because they take longer to digest. Vegetables, certain fruits, beans, potatoes, pasta and whole grain breads are some of the best sources of carbohydrates.

When you are trying to lose weight with a low carb diet, you should try to keep your carbohydrate count at 20-50 gm per day. If you are maintaining your weight, 180-300 gm per day of carbohydrates will work nicely. You might be surprised to learn that almost all foods contain some carbohydrates. If you want to leave carbs in the basement range, you can eat lean turkey meat and a few other protein rich foods.

A low carb diet forces your body to search for energy sources and if it cannot find available carbohydrates in the bloodstream, it will pull glucose from the liver. If there are still no carbohydrates, the body will reluctantly start to burn some of its fat supply.

Low carbohydrate foods include most vegetables, except corn, potatoes, some mushrooms, green peas, and rhubarb. Even Shiitake mushrooms are almost 25% carbohydrate. Even a lowly cucumber can contain 10gm of carbohydrates, which is not high unless you are totally watching that carb count. Most lean meats are good for low carb diets, so a dieter can enjoy baked or grilled chicken or turkey breast, fish or lean beef. Beans are a good choice although they can add moderate amounts of carbs to your daily total. Stay away from canned foods of any type and restrict processed foods, sugars, and starches.

In order to diet correctly, you must remember to exercise. Even a low carb diet is not enough to successfully and quickly burn fat. The fat burning process is aided by exercise each day. Exercise is good for you but there is a tip for you to use. Any 15 minutes doing some brisk walking exercise that can cause you to get your heart rate up into the target range.

If corect for the next 30-45 minutes your body will be burning fat cells to supply your energy needs. Your body will use up its stockpile of glucose in nearly 15 minutes. You want to target the fat,you should not eat just before exercising, you do not want to have extra carbs in your bloodstream for your body to burn.