Low Carb Diet, Explained – What it Is, Benefits, and What to Eat
A healthy diet often involves replacing heavy carbs with lighter options that fuel your body with energy and nutrients. You might choose to start a low-carb diet to practice better weight management or address health concerns such as diabetes. Or, you may be prepping for an upcoming sports competition.
Either way, finding the answers to your question of “what is a low carb diet” helps you to jumpstart a healthy eating plan that fits your lifestyle. As you begin your journey, you can use this information and Foodie Fit blog to begin creating a diet plan that is delicious and convenient.
What Is Considered Low Carb Eating?
Carbohydrates are a type of macronutrient that people need to eat for survival. Carbs might be simple sugars, or they could also be found in fiber and starch. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose to fuel your body with energy.
Although carbohydrates are essential, consuming too many can lead to issues with your health. For instance, high-carb diets can impact how your body regulates blood sugar. Low-carb eating can mean different things to people based on their goals.
Typically, a low-carb diet involves making carbs less than one-quarter of your caloric intake. However, certain diets involve eating far fewer carbs. An example of this is the keto diet plan that replaces carbs with high levels of protein in an effort to make the body burn more fat.
Is Gluten Free Low Carb?
A gluten-free diet might be low carb, but it doesn’t automatically exclude all carbohydrate sources. When people eat a gluten-free diet, they aim to avoid consuming grains such as wheat and barley.
As you might be able to tell, this naturally excludes some carbohydrate sources such as many types of bread. But, there are also gluten-free sources of carbs that include rice, sweet potatoes and certain types of pasta.
You can fuse the best of both worlds by opting for low-carb and gluten-free foods like nuts, seeds and meat.
What Are the Benefits of Low Carb Diets?
Most people start a low-carb diet plan to improve their health through better weight management and blood sugar regulation. When you cut carbs, your body no longer breaks food down into the same amount of glucose that you might have been fueling your energy with before.
Without as much glucose available, the body ideally begins to rely on burning fat for maintaining its energy levels. Many people find that reducing carbs helps them to lose weight and gain more control over their overall health.
As the low-carb diet reduces blood sugar levels, you might also notice other benefits, such as experiencing fewer mood swings. People with diabetes may be able to reduce their reliance on medication over time and with the guidance of their physician. You may also find that switching to a low-carb diet helps you manage headaches and nausea.
What Are the Best Low Carb Foods?
When you find yourself wondering, “What are low carb foods?” you may be happy to hear that you’ll still be able to enjoy a delicious diet. Low carb foods include meats such as chicken and beef. Eggs and cheese are additional options for low carb eating.
On a low-carb diet, you’ll be able to enjoy vegetables and fruits. But, you’ll need to use caution since some are sources of carbs, such as white potatoes and corn. To make life easier, many people on low-carb diets use meal prep services.
Foodie Fit offers low-carb meals that you can have delivered to your door. Being able to enjoy dishes such as turkey chili or mango habanero turns a healthy diet into a delicious adventure.
Discover the Joys of Low-Carb Eating
Healthy diets don’t have to be bland or boring when you know how to combine low-carb foods to fuel your body for greater health and happiness. Using meal prep services like Foodie Fit makes it easy to grab a quick and healthy meal on a busy day while also learning what foods work best together to fit your new low-carb diet plan.
