Best Low Carb Foods

Why do dietitians suggest an increase in fiber but a reduction in the intake of carbohydrates? What is wrong with carb rich diets? The reason is that certain 'bad carbs' such as rice, pasta, white bread and potatoes cause blood sugar levels to rise which in turn increase the production of insulin in the body, ultimately leading to weight gain because of an increase in the appetite. Though a low carb diet may seem like a good option for those wanting to lose weight, there are certain shortcomings in such a diet; it minimizes good fiber intake. However, there are good fruit and vegetable sources of fiber that are among the best low carb foods.

Fiber is an essential part of a weight loss diet as it helps to expel some amounts of fat and other elements from the body. A lack of fiber not only slows down weight loss but can also be the cause of cancer in the digestive track or even lead to cardiovascular problems. So remember to supplement your low carb diet with an adequate backing of fiber rich foods. Read more on list of high fiber foods. Some of the best foods for low carb intake are:

• Green Leafy Vegetables: Green leafy vegetables, especially lettuce, cabbage and spinach are a must on a low carb diet. A cup and a half (one serving) accounts for only 3 gms of carbohydrates. A good idea is to prepare them in your favorite form.
• Carrots: Carrots are good as they pack in a lot of nutrition. Carrot juice can also be a part of your diet.
• Broccoli: One medium size stalk of broccoli contains about 8 gms of high quality complex carbs. Broccoli is considered to be an essential food of a low carb diet.
• Bean sprouts:While most beans are a taboo in a low carb diet, bean sprouts are highly recommended because of their energy content and low carb count. It can be eaten raw as part of your salad or lightly cooked. One cup of sprouts totals approx 6 gms of carbs.
• Tomatoes:At times counted amongst fruits but used as a vegetable, it is very nutritious and at the same time is low on carbs. Tomatoes can be eaten raw as part of a sandwich or cooked. A soup with less oil is also recommended.
• Peas: Snow peas, snap peas and green peas are relatively low in carbs. One cup of peas has only about 10 gms of carbs.
• Cucumber: For those bent upon losing weight, cucumber is the best low carb food to eat. They are easy to clean, cut and eat, and don't require cooking. Ideal for sandwiches and salads, they can also be munched as a snack when one is hungry along with a little bit of peanut butter. One small cucumber contains about 3 gms of carbs.
• Celery: An excellent nutrient with great fiber content. A stork of celery contains only 2 gms of carbs.
• Green Beans: Most other beans such as black beans, red beans and lima beans are high in carbohydrate content, while green beans have the lowest content of carbs amongst beans. A cup of green beans accounts for only 5 gms of carbs.

This list may lead on to think that they have to turn vegetarian to be on a low carb diet. This is far from true, as the list above are the best of the natural low carb foods which do non constitute a full meal by themselves. Some of the meats and dairy products that can be had in limited quantities while on a low carb diet are chicken, duck, lean pork, steak, turkey, cornish game hen, veal steak, fish; tuna and salmon and eggs. If you are hungry between meals, one can also resort to a light snack while following a low carb regime. Some permitted snacks are hard-boiled eggs, nuts, cheddar cheese, celery with peanut butter, mozzarella, tuna as part of a salad, cow, sheep and goat cheese.

When on a low carb diet, always remember that even while consuming the best low carb foods, it is wise to keep a count of your carb intake. One also needs to be careful not to load up on fat. You should ensure that your diet is well-balanced as even the best low carb foods by themselves do not substitute a balanced diet. The importance of high fiber additions should always be kept in mind.