By Faith Vander Voort
Low-carb/ketogenic diets are becoming increasingly popular in the weight-loss world. Why? Because they work! Fatty foods do not make us fat, sugar does. It’s that simple. Quit counting calories and start counting carbs.
First of all, you need to know the difference between the two types of carbs. According to NutritionMD.org, “Simple carbohydrates are sugars. All simple carbohydrates are made of just one or two sugar molecules. They are the quickest source of energy, as they are very rapidly digested. … Complex carbohydrates may be referred to as dietary starch and are made of sugar molecules strung together like a necklace or branched like a coil. They are often rich in fiber, thus satisfying and health promoting. Complex carbohydrates are commonly found in whole plant foods and, therefore, are also often high in vitamins and minerals.”
Some examples of simple carbs are bread, tortillas, donuts, soda and cake – you get the idea. Simple carbs are the stuff you know you shouldn’t be eating, but you crave them like crazy anyway. Examples of complex carbs are low-fat yogurt, vegetables and beans.
The idea of a low-carb lifestyle can be daunting at first, but it’s not that difficult when you take it meal by meal. Instead of getting a burrito at Chipotle, get a bowl (without rice)! When you make a late-night run to In N’ Out, order a protein style hamburger instead of a regular cheeseburger. It’s all about the little changes that end up making a big difference.
How many carbs a day is considered low-carb? First of all, it’s different for everyone. One major thing to know about counting carbs is how to count net carbs. Net carbs are total carbohydrates minus carbohydrates from dietary fibers. Essentially, you need to count carbs from sugar. A low-carb diet can run anywhere from 20g to 150g of carbs a day. It totally depends on how your body works. Do what feels good for you; you shouldn’t feel slow or drained all day every day. If you do, eat more carbs.
One huge misconception that people have about eating low-carb is that it’s gross and boring. Let me tell you folks, if you are uncreative, your food won’t be creative either. It’s all what you make of it.
Did you know that you can have low-carb pancakes, donuts and cheesecake? No, you probably didn’t because you were busy thinking about how miserable your life was going to be eating salads for the rest of your life. Almost every baked good that you can think of can be matched with a healthy alternative recipe. Use Pinterest as a tool – you will be amazed at what you can find.
Need a place to start? Follow my keto/low-carb Pinterest board for healthy cooking and baking ideas! https://www.pinterest.com/
xoxo,
Faith