Sunday, November 9, 2008

Low Carb Diets, What Carbohydrates Are and Why We Need Them

By Ricardo d Argence

Carbohydrates are the foods that allow for sugars and starches. These foods are the ones that provide the fuel and energy for our bodies. The important thing is to be balanced when choosing a diet and to remember that every food group needs to be included; even carbs. Moderation is the key to healthy eating and, whenever it is possible, be sure to select complex carbohydrates.

When you hear people talk about carbs, they are shortening the name for energy items called carbohydrates. Carbs are usually targeting those foods with higher concentrations of sugars or starches. Carbohydrates are present in almost all the foods we consume.

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 partaking in a low carb diet, one should be sure that their daily intake does not exceed 20-50 gm per day. If you are maintaining your weight, 180-300 gm per day of carbohydrates will work nicely. Choose lean turkey or other protein rich foods if you want to maintain a low number of carbs in your daily diet.

Glucose can be pulled from the liver for energy if carbohydrates are not present in the bloodstream due to a low carbohydrate diet. Without the immediate energy source of carbohydrates, the body will reluctantly begin to burn some of the fat supply existing in its cells.

Vegetables are usually low in carbs, but there are some exceptions such as, corn, potatoes, a few mushroom varieties, green peas and rhubarb; which carry a higher carb content and may derail your diet if eaten too often. Even Shiitake mushrooms are almost 25% carbohydrate. Generally, cucumbers are low in carboyhydrates, but if you are watching your carbs, the 10 gm they have can really add up. Good for low carb diets, most lean meats can be enjoyed baked or grilled. Beans are an excellent option even though they can put a minimal amount of carbs in your daily total. Don't eat processed foods, sugary foods, and starches in big quantities--and leave canned food items alone.

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 you do this, for the next 30-45 minutes your body will be burning fat cells to supply your energy needs. This is because it takes about 15 minutes for your body to use up its supply of stored glucose. You should not eat just before exercising, you do not want to have extra carbs in your bloodstream for your body to burn, you want to target the fat. - 15634

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