By Morris Pelphner


Low carb meals are defined as meals that have low amounts of carbohydrates per serving. Frequently, individuals assume the lower, the better, but in the case of this form of diet, it is best to focus on the proper amount of carbs. The reason for this is that carbohydrates are necessary to the body from the viewpoint of nutrition and health.

To comprehend this better, it is a good idea to understand how carbohydrates are processed by the human body. Foods such as rice, grains, pasta, and bananas consist of substantial amounts of carbohydrates. When people eat these foods, the starch is converted into glucose. Most of this is utilized through the body as energy. Excess energy is changed into glycogen and stored by the body.

You should note that the body possesses a continuous requirement for glucose. It is also significant to be aware that carbohydrates are not necessarily bad for the system in all situations. So long as people get the correct amount in their eating habits, this may not become a problem. Once again, some type of workout is also needed to work off some of the excess carbs in the system. When anyone take in much more of this substance than their bodies need, some of the excess can be kept as fat and this is where carbohydrates can become an issue.

If matters were as easy as this, low carb dieting and low carb prepared meals would not grow to be such a topical concern. However, all carbohydrates are not good for the system. Some can be considered excellent while others can be viewed as bad. Complex carbohydrates are the good ones. It is because these carbohydrates are full of nutritional value and also contain dietary fiber. Sweet potatoes, as well as whole grain products like whole wheat and rice are great sources of complex carbohydrates.

On the other hand, simple carbohydrates are considered bad carbs. Biscuits, and desserts would likely come under this category. Simple carbohydrates can be obtained from white bread, icing sugar, granulated sugar and many food items created using flour. Coca cola and most soft drinks are also sources of simple carbohydrates.

Several authorities on nutrition actually go so far as describing simple carbohydrates as poison. The reason is that this form of starch is devoid of any nutritional value. Corn on the cob, for example, is a wonderful and nourishing food. On the other hand, corn flour has hardly any nutritional value. One more excellent example is sugar cane. In its pure state, sugar cane thought to be safe since it consists of dietary fiber and is purely natural. On the other hand, processed sugar, in granulated or cube form, provides little health benefits. Carbohydrates may not always be bad for people. Fruits and vegetables contain carbs but vegetables and fruits are good for overall health and help the body function properly.

The USDA suggests that individuals attempt to average 280 carbohydrates per day. This would convert to 70 carbohydrates per meal, and leave 70 carbs for snacks, beverages, and anything else you may eat in a day. Generally, low carbohydrate meals average somewhere between 20 to 40 grams per meal. Just one slice of white bread may contain as much as 25 carbs, producing a sandwich over the low carb diet limit. Rye bread typically has close to 15 carbs, making it a smarter choice for a sandwich. Given that extra carbohydrates are turned into fat and may result in putting on weight, making the best food choices is important with this kind of diet plan. By reducing the quantity of carbohydrates, the likelihood of putting on the weight from extra carbs will be considerably minimized.

Experts in nutrition and medicine have noted the health advantages of lower carbohydrates. To begin with, reducing the consumption of carbs to reasonable levels cuts down the risk of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Again, research indicates that reduced carb diet programs are actually good for the heart. Cardiovascular disease continues to be linked to being overweight, and obesity has, in turn, been connected to excessive consumption of carbohydrates. Since heart disease and all forms of diabetes are extremely serious conditions, it figures that a reduced carbohydrate diet plan is truly worthwhile.

But then, it must be stated as well, that carbohydrates should not be removed completely from the diet. Individuals on low carb diets should cooperate with physicians and dietitians, so they will know which foods to eat and which ones to avoid. Again, the truth is that carbs alone should not get a negative reputation. Extreme consumption of fats can also be bad for the health and contributes to cardiovascular disease.

Lastly, exercise is essential for the success of any diet program. People who wish to benefit from low carbohydrate diets should incorporate some type of physical exercise into the diet plan. You can actually consume extra carbohydrates before an intense exercise workout because your body is burning the energy you are taking in. Marathon runners, for instance, are known to have pasta just before running.




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