A note to diabetics:
For any person with problems of high blood sugars, such as those with diabetes or prediabetes, it is beneficial to avoid high carbohydrate foods as much as possible, especially since they can cause spikes in blood sugar levels immediately after eating whereas the lower carbohydrate foods cause a more moderate elevation in blood glucose.
The primary nutrients, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates (referred to here by their accepted abbreviated form as carbs) are essential to sustain life. The purpose of this article is describe the difference between low carb diets and low carb foods, especially since a low carb diet, while containing a small ratio of carbs may include very few carbs that can be properly defined as being "low".
Low carb diets refer only to the proportion of carb foods in a diet in relation to the proportions of the other primary nutrients, proteins and fats. The low carb diets probably constitute less than 20 or 25 percent of total daily calories whereas a more normal diet, carbs could be 50 percent or more of total daily calories. Those percentages vary with different popular diet advocates but the principal is the same, low carb diets refer to the low proportion of carbs in the daily diet.
Low carb foods on the other hand are those food items that provide a smaller amount of glucose to the body than do the higher carb foods. For example, meat including poultry, fish, and some dairy foods have little or no carbs, (although milk products do have some carbs). So those might be better described as non-carb or nearly non-carb foods.
Examples of true everyday low carb foods would be the whole grain breads, breakfast bran cereals and oatmeal, most vegetables but not potatoes, most fruits, most beans, in fact there are a very large number of wholesome foods that can be classed as low carb foods. A few more are listed below.
High carb foods, for a comparison, are those food items that provide a larger amount of glucose to the body quickly than do the lower carb foods. A few examples of high carb foods are: white bread, hamburger buns, Kellog's Corn Flakes and Rice Krispies, white rice, potatoes and French fries, chocolate bars and candy bars, and there are many more.
Important, don't eat too much
What is most important, after giving priority in your diet to low carbohydrate foods in a balanced and nutritious diet of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, is to not eat too much. Consume only sufficient calories each day to meet the needs of your body based on the amount of energy expended in the daily activities of work and play. In that way you will be well fed with no hunger pangs and there should be no weight gain, and that leads to better health.
Some examples of low carbohydrate foods are:
Vegetables: cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, asparagus, mushrooms, beans, tomatoes, cucumber, celery, onions, eggplant, etc.
Fresh fruits and berries (not dried fruits): somewhat higher in carbs than vegetables but still classified as low carb foods. Apricots, peaches, apples, plums, pears, cherries, grapes, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, etc.
Nuts: peanuts, cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts, hazel nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, macadamia nuts, etc.
Breads and cereals: whole wheat breads, soy and flaxseed bread, whole grain pumpernickel, All Bran, Bran Buds, Oatmeal, Cheerios, Alpen Muesli, etc.
Dairy products: many cheeses but not all, butter, cream, eggs, etc. It should be noted that dairy products are often high in fat so should be eaten in moderation.
Beverages: fruit and tomato juices, wine and alcohol in moderation.
A healthy diet includes a balance of carbohydrate foods together with proteins and fats, the ratios recommended by many nutritionists are 50:25:25, meaning 50 percent carbohydrates, 25 percent proteins and 25 percent fats with no more than 10 percent of the fats being saturated fats.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_K._Robinson
For any person with problems of high blood sugars, such as those with diabetes or prediabetes, it is beneficial to avoid high carbohydrate foods as much as possible, especially since they can cause spikes in blood sugar levels immediately after eating whereas the lower carbohydrate foods cause a more moderate elevation in blood glucose.
The primary nutrients, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates (referred to here by their accepted abbreviated form as carbs) are essential to sustain life. The purpose of this article is describe the difference between low carb diets and low carb foods, especially since a low carb diet, while containing a small ratio of carbs may include very few carbs that can be properly defined as being "low".
Low carb diets refer only to the proportion of carb foods in a diet in relation to the proportions of the other primary nutrients, proteins and fats. The low carb diets probably constitute less than 20 or 25 percent of total daily calories whereas a more normal diet, carbs could be 50 percent or more of total daily calories. Those percentages vary with different popular diet advocates but the principal is the same, low carb diets refer to the low proportion of carbs in the daily diet.
Low carb foods on the other hand are those food items that provide a smaller amount of glucose to the body than do the higher carb foods. For example, meat including poultry, fish, and some dairy foods have little or no carbs, (although milk products do have some carbs). So those might be better described as non-carb or nearly non-carb foods.
Examples of true everyday low carb foods would be the whole grain breads, breakfast bran cereals and oatmeal, most vegetables but not potatoes, most fruits, most beans, in fact there are a very large number of wholesome foods that can be classed as low carb foods. A few more are listed below.
High carb foods, for a comparison, are those food items that provide a larger amount of glucose to the body quickly than do the lower carb foods. A few examples of high carb foods are: white bread, hamburger buns, Kellog's Corn Flakes and Rice Krispies, white rice, potatoes and French fries, chocolate bars and candy bars, and there are many more.
Important, don't eat too much
What is most important, after giving priority in your diet to low carbohydrate foods in a balanced and nutritious diet of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, is to not eat too much. Consume only sufficient calories each day to meet the needs of your body based on the amount of energy expended in the daily activities of work and play. In that way you will be well fed with no hunger pangs and there should be no weight gain, and that leads to better health.
Some examples of low carbohydrate foods are:
Vegetables: cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, asparagus, mushrooms, beans, tomatoes, cucumber, celery, onions, eggplant, etc.
Fresh fruits and berries (not dried fruits): somewhat higher in carbs than vegetables but still classified as low carb foods. Apricots, peaches, apples, plums, pears, cherries, grapes, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, etc.
Nuts: peanuts, cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts, hazel nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, macadamia nuts, etc.
Breads and cereals: whole wheat breads, soy and flaxseed bread, whole grain pumpernickel, All Bran, Bran Buds, Oatmeal, Cheerios, Alpen Muesli, etc.
Dairy products: many cheeses but not all, butter, cream, eggs, etc. It should be noted that dairy products are often high in fat so should be eaten in moderation.
Beverages: fruit and tomato juices, wine and alcohol in moderation.
A healthy diet includes a balance of carbohydrate foods together with proteins and fats, the ratios recommended by many nutritionists are 50:25:25, meaning 50 percent carbohydrates, 25 percent proteins and 25 percent fats with no more than 10 percent of the fats being saturated fats.