Healthy Recipes 2 Go

Low-Carb Recipes: Get Started

 Many individuals armed with a dirt plan include low-carb recipes that will help them shed weight. But how do carbohydrates make one put on weight? What foods contain carbohydrates? And what exactly are carbohydrates?

 What Are Carbs?

 Carbohydrates are an essential element of your diet that you simply can’t do without. They are one of the basic building blocks of an essential diet – carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibre.

 More specifically, carbohydrates are classified into complex carbs or starch and simple carbs or sugars that your body uses as sources of fuel. Starch is eventually broken down into sugar before your body burns it as fuel.

 Carbohydrates are essential for the functioning of the immune system, blood clotting, and general growth. Here are some basic carbohydrate facts you need to know before choosing low-carb recipes to follow.

 Low-carb recipes basically reduce or curb the intake of sugars and starch, which means little or no white flour, white rice and potatoes. In very general terms, low-carb recipes aim to give you about half the calories you need from carbohydrates as a source.

 Carbohydrate Substitutes

 Fruit is a rich source of sugar but there is no reason to eliminate it even from low-carb recipes. Only make sure you get one to two ounces of fruit every day. Wise choices are strawberries, blackberries and olives. Why, you could even eat tomatoes and peach.

Another good choice of foods in your low-carb diet is nuts. Cashews, almonds, pistachios and walnuts are great options.

 There is no limit to the amount of vegetable you can eat while on a low-carb diet. But exclude starchy vegetables such as corn, carrots and peas. What you can have are celery, asparagus, broccoli and cauliflower.

 Animal products are protein-rich and low in carbohydrates. But make sure you choose white meat and lean meat such as chicken and turkey.

 Getting Started

 Before following low-carb recipes, you might want to think about how you will approach your new plan. Should you take a drastic plunge? Should you start slow?

 Plans like the Atkins Diet start by simply cutting out all carbs in the first week or so. That’s called a carb crash. Visit a dietician and determine the best way to get you started on your low-carb recipe plan.