Carbs have gotten a bad rap in the diet world, but complex carbs should get a second look. Despite their carbohydrate category, they can be a dieter's friend when you eat them sparingly and choose low carb foods.
The Problem with Carbs
When you eat carbohydrates, your blood sugar levels rise. In response, your body produces more insulin to keep levels in check, which also slows fat burning. Low carb diets keep insulin levels low and cause the body to use fat as its main energy source. That said, eating carbs isn't always the biggest problem, as you also need to be focused on eating the right type of carbs.
Why Simple Carbs Lose
Simple carbs - cakes, cookies, white bread, white rice and similar products - are made up of lots of sugar or refined white flour. They are low-nutrient foods because they don't have a lot of nutritional value to offer along with carb count. Simple carbohydrates are often nothing more than empty calories.
Three Cheers for Complex Carbs
Complex carbs gets the crown as a dieter's friend because with the carb count comes a dose of fiber. That fiber will help you feel full and satisfied longer, as the foods takes longer to digest than simple carbs.
In addition, nutrient-dense complex carbs offer a dose of vitamins and minerals that are important to a healthy diet as a whole. In fact, some complex carbs, such as oats, have been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease. Others, such as broccoli, have been proven to reduce the risk of some forms of cancer. So keep eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans.
 | When you follow low carb diet plans, you limit the amount and kind of carbohydrates you eat, while increasing your consumption of protein and fat. |
 | If you keep a list of low carb foods handy, you'll be able to satisfy hunger pangs with smart food choices. |
 | Low carb vegetables will help to fill you up without throwing your blood sugar levels out of whack. |
Eating plans like South Beach and the Ab Diet can help you lose weight, improve your cardiovascular health and ward off health conditions like diabetes. |
Many people curious about starting a low carb diet wonder if there are side effects they need to be aware of before getting started. Many also wonder if there are harmful low carb diet side effects too, so let's look at the most common side effects of low carb dieting, and talk about whether any of these are harmful. |
