Low-carbohydrate, or low-carb, diets have been promoted as a great way to lose weight and maintain muscle mass, but what foods should you eat when you’re following a low-carb regimen?
Many natural fruits, vegetables, and meats contain a low amount of carbohydrates, which are enough to maintain a healthy nutritional carbohydrate level, but not excessive enough to make you retain the fatty tissue that would build up otherwise. Here are some examples:
Fruits
- Watermelons
- Strawberries
- Cantaloupe
- Oranges
- Avocados
- Blackberries
- Cranberries
- Apples
- Raspberries
- Pineapples
These are low-sugar fruits that contain fiber and other nutrients that promote nutritional health.
Vegetables
- Sprouts
- Celery
- Mushrooms
- Radishes
- Asparagus
- Califlower
- Broccoli
You want to avoid starchy vegetables like potatoes that contain a lot of carbohydrates. Although whole grains offer nutritional benefits, they typically contain lots of carbohydrates. Even though the carbs found in whole grains are the kind that won’t spike your blood sugar, you’ll still want to limit those on a low-carb program.
Eating meat is not discouraged in a low carbohydrate diet, but generally speaking, fish and chicken are lower in carbs than beef and pork. You can also get a lot of protien from seeds and nuts like peanuts and flax seeds. Eggs are another excellent source of protien that does not contain many carbohydrates.
Focus on avoiding starchy foods, sugary drinks, and processed food that will only place an excess of carbs into your body. A healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, and meats listed above will ensure that you have a healthy diet that will energize you instead of just weighing you down.