Where Can I Find Low Carbohydrate Diet Sugar?

Want to know where you can find low carb sugar? Unfortunately, there is no actual sugar that is low carb. Sugar is about the highest carbohydrate food that you can get.

White granulated sugar is pure carbohydrate with 100g of carbohydrate and zero fiber in 100g of sugar. Brown sugar is very slightly less at 98g carbohydrate. Maple sugar is still high with over 90g carb per 100g product.

When you get into other sweet foods the proportions are a little less but these are still high carb products. Honey has 82g net carb per 100g product. Maple syrup comes in at 67g.

Fructose, which some people think of as a sugar substitute, is simply sugar refined from fruits and some grains. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is sometimes used in diabetic foods because it does not require insulin, but it is not low carb. It has 76g carbohydrate per 100g and no fiber. Dextrose, maltose, glucose and lactose are all high carb sugars too.

So if you are on a low carb diet you will need to avoid all of these. Since there is no low carb sugar, you will want to look for a sugar substitute. Fortunately, there are plenty of these.

Some are natural plant extracts. The most popular one for low carb diets is stevia (brand names Truvia, PureVia, or available in powdered leaf form at health food stores). Stevia is a zero carb product so long as nothing has been added to it.

Sugar alcohols, which are also used as natural sweeteners, do have some carbs and calories. It is not known exactly to what extent these are absorbed but they usually count as half the carbohydrate content of sugar. Maybe they could be called low carb sugar but that is still too high for most low carbohydrate diets.

Others are inventions of the chemists' laboratories. These artificial sweeteners include aspartame (brand names include Nutrasweet), which is often found in diet sodas, and sucralose (Splenda) which is becoming more and more popular because it does not break down under heat, so it can be used in baking. Splenda is probably the most popular low carb sugar substitute.

There have been some health concerns regarding the use of artificial sweeteners. The research on all of the different products is too varied to cover in any detail here, but often research has been done by feeding huge amounts of the products to animals such as rats. Sometimes they would get cancer or another serious disease and die. However, rats that were fed huge amounts of sugar would probably die pretty soon too.

Most people accept that artificial sweeteners that have been approved by the FDA are safe for humans to eat in normal amounts. They can be very useful in low carbohydrate diets, used sparingly in drinks and desserts as a kind of low carb sugar.

Looking For A Healthy and Natural Low Carbohydrate Diet?

The search for a healthy low carbohydrate diet is not as difficult as many people think. Certain low carbohydrate diet plans (especially Atkins) have had a bad press in recent decades just like the great acai berry pure supplement, but a lot of the criticism is based on people's prejudice and myth rather than on fact.

Myths About Dr Atkins And Fats

For example, many people believe that Dr Robert Atkins died of a heart attack caused by eating too much saturated fat. This is not true. Dr Atkins died at the age of 72 from head injuries sustained in a fall on the sidewalk outside his clinic. He had suffered heart problems previously, but there is no evidence that these were diet related.

People are also fond of pointing out that Dr Atkins' weight at death was 258 lb. This would make him overweight, even obese, at his 6 ft height. However, his medical records show that on admission to hospital after his fall, he weighed only 195 lb. He was in a coma for around 10 days before he died and his body suffered a lot of fluid retention in that time.

It is true that the Atkins diet does allow high quantities of saturated fat. Dr Atkins' theory, explained in detail in his books, is that fat is not dangerous so long as we are not also consuming high quantities of carbohydrates. It is the combination of fats with sugar and refined grain products, like the ingredients of a donut, that cause clogged arteries, heart disease, and many other serious diseases. Therefore, the contention is that Atkins is a healthy low carb diet.

Many people following the Atkins diet find that their cholesterol levels actually drop after 4-6 months on the diet. However, if the amount of saturated fat is a concern for you, then you could try South Beach. This is also a low carb diet but it has limits on the amount of saturated fat.

Myths About Protein

Another common belief is that low carb diets are high protein diets. Diets that are very high in protein can be dangerous for the kidneys. Low carb diets are not recommended for people with pre-existing kidney diseases, who will need special diets following medical advice. However, low carb does not necessarily mean extremely high protein.

There are four sources of calories in food: protein, carbohydrate, alcohol and fat. Most low carb diets are not especially high in protein. They often recommend about 30% of calories coming from protein, with a little from carbohydrates and the majority coming from fat.

When you start on a low carb diet it is a good idea to track your food intake. This helps you to keep a watch on your carbs and also make sure that you are not getting too much protein. It should be between 15% and 30% of your calorie intake, or around 0.35 to 0.7 grams of protein per pound of body weight, which is around 60g to 120g of protein per day for a person weighing 170 lb. There are around 20 grams of protein in a 4 oz steak, and around 6g in one egg.

Myths About Vegetables

Many people believe that you don't eat vegetables on a low carb diet. This is completely untrue. All of the low carb diets require you to eat a certain amount of vegetables. Many are low in carbohydrates and they contain important nutrients such as vitamins and minerals that are essential to our health.

The amount of vegetables is usually limited only by the carbs that they contain. So you can eat a lot of something like celery (2.4g net carbs per 100g serving) but less of broccoli (4g net carbs per 100g serving).

Many people find that the amount of vegetables eaten in a low carb diet plan is actually more than they are used to. So as long as you choose a well established low carb diet and follow the guidance carefully, you should have no trouble maintaining a healthy low carb diet.

Easy Low Carbohydrate Diet Recipes

There are a lot of easy low carbohydrate recipes available. Low carb dieting is now so popular that there are many recipe books written on just this subject. There are also recipe books written by the authors of most of the best known diet plans including Dr Robert Atkins, Dr Arthur Agatston of the South Beach Diet, the creators of the Protein Power and many others.

On top of that, you can find plenty of low carb recipes online. Usually these are available for free. The disadvantage of finding a recipe on a website is that they are not always so easy to print. The internet is often not set up for easy printing. Of course you could carry the computer into the kitchen or copy out the recipe by hand. However, sometimes you can copy and paste the text into Word or a similar program and then print it. Give it a try because it is useful to have your own collection of printed easy low carb recipes.

Many easy low carb recipes are adapted versions of regular recipes. For example, you would not believe how easy it is to make home made quiche when you do not have to bother with the pastry.

Low Carb Quiche

Makes 6 servings, each approximately 3g net carbohydrate depending on the choice of vegetables.

Lightly grease a large pie dish. Put in 8 oz of shredded cheddar cheese mixed with half of a small onion chopped small (25g or 2.5 Tbsp). Add about 8 oz (225g) chopped cooked low carb vegetables such as mushrooms, broccoli, zucchini etc. Add some ham, cooked chicken or bacon cut into small pieces.

Take 6 eggs and beat them. Mix in 1 cup heavy cream and seasoning. Pour this mixture into the pie dish around and over the vegetables, meat and cheese.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees (180 degrees C) for about 40 minutes. When it is done, the top will be lightly browned and a knife pushed into the center of the quiche will come out clean.

Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 days and eaten cold. If you make it without meat, you can even freeze individual portions, then thaw and reheat.

Bacon And Cabbage Stir Fry

Makes 1 serving, 2g net carb per cup of shredded cabbage.

Cook 2-4 slices of bacon and cut into bite sized pieces.

Separately, heat 2 Tbsp olive oil or butter over a low to medium heat in a skillet with a lid. Add 1 or 2 cups (75g or 150g) of shredded cabbage according to your allowance under the rules of your diet. Cover with the lid and cook for 5 mins, stirring frequently. Add the bacon and cook for another 5 mins, or until the cabbage is translucent and soft.

This is delicious as a light meal or first course. It is one of our favorite quick and easy low carbohydrate recipes and a great weigt loss diet.

The Low Carbohydrate Atkins Diet

The Atkins diet is a low carbohydrate diet developed by Dr Robert C Atkins in the 1970s. Dr Atkins wrote many books and did refine the diet later, but in the beginning it focused on cutting out almost all carbohydrates regardless of where they came from.

It is also known as the high protein diet, because in the absence of carbs we have to get our calories from proteins and fats. It is set up in structured phases, with the first being the most restricted, as is normal for most diets. Some people skip the first phase (the induction).

Why Does It Work

When we are eating a lot of carbs, the sugars in them require the body to produce a lot of insulin. These levels of insulin help the body to convert a lot of food into fat in the form of triglycerides. This is stored in the body, making us gain weight.

However, if there are no carbs available, the body will switch to a system called ketosis where it can create energy directly from fats. This creates ketones which suppress the appetite (we quickly feel we have eaten enough, or do not feel very hungry and use our fat reserves for energy).

In order to bring on ketosis we have to eat less than 40 grams of carbohydrate in a day. To give you an idea of how little this is, the average person on a standard Western diet consumes around 300 grams per day. 40 grams is about 2 small bananas, or 3-4 slices of bread, or less than 1 cup of cooked brown rice.

For people who like meat and dairy foods the Atkins diet can be a refreshing change from other weight loss programs. This can help motivate you to stick with the diet.

Any Negatives?

You have to get used to a whole new way of figuring out what to eat. It involves taking account of the number of grams of carbohydrate that are in everything.

The diet can be boring and many people do not get enough variety or essential nutrients while following it. This can be overcome by making an effort to include more vegetables and/or supplements, but Dr Atkins does not tend to focus on these points as much as he might.

Many Atkins dieters eat a lot of saturated fat which research has shown can contribute to heart disease and other conditions. It seems likely that some people's bodies do better on a low carb, high protein diet, but other people's do not. You should speak to your doctor before starting and have your cholesterol levels monitored regularly while you are following the Atkins diet.

Pros and cons of the Low Carbohydrate Atkins diet

The Atkins diet is one of the most popular low carbohydrate diets on the market today. Its popularity has sparked dozens of look-a-like diets who center on the same principles of high-protein, low-carbohydrate eating. There are a lot of fish in the sea when it comes to choosing a low-carbohydrate plan.

Studies have shown that low-carbohydrate eating has many benefits. There have been scientific results that low-carbohydrate diets like Atkins do create significant weight loss without having to restrict calories. People who use the Atkins diet have also reported this. There are studies that show that low-carb eating improves triclycerides, reduces blood glucose for diabetics and pre-diabetics and increases good cholesterol (HDL). Low-carbohydrate dieting has been scientifically proven to improve insulin sensitivity, decrease blood pressure and lower blood insulin levels. When compared with low-fat diets, low-carb dieters lose less muscle mass.

Although not scientifically proven, there are many common benefits reported by Atkins dieters and other low-carb dieters. These include an increase in energy, a reduced craving for sweets, better concentration, improved mood and an lessening of depression type symptoms.

However, there are also some benefits that are specific to the Atkins diet. If you have been a low fat dieter in previous years, you’ll enjoy eating all of those “forbidden foods” that you once had to go without. Steak, butter and cream are a regular part of Atkins dieters’ meals. There is a certain pleasure that goes along with eating foods that were once off limits. Atkins dieters are encouraged to eat their full of rich meats, cheeses and fats and oils.

Atkins is also simple to use, compared with some other low-carb diets on the market. There are some basic food carbohydrate counts that you’ll need to learn, but after that, you are free to eat from the acceptable food lists.

Dr. Atkins also emphasized finding your own personal carbohydrate level. Different people have different levels of carbohydrate tolerance. While some gain weight on just 90 carbohydrate grams a day, others can live comfortably at 120 carbohydrate grams. During the ongoing weight loss phase and pre-maintenance phase of the diet, you will learn your personal carbohydrate count that will help determine your carbohydrate goal for life.

The popularity of Atkins is a double-edged sword for dieters. There is a lot of information available on the diet, which makes it easy to find resources and support. There have been many, many Atkins books written and there are endless amounts of websites that offer tips and group support. However, everyone has heard of Atkins and probably has an opinion on it. There are some big misconceptions out there about the nature of the diet, and you’ll no doubt have to defend your new way of eating from time to time.

There are some other minimal downsides to using the Atkins program. You do need to count carbohydrates in everything you eat to make sure that you are staying within your personal carbohydrate range. There is also the issue of Induction, the most hotly debate aspect of the plan. Induction can be difficult to get through if you’ve had a diet that centers on carbs and sugar. Also, many people try Induction and mistakenly believe that this is the way that the whole diet is going to be. They end up quitting before they get into the actual Atkins plan.

Sometimes, although it is not common, people will experience a carb crash on the 3rd to 5th day of the diet. This reaction is a result of their body finally experiencing ketosis, or running on fat instead of carbohydrates. The effects are transient, but many people have sworn off low-carb diets entirely because of this happenstance.

Overall, with the minor drawbacks considered, Atkins is one of the most popular low-carb diets for a reason. It works. Thousands of people have had success with the Atkins approach to the low-carb way of living.

PPPPP

(word count 651)

Low Carbohydrate Diet Foods List Part 1: Protein Foods

Here is a low carbohydrate diet foods list for anybody following a low carbohydrate diet. The carbohydrate count that we are using is net carbs per 100g (3.5 oz) weight, not per serving, because serving sizes vary. Carb counts come from the USDA database and we cannot be held responsible for any errors.

For your convenience, we have grouped the foods according to how they are usually used in cooking, not by their botanical classification (so for example tomatoes and olives are with vegetables, and quinoa is with grains). The list is in three parts. Here in part 1, we cover protein foods and fats.

Meat, Fish, Eggs

Meat and fish are the stars of the low carb foods list. Most meat and fish is zero carb provided it is not processed.

Processed meats like bacon, ham and sausages may contain added sugar or other ingredients, so check the labels. Oysters, mussels and organ meats (liver, kidneys etc) have some carbohydrate and are best eaten only occasionally.

Eggs are low carb. A large egg has 0.4g carbohydrate per egg.

Meatloaf, fish cakes, etc contain bread or flour and other high carb ingredients. Avoid them, along with anything coated with breadcrumbs or batter, and meat that has been prepared with barbecue sauce or other sauces that usually include sugar.

Dairy Products

Milk contains lactose or milk sugar which is high in carbohydrate. Milk has around 5g carbohydrate per 100 ml (12g per cup), so it is usually restricted on low carb diets. However, the lactose is mainly contained in the skim part of the milk, so cream and products made from cream can be low carb.

Heavy (double) cream is a good addition to your low carb foods list with 0.4g carbohydrate per tablespoon (2.8g per 100 ml, 6.6g per cup). However, what is sold as cream in Canada is not pure dairy cream but more like American half and half. It may have a much higher carb count.

Butter is almost zero carb (0.1g per 100g).

Cheese varies according to the type and the method that is used to make it. Hard cheese (cheddar style) is often almost zero. Other cheeses can be considerably higher. Check labels.

Unflavored yogurt with no added ingredients has around the same carbohydrate content as milk. Whole milk yogurt is a little lower in carbs than skim milk (low fat) yogurt. This is because the skim milk contains more lactose. However, a lot of yogurt contains added fruit, sugar or other high carbohydrate ingredients, so check labels.

Oils

Liquid oils such as olive oil, canola oil and sunflower oil are zero carb. Coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature in cooler climates, is also zero carb.

Spray oils may contain added ingredients that gives them a carb count, so check the label. But anyway, spray oils were designed for low fat diets and are not necessary when you are eating according to the low carb plan.

Nuts And Seeds

Flax seeds (linseeds), which are very high in fiber, are extremely low carb. Some low carb diets recommend taking one tablespoon of ground flax seed per day to add fiber to the diet.

Pecans are the lowest carb nut with 4.3g net carb per 100g.

Walnuts, peanuts, almonds, pine nuts, brazils, macadamias, filberts (hazelnuts), sesame seeds and sunflower seeds are in the medium carb range (5g to 12g net carbs per 100g).

Pumpkin seeds and cashews are higher (14g and 27g respectively).

Part 2 of our Low Carb Foods List will cover vegetables.As a tip here, a great detox addition is the Colon Cleanse Elite supplement!

Is Atkins right for you as a Low Carbohydrate Diet

The Atkins diet is very popular, but is it right for you? Before you start down the low carb road, you should take some time to decide whether low carb is the right way for you to lose weight. Just because it has been effective for others doesn’t mean it will be right for you. No specific diet works for everyone, and you may even find that a type of low carb diet that works better for you than another. There are many things to consider before you start the Atkins diet.

First, evaluate your past dieting history. If you’ve been trying to lose weight for a long period of time, you’ve no doubt tried a wide variety of diets. Take note of the different diets you’ve tried over the years. Write down the basics of each diet, what worked and what didn’t. Also, write down why you didn’t stay on the particular diet. Evaluate your experience with high carbohydrate diets. These types of diets include most low-fat and calorie controlled diets. How did you feel while on these types of diets? Were you hungry, obsessed with food or experiencing negative reactions? Or did you feel full of energy and generally good?

If you’ve had experience with low carb diets, write that down as well. Past the negative effects of the first week, how did eating low carb make you feel? Why did you stop using the low carb diet?

The answers to these questions will help you decide whether Atkins is right for you or not. If you’ve had good experiences with low-fat diets and bad experiences with other low carb diets, then Atkins is probably not for you. If other low-carb diets have worked but not without difficulty, then you may have been on the wrong type of low-carb diet and Atkins might work better. If you’ve had bad experiences with both types of diets, then you may have better success with a modified Atkins diet.

Your food and eating behaviors can also give you a clue to whether or not Atkins is a good choice for your weight loss efforts. Carb sensitivities are indicated by a certain set of behaviors. You may be carb sensitive if you feel like eating right after you’ve finished a meal. You will also feel strong urges to eat throughout the day. You may feel dizzy, fuzzyheaded and fatigued without getting a boost from sugar or another carbohydrate. Carb sensitivity is also shown when you feel sluggish after eating. This occurs especially after you eat a meal rich in sugars and carbohydrates. If you experience these symptoms frequently, you may have carb sensitivities. Try paying close attention to how carbohydrates affect you and if you continue to experience these symptoms, try doing a low carb diet.

Your success on the Atkins diet can also be determined by your medical and family history. If you have any pre-diabetic symptoms, or diabetes itself, a reduced carb diet like Atkins may be right for you. Significant weight gain can also be helped by the Atkins diet. Normally, the more overweight you are, the more likely you are to have high blood pressure, high triglycerides and high blood glucose.

If any member of your family has diabetes or is significantly overweight, this can also put you at risk for these conditions. Your tendency toward these conditions on a genetic level can mark a necessity for a low carbohydrate diet like Atkins. The Atkins plan has been shown to improve weight and control blood sugar issues. If these are problems in your family history, then you may want to consider the Atkins diet.

There are a lot of good reasons to try the Atkins diet. Whether you have responded well to other low carb diets in the past or you have a medical history that warrants a controlled carbohydrate diet, the Atkins diet can meet your needs.

PPPPP

(word count 650)

The Low Carbohydrate Diet - Atkins Diet Basics

The Atkins diet is not a new phenomenon. The diet first appeared in the late 1970s and has grown popularity in recent years in response to the low-fat diet craze. As dieters had trouble with low-fat plans, they searched for a new solution and Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution book found a new audience.

A lot of people have jumped on the Atkins bandwagon and there has been a lot of hype as a result. But what are the basic principles of the Atkins diet?

The Atkins diet is based on a theory of why we get fat. According to Dr. Atkins, the over-consumption of carbohydrates and simple sugars leads to weight gain. The way your body processes the carbohydrates you eat have more to do with your waistline than the amount of fat or calories that you consume. In his book, Atkins outlines a phenomenon called “insulin resistance.” He theorizes that many overweight people have cells that do not work correctly.

When you eat excess carbohydrates and sugar, your body notices that sugar levels are elevated. Insulin is released from the pancreas in order to store sugar as glycogen in the liver and muscle cells for extra energy later on. However, your body can only store so much glycogen at once. As soon as your body reaches its limit for glycogen storage, the excess carbohydrates are stored as fat. This happens to everyone who eats too many carbohydrates.

However, insulin resistant individuals have an even harder time of using and storing excess carbohydrates. The more insulin that your body is exposed to, the more resistant it becomes. Overtime, the pancreas releases more insulin and cells become insulin resistant. The cells are trying to protect themselves from the toxic effects of high insulin. They create less glycogen and more fat.

As a result, insulin resistant individuals gain extra weight. The carbohydrates get converted into fat instead of energy. Other side effects include fatigue, brain “fog” (the inability to focus, poor memory, loss of creativity), low blood sugar (which can leads to hypoglycemia), intestinal bloating, sleepiness, depression and increased blood sugar. There is much more than weight at stake when you are insulin resistant.

The remedy for people who are insulin resistant is a diet restricted in carbohydrates. The crux of the Atkins diet is a limitation of carbohydrates in all of its forms. The foods restricted on the Atkins plan include simple sugars (like cookies, sodas and sweets) and complex carbohydrates (like bread, rice and grains). Even carbohydrates that are considered healthy, such as oatmeal, brown rice and whole wheat bread, are restricted on the program.

The diet has you restrict your carbohydrate intake to less than 40 grams a day. This will put your body in a state of ketosis. While in ketosis, your body will burn fat as fuel. According to Dr. Atkins’ research, the ketosis state will also affect insulin production and it will prevent more fat from being formed. Your body will begin using your stored fat as an efficient form of fuel, and you’ll lose weight. Another benefit of the Atkins plan is that ketosis will end your cravings for carbohydrates. If you’ve been living on a carb-heavy diet, you may have found that you simply cannot get enough carbohydrates. With carbohydrate restriction and ketosis comes a reduction in carbohydrate cravings. People who have been on the Atkins diet for some time report that they do not crave carbohydrates as they once did.

Although the initial phases of the Atkins diet are rather strict, the program teaches you to restore balance to your diet in the long run. People who use the diet slowly reintroduce minimal amounts of carbohydrate into their eating until they find a comfortable balance between their health and carbohydrate use.

The basic principles of the Atkins diet have been adapted to many other low-carb diet plans. However, Atkins popularity still remains strong as one of the most effective low-carbohydrate solutions for those who are insulin resistant.

PPPPP

(word count 665)