Research proves that one of the best ways of losing weight – without counting those calories obsessively every minute – is simply to bring down the carbohydrate content of one’s daily diet. The reason? A low-carb diet lowers the appetite, making one eat less ‘naturally’ (and not ‘consciously’). Research also confirms that a low carb diet is better than a low-fat diet.
That’s not all. A low-carb diet can also help increase ‘good cholesterol’ levels in the body, while keeping ‘villains’ like triglycerides in check. In fact, such as diet is also known to keep blood pressure and blood sugar levels under control. In short, heaven-sent especially for those suffering from diabetes, obesity and certain neurological disorders.
So where’s the catch?
Well, it’s common practise to replace the carbohydrate portion of a low-carb meal with meat, fish, eggs and animal fat. And that leaves vegetarians and vegans high and dry.
While vegetarians tend to be okay with animal derived products such as dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheese), eggs and similar items, vegans do not eat those as well.
If you belong to either club, you’re probably about to go all “Hey, that’s so unfair!” right
about now. Don’t. Because both veggies and vegans can take comfort from the fact that there are plenty of low-carb options that have a plant origin.
Vegetables (cauliflower, onion, tomato, bell-pepper, broccoli, kale, spinach, mushrooms,
Brussel sprouts), fruits (avocado, olive, berries), legumes (pea, lentil, chickpeas), nuts (Brazil, pecan, macadamia, walnut, pistachio, almond, cashew, chestnut, hazelnut, pine-nut), seeds (chia, sunflower, pumpkin), soy (tofu, tempeh), coconut oil and yes, even dark chocolate – are all low in carbohydrate count, while being blessed with high to decent doses of essential protein and fat.
Mix them up interestingly in your recipes, ensure you still consume about a 100 gms of carbs a day (for your energy requirements), don’t forget to add a dash of exercise to your routine – and you’ll soon be enjoying the best of both worlds: Eating without guilt, and tilting that weighing scale no more than you want it to.
Speak to a trained dietitian over the Meddo app for personalised advice on planning a healthy diet so that you can achieve your health goals.
