Top 10 Low Carbohydrate Foods
A low carbohydrate diet is now becoming a common song all ever the world. This has been necessitated by an increase in lifestyle diseases affecting a bigger proportion of our population globally. The main challenge is having a proper understanding of our nutritional needs and what to buy at our food stores that contain lower amounts of carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are an important part of our food; which after digestion, the end product is glucose as the main source of energy. However, when there is an excess intake of these types of food, there is a tendency of the body to develop a crisis of stabilizing the glucose levels. As a result one will be required to know the kind of food that won't make the blood glucose to shoot up.
The objective of the knowledge of carbohydrate levels is to ensure that whatever king of food you take there is always a slow and steady release of glucose into the blood stream. Carbohydrates foods with high fiber content will slow digestion and the release of glucose.
Below is a list of the most commonly known food with low carbohydrate levels.
1. Whole grains.
• The unique property of whole grains makes them become the best carbohydrate sources as compared to the refined ones. When grains are refined, their nutritive value goes down since some of the essential components are removed and as a result, when eaten, the release of glucose into the blood stream takes place very fast. The grains of great importance are oats, wheat, brown rice and even barley.
2. Vegetables
• Green leafy vegetables like spinach, broccoli, Carrots, cauliflower, tomatoes, all types of cabbage etc., contain small amounts of carbohydrates and this tends to have minimal effects on the blood sugar unless the consumption is in large quantities.
3. Avocados
• Avocados are a special group of fruits which help maintain an adequate blood sugar levels and also balances the fat composition in the blood.
4. Mushroom
• Mushrooms are very much appreciated for their pleasant flavor and whitish appearance. Their caloric content is relatively lower than most carbohydrate sources. They supply the body with proteins, B group vitamins and very minimal carbohydrates.
5. Nuts
• All oil-bearing nuts are poor in carbohydrates and rich in proteins. These supply their energy in the form of easily assimilated fatty acids and are also rich in vitamins B and E. Though good in proteins, it is recommended to use them in moderation.
6. Alfalfa
• The alfalfa sprouts are eaten raw in salads and sand-witches. Tender alfalfa leaves can be eaten raw in salads. They are usually cooked, as much as chard or spinach, in soups, omelets and croquettes.
• Alfalfa sprouts contain close to 1 mg of iron per 100 g and this helps in the production of red blood cells. It also contains between 300 to 400 ug(micrograms) of vitamin K per 100 g, am amount far superior to that of meat (7 ug) or milk (3.5 ug). Vitamin K is essential to the Liver's production of prothrombin and other factors involved in blood clotting.
7. Legumes
• The fiber content of most legumes is relatively high and this makes them be of great value to individual who want to have a low carbohydrate diet. These are good is supplying the body with protein which helps in muscle building.
8. Pepper
• Sweet pepper contains very few carbohydrates and calories. In addition to this, they provide a great deal of provitamin A and vitamin C. When peppers are young and tender, they may be eaten raw in salads, which provide maximum nutritional benefits. In this case they must be thinly sliced and well chewed.
9. Spirulina
• This microscopic algae is very rich in proteins, Vitamins and iron, but has virtually no calories. Spirulina's contain high quality protein (5.9 % in fresh algae and 57.5 % if dehydrated). The vitamins present are B1, B2, E niacin, folates and B12. They also contain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids.
10. Garcinia
• The extracts of this fruits are a natural anorexigenic (appetite-reducer). They produce a sensation of satiety and aid the metabolism of sugars, inhibiting their conversion to fat.
Richard Jarvis is an online researcher investigating the new Garcinia Cambogia Canada. If you are interested in what makes this product so popular you can read customer reviews and see why people all over the world are using this product for permanent weight loss and how they can get pure Garcinia Cambogia from a trusted source.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Jarvis
