Posts tagged Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates – A Closer Look

Carbohydrates or saccharides are the most abundant of the four main types of biomolecules. They have various tasks such as storing and transporting energy and being the structural building blocks of living things. Carbohydrates also contribute immensely for the proper functioning of the immune system, fertilization, blood clotting and development. They play a vital part in communications between cells and other parts of the body as well as cellular interactions between the cells in the cellular environment.

Every carbohydrate  is not good and every carbohydrate is not bad. Some are essential for a healthy lifestyle while certain carbohydrates, if eaten in excess, can pose a threat to one’s health by causing diabetes and coronary heart disease. They are an essential part of a healthy diet because it provides fuel for the body for physical activity and for proper organ functioning. The ideal source of carbohydrates is vegetables, fruits, whole grain and fiber as they provide essential vitamins and minerals. An array of foods that include them are beans, milk, potatoes, cookies, corn, pasta and bread. The most common and abundant forms are sugars, fibers and starches.

A sugar molecule is the basic building block of every carbohydrate which is a combination of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. Some contain hundreds of sugars such as starches and fibers that are chains of sugar molecules. The digestive system breaks down the carbohydrates into single sugar molecules since it has to be small enough to cross through the bloodstream. The cells use the digestible carbohydrates that convert into glucose as a universal energy source. Fiber cannot be broken down into sugar molecules so it is undigested in the body. Soluble fiber and insoluble fiber don’t provide the body with any nourishment, although they contribute to the health through many ways. Fiber reduces low-density lipoprotein and determines the sugar usage of the body. The insoluble fibers help the food push through the intestinal tract encouraging regularity.

Foods including whole wheat bread, brown rice and whole grain pasta will help shield the body against a variety of chronic diseases. A breakfast containing whole grains such as cereals, oats or whole oats would be an ideal way to add more carbohydrate to your diet. For lunch or snacks use whole grain breads and brown rice. If you are an individual who meticulously plan your diet, you go for half whole wheat flour and half white flour. Beans are slowly digested carbohydrates and are a great source of protein, so make sure to include plenty of it in your regular diet.

Acceptable Foods for the Atkins Diet

Dr. Robert Atkins first introduced the Atkins Diet to the world in the 1960’s. Though it dropped off in popularity, it made a comeback in the 1990’s following the publishing of a best-selling book by Dr. Atkins. The Atkins Diet is essentially a diet that focuses on the consumption of little to no carbohydrates, and higher levels of proteins and fats.

Since the human body typically uses carbohydrates as a primary source of energy for the body’s basic functions, ideally a diet that is low in carbohydrates will cause the body to look elsewhere for a source of energy.

With restrictions placed on the consumption of carbohydrates, the body has no choice but to metabolize fats in order to produce energy. The process by which the body metabolizes fats in order to produce energy is known as ketosis. In order to maintain ketosis and keep the body burning fats, individuals who are taking part in the Atkins Diet need to be careful about the food they consume during their daily meals.

High levels of carbohydrates will interfere with ketosis, as the body will return to breaking down the carbohydrates in order to produce energy. When it comes to the foods that are acceptable for the Atkins Diet, individuals are expected to consume foods that are low in carbohydrates, which typically means not eating foods high in sugars and starches.

Generally, the Atkins diet approves the consumption of proteins and fats. Additionally, participants are allowed to eat all the meat, poultry, fish, and cheeses they want. Condiments that are high in fat are also given the okay under Atkins, as are sour cream and guacamole.

In terms of specific foods that are deemed acceptable under the Atkins diet, participants are given a variety of choices. In fact, the basic premise of the Atkins diet is that individual participants can eat just about any food they want, so long as it is low is carbohydrates.

Lovers of fish will find that just about all types of fish are accepted under the Atkins diet, including tuna, salmon, flounder, and sardines, to name a few. Fans of fowl will find that items like turkey, chicken, duck, quail and pheasant are all also acceptable food under the Atkins diet.

The choices to not end there though, as shellfish like oysters, clams, squid, shrimp, and crabmeat are also a big part of the Atkins diet. Additionally, all forms of meat including beef, pork, lamb, veal and venison are also on the list of foods that the Atkins diet deems acceptable.

Eggs cooked in just about every form are also on the list of acceptable foods under Atkins. Despite the perceptions, the Atkins diet does allow for the consumption of some amount of carbohydrate on a daily basis.

Many times, these carbohydrates are obtained by consuming small amounts of vegetables like celery, radishes, chives, snow peas, broccoli, and spinach. Atkins also has acceptable beverages.

Since most of today’s drinks contain some sort of sugar-based sweetener or some type of fruit juice that is itself high in carbohydrates, the Atkins diet recommends that participants consume drinks that are artificially sweetened with products like Splenda. Additionally, teas, some juices, and diet sodas are all beverages that are considered acceptable under the Atkins diet.

By: Richard Adams

About the Author:

Find out all you need to know about the Atkins diet by visiting our comprehensive site at: http://www.atkinsdiettips.co.uk

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Is This The Real Secret To Losing Weight?

Does maintaining a diet with no carbohydrates really help decrease weight? Since the early 1970s, several weight loss plans have supported avoiding or reducing carbohydrates, referred to as “carbs”, from our diets in varying quantities. Although these carb-conscious diets are embraced by some, they continue to raise questions for many. For example, it has been debated whether it is safe to limit carbohydrate intake, and whether this can be done in a healthy, sustainable way. Some carbohydrates are better or healthier than others. Another question raised is whether or not everyone should limit carbohydrates, and whether someone can eat a diet of natural foods while controlling carbohydrate consumption.

Aside from the common theories on why low carb diets work, no agreement exists on what makes up the optimal reduced carbohydrate diet. Suggestions of the various diet plans recommend a range from 20 to 100 grams of carbohydrates daily, and few recommend no carbs at all, although this diet has been seen in Hollywood. Many of these diets advise restraining from the intake of carbs such as bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, and added sugars, but they differ in implementation and thorough directions. There are also no official guidelines on what foods should constitute a controlled carb diet, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no formal classification of a low carbohydrate food.

To put the resulting mystification into perspective, keep in mind that one-size-fits-all just doesn’t work when it comes to dieting. Nutrition choices should be individualized and depend upon genetics, lifestyle, activity levels, health status, and special needs. Some experimentation may be necessary to determine what works best for you. Some may find cutting back on carbohydrates is most favourable for their health, weight, and blood sugar levels, and they decide to limit their carb intake as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.

With regards to low-carbohydrate diets you may well lose weight on this regimen because if you cut down on bread, pasta, rice, crisps and eat only meat, fish and vegetables you will tend to eat less overall. But you are likely to get bored with this diet and therefore slip or get too hungry as your diet will lack bulk. Furthermore, limiting carbohydrates causes the body to rely on fat or muscle for energy. This can create a by-product called ketones, causing fatigue and nausea. This is particularly dangerous for anyone with diabetes, heart or kidney problems.

Yes, there is such thing as a healthy low-carb diet. The key is to not go overboard and throw out all the essential nutrients we need for health and optimum energy in pursuit of a low-carb eating plan. High-carb diets typically contain 50 to 60 percent of total calories from carbohydrate. A healthy low-carb plan will contain 40 to 45 percent of calories from carbohydrate. That way you keep the carbs that provide nutrition: fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, milk and yogurt and decrease your use of simple carbs like sugar, candy, cookies, soda and snack foods.

Fresh fish are high in protein and are often carbohydrate free. Shellfish generally contain some carbohydrates. Keep an eye out for prepared seafood products-like crab cakes or breaded fish-that may contain moderate amounts of carbohydrates. Protein-packed meat and poultry make up the bulk of many controlled carb diets. Try eating bacon, chicken, deli meats, duck, sausage, pork, lamb, rabbit, etc.

There’s also no need to stay away from nature’s sweets. Keep in mind that high fibre content in certain fruits accounts for a sizable percentage of carbohydrates. Fibre is essential for the body and it is generally subtracted from total carbohydrates when determining “net carbs” — the carbs thought to affect blood sugar and, therefore, weight loss.

Even if you are adhering to a controlled carb diet, it is important to eat plenty of produce. Colourful vegetables provide fibre, vitamins, minerals, and numerous phytochemicals. The carbohydrate content of vegetables ranges greatly. Non-starchy, brightly coloured vegetables are a safe bet for those watching their carbs.

By: Nathan Lynch

About the Author:

Carbohydrate Net is your carb dessert dietpoundsaway.com low recipe
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First Phase of Atkins Diet Menu

Only lately, has low carbohydrate diet grown in recognition since more and more people are aware of the dangers of obesity.

As numerous individuals had a trouble keeping with a diet low in fat, they began to search for other ways to lose fat and they discovered a excellent one in a Dr.Atkins diet.

As of late a significant amount of people with weight problem have started to use diet by Dr.Atkins, and the results that a lot of them achieved have as a consequence a high publicity.

Dr.Atkins diet nuts and bolts

The diet of Dr.Atkins is build on a suggestion of cause behind why we develop excess fat. In theory by Dr. Atkins, consuming large quantities of simple carbohydrates and sugars can cause gaining weight. The manner in which our body system treat the simple carbs that are a part of our every day diet is much more significant then the amount of calories consumed.

In his book Dr.Atkins has many references to occurrence which he calls the insulin resistance. The basis of this theory is that a lot of people with weight problem have a problem with their cells and that those cells do not perform as efficiently as they should.

When we consume too much carbohydrates and sugars, our body observes that quantities of sugar are very high. Insulin is produced by the pancreas gland as a way to accumulate sugar in a nature of glycogen. That sugar is then being stockpiled in our liver and muscles for added energy later in case we need it.

The trouble is that there is a limit to the amount of glycogen our bodies can store at once. The same moment that we reach this limit our bodies commence to store it as fat, for emergency.

Even so insulin resistant people have a even tougher time accumulating carbohydrates. As our body gets exposed to more and more insulin, it gradually becomes immune to it. Our body cells are essentially shielding them selves from being poisoned by a high insulin levels in this way. Because of that, they create more fat and smaller quantities of glycogen.

Therefore insulin resistant man and woman start put on extra weight. This happens because the carbohydrates are processed into fat and not energy. Some common side effects are increased blood sugar, low blood sugar, sleepiness, fatigue, lack of focus, bad memory, intestinal bloating and depression.

In fact insulin resistance can cause you a lot more health predicament then simply having too much weight.

Very good cure for insulin resistant people is a low carb diet. And that is the central feature of Atkins diet, limited carbs intake. So here some of the foods on restricted list: all sweets including sodas as well as some of the complex carbohydrates like bread, rice or grains.

Every so often even healthy carbohydrates like rice or whole-wheat bread can be limited.

What Dr.Atkins diet do is that it limits your every day carbohydrate consumption to 40 grams of carbohydrates daily max. The consequence that this has on your body is that it puts your body in a ketosis state.

What exactly is a ketosis? Essentially it is a situation in which your body uses fat as fuel. Another substantial ketosis end result is that it has a very strong effect on an insulin production, which puts a stop to further fat storing.

When combined this will force your body to begin burning fat as a highly efficient fuel supply and that will have as result a weight loss.

During ketosis, you will also go through much less sugar cravings. It happened to all of us, you begin eating candy bar and you just cannot stop. Over time as you consume always more of carbohydrates you carb cravings will increase.

Many individuals who have used Dr.Atkins diet have conveyed to a large extent lesser craving for consumption of carbohydrates then before the diet. Nevertheless you need to know that the primary phase of Atkins diet is fairly restricted, and very complicated for lots of people to adhere to. That is why many of them give up or do not reach good results. What you need to do is to look at it from the right perspective, Atkins diet will explain to you how to return the balance in your diet in the long run.

If you see it in this way you will surely succeed and will experience a major reduction in body fat. In due course as you progress you will again begin to reintroduce carbs to your everyday diet, the difference is you are now going to have the knowledge not to use them too much.

The original values that are the basis of Atkins diet have since been used on many new low carbohydrate diets, nevertheless the diet by Dr.Atkins was pioneer and it remains to be one of the most popular diets.

By: Toni Rok

About the Author:

As weight loss professional Toni is assisting over weight individuals to yet again look and feel good. At his weight loss and fitness site you can discover lots of free Atkins diet information, weight loss advice, tips, and Atkins diet recipes.

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Ten Secrets You Should Know About The Atkins Diet

One of the cornerstones of the Atkins diet is that people previously believed that if you wanted to get thinner all you had to do was eat less or reduce calories. As it turns out, according to the Atkins diet you can eat only 20 grams of carbs per day, but you are allowed to eat plenty of red meat, fish, eggs, cream, and butter. This is quite a contrast to what most people believe about dieting.

Of course the long-term data is still out on this question and many people are concerned about the long-term risks of following the Atkins diet.

The diet is based upon the fact that it is the way your body processes the carbohydrates you eat not how much fat you eat is what causes you to gain weight. The principle behind the Atkins diet is that weight loss is quicker because fat burns more calories than carbohydrates do.

Of course there are still supplements diet plans and other programs and also support that dieters can turn to to help manage their eating habits and their weight loss progress. The Atkins diet holds that people who are overweight are eating too many carbohydrates and by reducing carbohydrates that our bodies will burn the fat more effectively.

You see Dr. Atkins knew that the human body uses two types of fuel to sustain life. The first is glucose from carbohydrates. The second, ketones from fat. So basically by limiting your carbs, you force your body into breaking down the stored fat, which is what you really need to do to lose weight.

There are of course many detractors of the Atkins diet. For example there are some reports from the UK that people on the Atkins diet simply don’t feel like eating anymore. Others say that the weight loss from an Atkins diet isn’t that much different than other diets that rely on the low-fat or vegetarian diets.

Another concern is that if you lose weight too quickly because of ingesting too few calories, your body will go into a so-called starvation mode and your weight loss will either slow down or stop completely because of a change in your metabolism.

Still another concern of the detractors of the Atkins diet is that some of the foods that are restricted on a low carbohydrate diet are the same types of food that decrease inflammation for example fruits and vegetables. Also foods high in saturated fats such as butter tend to increase the body’s production of inflammatory chemicals. Some believe that replacing carbohydrates with foods that are high in saturated fats also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

But that’s just the point. The Atkins diet does not suggest or promote the ingestion of extremely unhealthy and fatty foods without moderation. Anything overdone can have unhealthy side effects.

Hundreds of thousands of people have enjoyed permanent weight loss reduction using the Atkins diet method. Give it a try yourself and see if it isn’t right for you.

By: Jay Douglas

About the Author:

Discover the vital secrets they don’t want you to know about the Atkins diet. Read this and you decide…
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Is This The Real Secret To Losing Weight?

Does maintaining a diet with no carbohydrates really help decrease weight? Since the early 1970s, several weight loss plans have supported avoiding or reducing carbohydrates, referred to as “carbs”, from our diets in varying quantities. Although these carb-conscious diets are embraced by some, they continue to raise questions for many. For example, it has been debated whether it is safe to limit carbohydrate intake, and whether this can be done in a healthy, sustainable way. Some carbohydrates are better or healthier than others. Another question raised is whether or not everyone should limit carbohydrates, and whether someone can eat a diet of natural foods while controlling carbohydrate consumption.

Aside from the common theories on why low carb diets work, no agreement exists on what makes up the optimal reduced carbohydrate diet. Suggestions of the various diet plans recommend a range from 20 to 100 grams of carbohydrates daily, and few recommend no carbs at all, although this diet has been seen in Hollywood. Many of these diets advise restraining from the intake of carbs such as bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, and added sugars, but they differ in implementation and thorough directions. There are also no official guidelines on what foods should constitute a controlled carb diet, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no formal classification of a low carbohydrate food.

To put the resulting mystification into perspective, keep in mind that one-size-fits-all just doesn’t work when it comes to dieting. Nutrition choices should be individualized and depend upon genetics, lifestyle, activity levels, health status, and special needs. Some experimentation may be necessary to determine what works best for you. Some may find cutting back on carbohydrates is most favourable for their health, weight, and blood sugar levels, and they decide to limit their carb intake as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.

With regards to low-carbohydrate diets you may well lose weight on this regimen because if you cut down on bread, pasta, rice, crisps and eat only meat, fish and vegetables you will tend to eat less overall. But you are likely to get bored with this diet and therefore slip or get too hungry as your diet will lack bulk. Furthermore, limiting carbohydrates causes the body to rely on fat or muscle for energy. This can create a by-product called ketones, causing fatigue and nausea. This is particularly dangerous for anyone with diabetes, heart or kidney problems.

Yes, there is such thing as a healthy low-carb diet. The key is to not go overboard and throw out all the essential nutrients we need for health and optimum energy in pursuit of a low-carb eating plan. High-carb diets typically contain 50 to 60 percent of total calories from carbohydrate. A healthy low-carb plan will contain 40 to 45 percent of calories from carbohydrate. That way you keep the carbs that provide nutrition: fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, milk and yogurt and decrease your use of simple carbs like sugar, candy, cookies, soda and snack foods.

Fresh fish are high in protein and are often carbohydrate free. Shellfish generally contain some carbohydrates. Keep an eye out for prepared seafood products-like crab cakes or breaded fish-that may contain moderate amounts of carbohydrates. Protein-packed meat and poultry make up the bulk of many controlled carb diets. Try eating bacon, chicken, deli meats, duck, sausage, pork, lamb, rabbit, etc.

There’s also no need to stay away from nature’s sweets. Keep in mind that high fibre content in certain fruits accounts for a sizable percentage of carbohydrates. Fibre is essential for the body and it is generally subtracted from total carbohydrates when determining “net carbs” — the carbs thought to affect blood sugar and, therefore, weight loss.

Even if you are adhering to a controlled carb diet, it is important to eat plenty of produce. Colourful vegetables provide fibre, vitamins, minerals, and numerous phytochemicals. The carbohydrate content of vegetables ranges greatly. Non-starchy, brightly coloured vegetables are a safe bet for those watching their carbs.

By: Nathan Lynch

About the Author:

Carbohydrate Net is your carb dessert dietpoundsaway.com low recipe
headquarters. Get incredible carb dietpoundsaway.com low recipe concotions quickly and Easily at Carbohydrate Net.

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