Low-carb diets can be extremely effective in helping people lose excess fat. Some studies also show that it can help reduce the risk of insulin resistance and diabetes!
A lot of carb-intensive food products that people enjoy overeating, such as bread or white rice, are also reduced in such diets. Once the mind is trained to consume these products in moderation, it also reduces overall calorie intake! Since carbohydrates lead to a spike in blood sugar, it also helps stabilize blood glucose levels in the long run.
To help you reap the benefits of a successful low-carb diet, here are some tried and tested fitness tips you need to know:
Set reasonable expectations
While low-carb diets may sound simple, people do need to know that there are nuances to this diet that are important to their success. Part of this is to ensure that the diet includes a healthy amount of all macronutrients, such as proteins, fats, and carbs.
Forgetting to eat any carbs at all can lead to a carb crash—which can be hard on the body for many people. It can also be an experience that defines their opinion of the diet completely. There is no need to go all out on the first few days of low-carb eating—just start with a few small adjustments so that the digestive system has time to adjust to the transition!
Don’t overeat “allowed” food items
Just because certain types of food are allowed does not mean that you can reach for more of it when you start feeling peckish. People that consume too much meat and cheese face a different set of health risks—and may inadvertently start experiencing weight gain because these contain a lot of calories!
Don’t skip your vegetables
One common complaint amongst people who are on a diet is that they do not feel energetic once they make a transition to a diet that is lower in carbohydrates. This can usually be attributed to a lack of fruits and vegetables.
Vegetables, regardless of whether they are starchy or non-starchy, contain carbohydrates that you need to include in your meals. In order to obtain a healthy amount of weight loss, people need to establish a dietary foundation of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts.
Don’t avoid fat
Despite the negative connotation associated with the word, fats play an important role in a balanced diet. This is because it helps keep feelings of hunger at bay.
Dealing with hunger pangs can be a massive hurdle to maintaining your diet, so don’t go cold turkey on it; try serving salads with olive-oil based dressings or having half an avocado with eggs for breakfast to regulate appetite.
Don’t forget your fiber
Vegetables and fruits are a great source of fiber. It helps prevent gastrointestinal disturbances, such as constipation and bloating, which are common when people first start cutting out food that are high in carbohydrates and fiber. To prevent stomach problems, most recommend stocking up on flax and chia seeds because they are high in fiber. Low-carb bran cereals are also advised.
Think of other food items that are high in fiber but lower in carbohydrates so that you can meet the fiber requirements that you need to get on a daily basis. While beans and legumes have more carbohydrates than other choices, the carbs in these foods are resistant to starches—which means they are absorbed at a slower rate.
Conclusion
Restricting food choices can be difficult, especially when people have grown to think of carb-intensive food as comfort food items. However, reducing consumption can lead to a variety of health benefits aside from the main target, which is weight loss. Many attest to feeling healthier and more energetic overall!
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