The road to shedding weight is a tough one, no argument there. You change the way you eat, buy fresh groceries and prepare yourself for a special diet structure.

Our body is thrown into another state when we change the way we eat, especially when we reduce the intake of a particular nutrient, like carbohydrates.

This is why you need to be very much acquainted with the road you are treading on, to avoid some dangerous pitfalls.

A low carb diet plan is very common among people trying to lose weight. There are so many low carb diet plans out there, like the Atkins Diet, which comes in four different phases and has proved to be very effective for weight loss.

However, before embarking on any low carb diet plan, here are five considerations to take into consideration. Continue reading →

Understanding Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are foods, which contain similar ratios of the elements, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The group consists of gums, cellulose, sugars, and starches. They serve as the body’s primary fuel source when converted to glucose, a simple sugar used by the body as a quick source of energy.

Two Forms of Carbs

Carbohydrates come in two forms simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates or simple sugars occur in processed and refined foods. Sources of simple sugars include refined cane sugar (white table sugar), honey, fruit, dairy products, and vegetables.

Complex carbohydrates consist a series of linked simple carbohydrates and fiber. Starchy foods contain complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrate sources include whole grain products, pastas, rice, cereals, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, bread, and starchy vegetables like potatoes, peas, corn, and zucchini. Continue reading →