http://www.lowcarbcrib.com/carbohydrate/ Carbohydrate misconceptions have given carbs a bad rap. But rather than going on a diet that limits your carbohydrate intake drastically, why not make better choices and go low carb instead of no carb? en-us Tue, 04 Apr 2006 07:47:42 EDT Tue, 04 Apr 2006 07:47:42 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 The word carbohydrate means carbon plus water. In addition to fat and protein, carbohydrates are essential nutrients. They're also the most popular nutrient -- and the most controversial nowadays. Read on to see what a carbohydrate diet can do for you, and what one to choose. Why low carbohydrate diets appeal to so many people Low carb diets are popular because people lose weight quickly on them. They do this by cutting their carb intake down to 20 grams a day or less, which will eventually send your body into ketosis, which is when your body burns fat for energy instead of carbs. This is very drastic because most people need 130 grams of carbs each day for good nutrition. So you can understand why a carbohydrate counter is helpful on a low carb diet. The problem is that most of us eat far more than that. Why? Well, aside from tasting good, most people don't know what foods have high carbohydrate counts. Sugar is the most common kind of carb, so most dieters avoid desserts unless they are of the sugar-free variety. But a lot of people don't realize there are a lot of carbohydrates in less obvious foods like white breads, pasta and white rice. If you decide to start a low carbohydrate diet, you'll soon learn where the carbohydrates are in everything. Rocking the carbohydrate craziness... smartly Another reason carbs get a bad rap is because people don't know that some carbs are actually good. There are actually good carbs and bad carbs. Good carbs (also known as complex carbohydrates) are harder for your body to digest, so it takes longer, thus supplying you with energy longer, and making you feel full longer. Good carbs are usually high in fiber as well, which is known for making you feel full longer. Addicted to carbs but want to cut down? To lower your intake gradually, start small. Replace white bread with whole wheat or whole grain bread, replace regular pasta with wheat pasta, and use long grain or brown rice instead of white. The difference in flavor is slight, but they're a lot better for you. Then start to incorporate more vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, beans, sprouts, etc. into your diet. With these good carbohydrate foods you'll be better off. Does this mean you should cut out bad carbs (also known as simple carbs) altogether? Not entirely, no. But you want to limit them. When you do have them, have very small portions. And there are some bad carbs that actually aren't bad for you, like milk, strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, lemons, kiwi, cherries, melons, peaches, plums, raspberries, apples and pears. (Notice that a lot of the foods listed here are high-fiber foods.) Tue, 04 Apr 2006 07:47:42 EDT http://www.lowcarbcrib.com/carbohydrate/diet/ Carbohydrate diet fanatics have various viewpoints on what works best. With a low carbohydrate diet, you may be selling yourself short. No one wants that. en-us Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:12:10 EST Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:12:10 EST Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.lowcarbcrib.com/carbohydrate/low/ A low carbohydrate diet may not be the answer for you, find out all you can before starting any plan. You have to know the risks and the many benefits of a low carbohydrate diet. en-us Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:03:15 EST Mon, 20 Mar 2006 09:03:15 EST Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.lowcarbcrib.com/carbohydrate/good/ Good carbohydrate lovers are in luck. Bad carb lovers... need to get hip to the good carbohydrate craze. en-us Tue, 04 Apr 2006 08:13:45 EDT Tue, 04 Apr 2006 08:13:45 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.lowcarbcrib.com/carbohydrate/s/ Carbohydrates aren't all bad. In fact, a lot of carbohydrates are good, and good for you! en-us Fri, 09 Dec 2005 15:36:57 EST Fri, 09 Dec 2005 15:36:57 EST Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.lowcarbcrib.com/carbohydrate/counting/ Carbohydrate counting is what all the thugs be doing. So before you diss carbohydrate counting, take a seat. en-us Tue, 04 Apr 2006 08:20:41 EDT Tue, 04 Apr 2006 08:20:41 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.lowcarbcrib.com/carbohydrate/counter/ A carbohydrate counter is essential for anyone on a low carb diet. Not only can a carbohydrate counter help you determine how many carbs are in your favorite foods, but some can also help you keep track of your daily carb intake. en-us Tue, 04 Apr 2006 07:49:43 EDT Tue, 04 Apr 2006 07:49:43 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0