Low-carb diets support thread

Gloomendoom

mugwump79 wrote: »

I am not sure what plans there are?

I was just going to cut out most carbs, bread, pasta, rice, wheat but still eat most veggies, protein and fruit, how do I find out what plans there are?

Help please xx:o

"Most veggies" is a bit of a broad term. Many vegetable have high carb contents. Fruit is also a minefield as it is usually very high in sugar (carbs). Bananas... well, you might as well not bother!

mugwump79

Could any of you point me in the direction of how I find out which are high carb vegetables then please?

I thought this was going to be straightforward but now I am totally confused eeekkk!

Mojisola

mugwump79 wrote: »

Could any of you point me in the direction of how I find out which are high carb vegetables then please?

Green, leafy, above-ground veg are best to start with.

Seeds, tubers and roots are designed to store food for the plant to use and are generally higher carb.

Most fruits are too high in carbs for someone starting out - berries and avocado are the exceptions.

murphydog999

confused76 wrote: »

So currently i cook with olive oil but want to track down some coconut oil as this is meant to be good.

Confused, you really shouldn't be cooking with olive oil. Although it's got a high-ish burn point, it still becomes unstable at high temperatures, i.e. it changes it's molecular composition and turns into a trans fat.

The only fats that are stable are animal fats (lard, beef/duck/goose), with butter (but ghee is better) and coconut oil a slightly lower compromise.

murphydog999

mugwump79 wrote: »

Could any of you point me in the direction of how I find out which are high carb vegetables then please?

http://nutritiondata.self.com/ if you input whatever fruit or veg, or any food, into this site it will give you all the info you need.

What you are looking for, is items around 10 grams or under of carbs per 100g. In general, on a regular basis, anything more than this wouldn't be classed as low-carb, but it doesn't stop occasional use.

Gloomendoom

mugwump79 wrote: »

Could any of you point me in the direction of how I find out which are high carb vegetables then please?

I thought this was going to be straightforward but now I am totally confused eeekkk!

Have look at this site...

http://www.carbgenie.com/

confused76

murphydog999 wrote: »

Confused, you really shouldn't be cooking with olive oil. Although it's got a high-ish burn point, it still becomes unstable at high temperatures, i.e. it changes it's molecular composition and turns into a trans fat.

The only fats that are stable are animal fats (lard, beef/duck/goose), with butter (but ghee is better) and coconut oil a slightly lower compromise.

Oh really? thanks for the tip!! I had read that it was ok but obviously not! I use duck fat for some things (save it when cooking duck legs). I'll try and get some lard while i'm out today thank you x

Edwardia

Hello mugwump76 and welcome aboard.

I have been experiencing problems with Internet connectivity so haven't been able to respons myself. Let me see if I can clear up the confusion.

First off, there are broadly three reasons why people choose to low carb.
1. To lose weight and if this is your reason, I would suggest just buying a low carb diet book and following that.

Regardless of your gender, I would recommend Dr John Briffa's book Waist Disposal as being clear and concise, explaining the science, lobbing in a few recipes and not being in any way wacky.

You could look at all manner of low carb diet plans in your local library or bookstore and you'll find them in charity shops too.

2. For health reasons ie diabetes, metabolic syndrome, epilepsy, Crohn's disease, asthma and if this is your reason I suggest doing a lot of reading and adapting a plan or figuring out your own, to fit round your health problem.

3. As a healthier way of eating, avoiding processed food and if you are intending to do this you'll most likely want to do a lot of reading up and choose your own food 'rules' to suit yourself.

People using this thread are generally either low carbing to lose weight or using it as a first line treatment for health problems.

Once people have been low carbing for a while and getting into healthy food we do have a tendency to start tweaking and this is when the confusion starts. Most low carbers won't eat potatoes, some won't eat soya, others don't eat dairy, others prefer lard to olive oil etc etc.

It's not a good idea to go too low carb too fast because you can feel rough (known as carb flu).

Low carb is defined as anything under 130g carbs per day and people choose how low to go.. 100g, 50g, 30g, 20g or as near to 0g as they can get. If your aim is just to be healthier or you want to lose weight gradually, finding your own daily carb allowance is probably the best idea, while you are adapting.

So, what to cut our first ? The processed stuff ie takeaways, pizza, crisps, cakes, biscuits.. anything which basically doesn't give you nutrition just empty calories. That will immediately make you feel healthier, because you won't be ingesting as much sugar, starch, gluten and additives.

SHEILA54

Well explained Edwardia :T

Skymist - I agree totally. Don't they realise that morally what they have done is wrong but also that the cost of treating obesity and related problems has put a great strain on the finances of every country.

Hi mugwump76 and welcome. It takes a while to learn what to cut out and how to substitute in recipes. When you have been doing it for a while it becomes easier and you find foods that you enjoy, making it easier to stick to long term. I have been following a low carb lifestyle for year this week and others much longer. They have helped me a lot, nagging when necessary, and I really appreciate their support and friendliness.

Mercy

Skymist wrote: »

Sadly we live in a world that is ALL about making money, especially, more for those who are already extremely wealthy and ALWAYS irriguardless of the health and welfare of the general population!! :mad: They couldn't do that if we are.....and stay....healthy, whether that is via the food we eat, or the multitude of drugs we don't take or need, for the endless real or imagined illnesses that we get from our depleted soils, polluted air and water, or advice from so called health experts, ALL pushed at us by the money-making perspective!!!

I've reached a point where, sadly, I don't believe anything I here/read from these so called experts, until I've done masses of research about any given subject, and even then, with an air of caution!!!

Always see if there is a money trail when reading/hearing about "health" info., and if the trail is very strong, ie. research sponsered by the industry pushing said info...BEWARE!!!!!...and tread with caution.

Sorry for the rant, but it makes me soo :mad::mad::mad:, especially when the truth is hidden from the masses so that the few can financially prosper at our expense!!!!

S

Beautifully said. :j

I agree totally.

Mx