Low-carb diets have been known to provide countless health benefits. Studies suggest that low-carb diets may aid in weight loss, reduce blood sugar and insulin levels, and help in treating brain disorders. This diet may also keep your heart healthy as you age.
Despite the health benefits, some are still hesitant to stick to a low-carb diet as they fear that this will require them only to eat salads. Yes, consuming salads is a must in a low-carb diet, but these aren’t the only foods that contain a minimal amount of carbohydrates. Consuming salads isn’t the only way for you to enjoy a low-carb diet.
Here’s how you can enjoy a low-carb diet:
- Learn Simple Cooking Techniques
While countless online and offline stores offer low-carb meals, ordering all the time can drain your finances. Getting meals from stores is convenient but keep in mind that these are also very expensive.
If you want to enjoy a low-carb diet while keeping your bank account happy, exert effort to learn simple cooking techniques. For starters, you should learn how to roast, braise, and broil different ingredients and then prepare your meals using these methods. The internet is a goldmine of informative articles and videos to help you learn all of these skills.
Once you’re adept at the various cooking techniques, you can start following 28 at Home’s recipe and other recipes available online. You can even create your very own low-carb meal using your preferred ingredients.
- Look For Low-Carb Alternatives To Your Comfort Foods
Contrary to popular belief, enjoying a low-carb diet will not require you to give up your favorite meals. You can still indulge in your comfort foods guilt-free as long as you look for healthier, low-carb alternatives.
For example, if pasta meals have become your favorite, consider using zucchini instead of wheat noodles. Zoodles is gaining popularity today because it’s a great source of different nutrients, such as vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber.
If you’re a rice-eater, substitute plain white rice with cauliflower rice. Instead of snacking on potato fries, you can also incorporate carrot fries into your diet. You can use vegetables in several ways to enjoy a low-carb diet; you just need to think out of the box.
- Curb Your Intake Of Sugary Drinks
If you want to enjoy the health benefits of a low-carb diet, you shouldn’t only pay attention to the foods you eat; you should also be careful about what you drink. Sugar-sweetened drinks, such as sweetened ice teas and soda, have a lot of extra carbs, which can adversely affect your health.
Another way to enjoy a low-carb diet is to curb your intake of sugary drinks. This can be challenging at first, but the rewards will be worth it.
Instead of getting a soda from your favorite restaurant, opt to drink carbonated water. These drinks often contain zero carbohydrates and may aid in weight management and improve digestion.
Aside from carbonated water, you can also try fresh teas (iced or hot will do), kombucha, coconut water, or freshly-squeezed lemonade. If you want to enjoy more flavors, infuse different fruits and herbs into your water.
- Enjoy Breakfast With Lower-Carb Foods
Adults often live a hectic lifestyle that they’ll choose to eat ‘healthy,’ store-bought foods for breakfast. For instance, breakfast cereals might be easy to prepare but are actually high in carbohydrates due to the amount of added sugar. Consuming these regularly can cause your blood sugar to increase, putting you at risk of diabetes.
To enjoy a low-carb diet, consume lower-carb foods for breakfast every day. Refrain from eating store-bought breakfast items, such as granola bars, cereals, and pancakes, and eat eggs instead.
One egg contains less than one gram of carbs and is also packed with protein. Moreover, eggs can make you feel full for longer periods and prevent snacking too much in between meals. And because you can prepare eggs in different ways—boiled, fried, or scrambled—you won’t have any problems cooking one regardless of how busy you are during the day.
You can enjoy other low-carb recipes for breakfast, such as protein muffins, coconut chia pudding, yogurt with fruits, and loaded bell peppers.
Consult A Professional First
Your overall health can improve when you stick to a low-carb diet. However, before you adapt to this diet, it’s best to talk to a medical professional first. Abruptly changing your diet can lead to several side effects that can be detrimental to your health in the long run.
By speaking to a medical professional early, you’ll know the dos and don’ts of sticking to a low-carb diet. Their professional medical advice will also help you transition to a new diet without putting your health and safety at risk.