What is a low carb diet?

In recent years, low carb diets have received a lot of attention. While there is no agreed definition in healthcare, the media or the general population, consuming 50 to 130g of carbs per day is considered low carb, and less than 50g of carbs per day is very low carb.

Many people have found these diets beneficial to manage their weight, and some find it easier to manage their diabetes with a lower carb intake. Here are 5 ways you could benefit from following a low carb diet.

1. Helps you eat less sugar

Going low carb naturally helps you eat less sugar. Some carb foods are processed and high in free sugars and fat. These include biscuits, desserts, sweet pastries, chocolate, sweets and sugary drinks. By curbing your carbs, you may find that you easily avoid these less-beneficial foods.

2. More balanced diet

A low carb mindset could lead to a more balanced diet. For example, if half your dinner plate is usually potatoes, rice or pasta, you could reduce these carbs to a quarter of a plate, and add more vegetables.

3. Helps reduce your appetite

A low carb, high protein intake can help reduce your appetite. This is because protein keeps you feeling fuller for longer than carbs. Like carbs though, some types of protein are more beneficial than others, so aim for good quality protein such as chicken, fish, eggs, beans, nuts and tofu.

We’ll be making a separate video with 3 nutritious low carb lunches under 15g of carbs. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss it.

4. Rapid Weight Loss

Weight loss can be rapid in the early stages of a low carb diet. This is due to the loss of glycogen stored in the body, which is made up of around 25% glucose and 75% water. Therefore, when you embark on a low carb diet, you lose water from the body stores.

This initial weight loss can be a great kickstart, but it is important to remember that weight loss tends to slow down after the initial period.

5. Improve blood glucose levels

And finally, if you have (or are at risk of developing) diabetes, following a low carb diet can improve blood glucose levels after meals. Some people even find they need less diabetes medication.

How many carbs do you need?

If you’re wondering how many carbs you need, we’ve done a separate video: CARBS: How many do you need each day? Watch it here:

Monitor your Carb Consumption!

You can monitor your daily carb consumption using the Carb & Calorie Counter book and Carbs & Cals app. Plus plenty of carb-counted recipes in the Soups, Salads and Smoothies books.