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Low Carb Food List

By: Jeni Carr

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Are you looking for a simple low carb food list? Ever since Drew Carey went on the no carb diet and was cured of diabetes, people have been interested in low carb diets. What exactly is a low carb diet? Just look at the Atkins diet and you pretty much will understand what a low carb diet is. Lots of meat, some vegetables and many oils.  Is this diet healthy?  There are several studies that both favor and unfavor this way of eating. Either way the low carb food list is here for you to enjoy.

  1. Meats and Fish. Almost every single meat and fish is on the no carb food list. All meats and fish are also on the low carb food list except processed meats, liver and hot dogs. The Atkins diets was big on meat proteins, but if you truly want to be healthy, limit the red meats to no more than once a week and the size of your fist. Processed meats should be eliminated due to the high risk of cancers. Here is a partial list of meats and fish: Eggs, lamb, steak, hamburger, goose, rabbit, chicken, chicken wings, pork, veal, crab, tofu, salmon, tuna, swordfish, cans of tuna fish (NOT the white/albacore), sole, trout, cod fish, haddock, lobster, shrimp, oysters and prawns.
  2. Vegetables. Vegetables are essential to any lifestyle plan and the best vegetables are organic. If you grow your own vegetables that would be the best. Even a container garden will get you more excited about harvesting your veggies. You can grow some easy herbs, such as mint, sage, rosemary and basil. If you have a small place to use then grow some romaine lettuce, broccoli and parsley. Arugula is very easy to grow also. Here is a partial list of low carb vegetables: Lettuce. Alfalfa sprouts, parsley, cucumber, oregano, radishes, celery, asparagus, broccoli, endive, cabbage, onions, spinach, mushrooms, sweet peppers, collard greens and egg plant.
  3. Oils. There are many oils on the low carb food list, but be wise and choose the oils that are heart healthy. The best oil to use is olive oil, of course. Beware of some of the new junk on the market. Some companies are advertising lite olive oil. This is basically a low quality oil with the hint of olive oil in the oil. True olive oil is green.  Extra virgin olive oil is for salads and sautéing. Virgin olive oil is for frying with. The Atkins Diet and other low carb diets allow frying. Frying is not heart healthy. Other oils on the low carb list are: sunflower, butter, soybean, vegetable, lard, margarine, peanut, safflower and corn.
  4. Low Carb Fruits. What would any diet be without fruit? Surprisingly there are many fruits with tons of sugar and lots of carbs, such as bananas, pineapples and mangoes. When looking for low carb fruits choose: strawberries, grapefruit, blackberries, lemons, limes, raspberries and cranberries.
  5. Miscellaneous Items. There are some food items that will not fit in the list above, but are still on the low carb food list. You may consider nuts as a bad thing and a few nuts are on the low carb lists such as: almonds, Brazil nuts and walnuts. Make sure to use them in limited amounts though. Cheese is also on the low carb food list: cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, feta and Gouda. Some other foods you may never have thought of were things like: olives, mustard, mayonnaise, tartar sauce, vinegar, soy sauce and chicken broth. Diet soda is also on the low carb list that is made with Splenda. Splenda is known to be a health hazard and should be avoided, as should all other sweeteners.  Realize that some things on the low carb food list are not healthy alternatives for a diet or a lifestyle of the fit and famous. Popeye for example would have never had a diet soda with his spinach.
     
Posted on: Jun. 03, 2011