by Laura Forsyth | 10th January, 2023 | Nutrition
You’ve probably heard about the low-carb diet, but what is it? What foods are high in carbs, what are simple carbs, and how can you cut down? Fitness and nutrition expert Chris lynas explains it all.
A low-carb diet usually restricts carbohydrates to around 50g or less, and you instead prioritise foods that are higher in protein or fat.
Simple carbs can include fruit juices and complex carbs are foods like sweet potato.
The difference here is things like fruit juices are higher in the glycemic index (GI). So these are lower in fibre and they digest quickly. This means that it isn't going to keep you full for long
Whereas a complex carb is slower to digest and lower on the GI index so will keep you fuller for longer.
Carbs can come in the form of rice, bread, pasta, potatoes, fruit juices, sugary fizzy drinks and cereals.
Don't blame the bread or pasta for stopping you from losing weight. It all comes down to you.
It doesn't matter if you eat high carbs or low carbs. Same with high or low fat and protein intake. It all comes down to calorie balance.
You need to find what foods work for you and that you enjoy. Consider sugar free products and always be mindful of labels as there is often 'hidden sugar' in products labelled as healthy. Try to fill up on lots of water and veggies too, so you are less inclined to reach for the bread.
