Low Carb Tips

As the low carb diet becomes so popular throughout the world, many companies especially the brewery companies have come to consider some of the necessary products for any sports and games, and interestingly, one of the essential products for any game trend is the low carb beer.

The emergence of the low carb beer is generally caused by the action that the beer industry has taken. Accordingly, the beer industry has responded to the low carb trend and that is by rolling out the low carb beers. The low carb beer is considered to have a reduced carb count, however, this does not ultimately mean as reduced flavor for the reason that it is all in your mouth.

In relation to that, it is noted that for years, the followers of Atkins diet and other low carb regimens have had to turn clear of beer for the purpose of maintaining the carbohydrate minimums. Now Michelob has made the some development in the brewery industry and have been enjoying a drink while following a low carb deit easier. And interestingly this was made perfect with the introduction of Michelob Ultra, a low carb, and low calorie beer.

Unlike the regular beer that contains 145 calories, the low carb beer contains for about 95 calories only that is why many reviews have considered it as a marketing trick. Speaking of the carbohydrates, when it comes to the low carb beers, the carbohydrates are another factor. Essentially, the regular beer usually contains 11 grams of carbohydrates, but then the low carb beers can in fact drop that to as little as 2.6 grams of carbohydrates. With such contents, a single bottle is then compared with some of the popular beers like Stella Artois, Grolsch, and Smirnoff Ice which have pretty much carbohydrates and calorie contents.

Today, given the facts about the basic contents of the low carb beers, it is noted that this certain product is now one of the requirements for any trendy game party. Perhaps, with this kind of product, all the girls will think that youre such a doll for taking their favorite low carb beer. And as a matter of fact, most of the guys nowadays think that having this kind of requirement makes you pretty cool and great.

And perhaps, one of the reasons that most people took this kind of product is that they are obviously health conscious. Well, the thought of bearing this product at your trendy party is just a typical thing. So if you want to have a cool party experience, then you go for the low carb beer.

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Check out our low carb recipes site. Feel free to redistribute this article as long as there is an active hyperlink pointing to our site. Enjoy.

Written By: Sarah Williams

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“Polyols” or sugar alcohols are a number of different carbohydrates that are neither sugars nor alcohols–and are commonly used as artificial sweeteners in a range of products, from ice cream to chewing gum.

While these tasty sweeteners appear to be the perfect solution for both low-carb dieters and low-carb food producers, recent studies of sugar alcohols have painted a somewhat different picture.

To begin with, sugar alcohols are not entirely carb-free. Most studies have indicated that sugar alcohols contain approximately 1/2 to 1/3 the amount of calories as sugar–and in the form of carbohydrates.

In addition, studies have shown that sugar alcohols are absorbed by the small intestine, but the process is slower and fractured. This affects a rise in blood sugar, but again is smaller and more gradual than with sugar–and the rise tends to vary from person to person.

Sugar alcohols also have a laxative effect on some consumers. Since they are only partially absorbed, they bring water into the bowel–and undigested carbs into the colon, creating gas and bloating as the carbs are acted on by bacteria.

Over-consumption of sugar alcohols can often have an adverse effect on low carb dieters, even when they can digest them properly. Sugar alcohols can trigger cravings in low carb dieters, causing them to deviate from dietary restrictions.

In addition, sugar alcohols can often cause low carb dieters to choose an unhealthy diet of sweets, which appear to be carb-free, over a varied diet that includes essential nutrients.

If you are currently on a low carb diet and want to mix sugar alcohol products into your diet, it is very important that you monitor your total sugar alcohol intake–and keep it at a minimum while consuming a healthy diet.

One easy way to do this is to determine the total amount of carbs in sugar alcohol products you are consuming. You can do this by subtracting the amount of fat and protein calories per serving from the total amount of calories per serving. Simply multiply the grams of protein by four and the grams of fat by nine. Now subtract the sum of the two from the total amount of calories per serving.

Using these figures, you can determine whether or not carbs are being “hidden” in “carb free” sugar alcohol products you consume, allowing you to make a better-informed decision that fits the prescriptions of your low-carb diet.

About the Author

Benji Paras runs http://www.list-of-low-carb-food.com, specializing in the benefits of the low-carb lifestyle. The site contains a treasure trove of information for losing weight, and includes a list of low carb foods along with informative articles and the latest low-carb headlines.

Written By: Benji Paras

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Now that you know the importance of good carbohydrates, you are going to learn about one of your body`s worst enemies, simple carbs. Simple carbs are everywhere and can easily be consumed if you are not careful with your food choices. Distinguishing the difference between complex and simple carbs is also confusing. A good way to remember is by the “s`s.” Simple and sugar both begin with an “s” and sugar is what you want to avoid right? So avoid simple carbs.

Simple carbs are basically just sugars added to processed foods. You can find them in soda`s, honey, cakes, many breakfast cereals, and even beer. Don`t be fooled into buying something that is fat free. Educate yourself by reading food labels on what is healthy and what is junk. Let`s say that we are going to have a bowl of “Corn Flakes.” Sure, there is not much fat in them but when the first words on the list of ingredients say “enriched wheat flour, or “high fructose corn syrup,” you have a problem. You should be looking for the words “whole grain wheat,” instead.

If your diet consists mostly of simple carbs, do not expect to lose any fat. Your energy levels will be so low that you feel the need to be eating just to keep awake. “So why are you writing an entire article on simple carbs if they are bad for me,” you may ask. Well simple carbs have positives to them.

After a hard day of training or working at a strenuous labored job, your body needs glycogen and wants it fast. This is when an “insulin spike” becomes useful. An insulin spike is repleneshing however many calories you`ve burnt throughout the workout. The nutrients you use to replenish your body should be a three to one ratio of simple carbs to protein. The most commonly used post workout simple carb is dextrose, which is the main ingredient in Gatorade powder. If you don`t have access to dextrose, then a simple liquid carb, such as orange juice, will work just fine.

Simple carbs are useful but they can become your worst enemy if you consume them at the wrong times. Almost everything you do in bodybuilding needs to be timed perfectly. There`s a time to eat, a time to sleep, a time to take your supplements,and even a time to have your post-workout meal. Welcome to the wonderful world of bodybuilding.

About the Author:

My Sites: http://www.clubbodybuilding.com and http://www.geocities.com/bashore69/bodybuildingarticles.html My book “Bodybuilding for Rookies” will be released August 12.

Written By: Zach Bashore

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The US government issued their ruling on the caloric and carbohydrate verbiage that can be used in the labeling and advertising of wine and other spirits. As stated in the ruling, “Truthful and specific statements about calorie and carbohydrate content in the labeling and advertising of wine, distilled spirits, and malt beverages are authorized”.

What This Authorization Means
In short, it means that wine producers will have new marketing opportunities to pursue. Many wine manufacturers are beginning to market their low-carbohydrate products as healthy and fitting perfectly into a low carb diet.

As example, Brown-Forman recently jumped on the low-carb bandwagon with two new and innovative products: One.6 Chardonnay and One.9 Merlot. They are branding and communicating the names One.6 and One.9 to highlight the respective carb count of the wines. One.9 Merlot has 1.9 carbs and One.6 Chardonnay has 1.6 carbs per five-ounce glass.

What Caused It?
A handful of companies had already started making low carbohydrate claims in advertisements and labels. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau was concerned about possible advertising misrepresentation and implying that the consumption of “low-carbohydrate” wines or spirits may play a healthy role in a weight maintenance or weight reduction plan.

The government’s bureau is in the process of taking a comprehensive review of all aspects of wine and labeling and advertising. One of the rulemaking determinations will be on the possible mandatory or voluntary use of nutritional information on wine labels. However, rather than waiting the completion of the more comprehensive review, the bureau moved forward with Ruling 2004-1.

Low-Carb Rules
The government’s low-carb criteria from the ruling states the wine must have lower than 7 grams in a 5oz serving. Most Champagnes and dry wines will easily make that classification. In the situation where wines come with slightly higher carbohydrate content (more than 7 grams), the government approved the use of the terms “reduced carbohydrate” and “lower carbohydrate” (as well as similar terms). These can be used on labels or advertising as long as the term is used as part of a statement that specifies the number of carbohydrates per serving size, and compares that number with the number of carbohydrates in another specified product made by that producer.

About the Author

Nerello Glasure [Fashion Artist of Zany Wearables: http://www.zanygiftware.com and a Publishing Member of the Wine Resource: http://www.winedefinitions.com.]

Written By: Nerello Glasure

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There are three basic units the body uses for energy:

1. Fats

2. Proteins

3. Carbohydrates

All three can be converted to blood glucose. However, while fats and proteins are converted slowly, carbohydrates are converted quickly causing quick spikes in the bodys blood sugar levels. These spikes in blood sugar levels cause the pancreas to create and release insulin until the blood sugar level returns to normal.

Meanwhile, insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas that lowers our bloods glucose levels is released into the blood as soon as the body detects that blood sugar levels have risen above its optimal level.

Insulin is a very efficient hormone that runs the bodys fuel storage systems. If there is excess sugar or fat in the blood insulin will signal the body to store it in the bodys fat cells. Insulin also tells these cells not to release their stored fat, making that fat unavailable for use by the body as energy.

Since this stored fat cannot be released for use as energy, insulin very effectively prevents weight loss. The higher the bodys insulin levels, the more effectively it prevents fat cells from releasing their stores, and the harder it becomes to lose weight. According to many authorities, over the long term, high insulin levels can lead to insulin resistance and cause serious health problems like the ones listed below:

1. Raised insulin levels and insulin resistance

2. Lower metabolism leading to weight gain

3. An increase in fatty tissue and reduction in muscle tissue

4. Accelerated aging

5. Increased food allergies and intolerances

6. Overworked immune system

7. Increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer

Carbohydrates, especially simple carbs like sugar and starch, are quickly turned into sucrose by the body entering the blood stream quicker thereby causing the release of large amounts of insulin. The fewer carbs are eaten, the less insulin is produced by the body, and the fewer calories are stored as fat. Less fat storage equals less weight gain and fewer carbs eaten equals less insulin in the blood and the body using its fat stores for fuel.

The premise behind every low-carb diet plan is that a body that produces less insulin burns more fat than a body that produces lots of insulin. Some plans encourage a period of extremely low carbohydrate intake so that the body will enter a state of ketosis and more quickly burn fat stores - These are usually called induction periods.

About the Author

Beverley Brooke, Editor of Health & Finesse - Free health, diet and fitness articles and weekly newsletter http://www.healthandfinesse.com

Written By: Beverley Brooke

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If you are committed to the low carb way of eating, but also craving some of your old comfort foods you may still be able to satisfy those cravings with a little bit of creative substitution. Some of the foods that you used to know and love, have a low carb alternative available - the taste might be a little bit different but you will soon get used to that and be well on your way to happier and healthier eating!

Heres some tips you can use to make your low carb cooking easier and tastier:

1. Make low carb bread crumbs for breaded foods. Foods like chicken Parmesan and stuffed peppers need to have a bread crumbs to have that full taste. While you may be able to buy low carb bread crumbs, you can also make them by using low carb bread. Simply toast the low carb bread in the oven on a cookie sheet. Once it is hard, grind it up in the food processor or blender.

2. Use soy flour or bake mix. When you need to use flour for baking or coating breaded foods, substitute soy flour or a bake mix like Atkins bake mix. You can convert your favorite recipes that use white flour to use these.

3. Use low carb chocolate bars for cookies and muffins. Now that youve converted your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe using soy flour, you dont want to put in those high carb chocolate chips. Chop up a low carb chocolate bar into small pieces and use that instead.

4. Use Splenda instead of sugar. Recipes that call for sugar can be modified to use Splenda instead. It is much lighter so you will have to expiriment with it and it may not work for everything but if does bake up nice for the most part.

5. Make great smoothies with low carb yogurt. Ok, well its not technically cooking, but if you love smoothies you can make them with low carb yogurt and fruit. Just make sure you use fruit that is low in carbs and the whole fruit not the juice as the fiber will help keep down the net carbs. Check my site below for a list of low carb fruits. Add a dash of vanilla or flavored syrup to the smoothie for added flavor.

6. For a great low carb pasta substitute use spaghetti squash. We all know that low carb pasta tastes horrible so why not try a food that is low in carbs and natural too. Cut the squash in half and bake at 400 degrees F for about 40 minutes. The squash will scrape out in strings and gives the texture and feeling of spaghetti. Trust me, it taste a lot better than the low carb pasta and has about 7 grams carbs per 1 cup serving.

About the Author

Lee Dobbins is owner and editor of Low Carb Resource a site which features articles on low carb and low glycemic index eating and where you can find a collection of low carb recipes

Written By: Lee Dobbins

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You can hardly turn your head these days without seeing new studies that have been done that show the importance of cutting carbs out of your diet. New diet plans are coming out all the time that claim to have the perfect combinations of foods that will magically allow you to lose all of your extra weight without lifting a finger or sacficing any of the tastes you love so much. Eating low carb foods sounds so boring and hard, but it doesn’t have to.

As a registered dietician, it is my job and my joy to work with people in finding healthy food plans that are the best for them in achieving their health goals. I love sitting down with a client and discussing with them why they have made the decision to see me. Because you see, people have to get to a certain level of desperation and desire to change before they will go out of their way and make room in their tight budgets to see a dietician. I love hearing people talk about their struggles with weight and with making healthy eating choices. So many people desire to hear the truth about things like low carb foods but they have been so mis-informed by media.

Out of all the things people ask me, the questions I get most have to do with the truth about low carb foods and about switching to a low carb diet. People want to know whether or not it is an effective way to live, and if so, how they can do it without making their meals boring and bland. I love having this discussion about low carb foods because I happen to be a carb lover that has re-adjusted my eating habits in the past few years.

I tell all my clients that an important key to any health or eating program is balance. I tell them that this is why it is unrealistic and even harmful to think that we are doing good for our bodies by eliminated all carbs or all of anything from our diets. The purpose of low carb foods, which can be great, is to still enjoy the tastes and the health benefits (yes, benefits) of carbs while keeping them under control and trying to maintain your health and weight in the process.

Find some good information and read up about the truth about low carb foods if you don’t have the time or money to make an appointment with a dietician. Your health is worth it. Be proactive and learn the truth.

About the Author:

Belina Storrey is a dietician that loves to expose the truth about fads such as eating all low carb foods. See www.lowcarbfoodsgroup.info for more on this topic.

Written By: Belina Storrey

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