What Low Carb Dieters Should Know About Nitrates And Nitrites

January 7th, 2009 by admin

Nitrates and nitrites are preservatives that are added
to certain meats to affect a desirable color and prevent
the growth of poisons and bacteria. When nitrates
and nitrites are exposed to heat and other conditions
during the curing process, they are sometimes transformed
into nitrosamines, which have been linked to cancer
in a number of studies.

In addition to this, nitrates and nitrites have been linked
to “stalling”–or unexpected stops in weight loss–even
when consumers are on low carb diets,
such as Atkins, that specifically prescribe the
consumption of meat that could potentially
contain nitrates and nitrites.

Most meats that contain nitrates and nitrites (sausage,
bacon, ham, and some types of smoked fish) also
have high amounts of fat. This could, in part, explain
for the stalling–if the fat intake far
surpasses the prescribed amount (for low carb
diets) needed to “satiate” the body and prevent
it secretion of hormones that stall weight-loss.

Cured meats are also generally high in LDL
cholesterol, which experts say is responsible
for clogging arteries, when it slowly deposits
and then mixes with other compounds to form
plaque, a hard substance that blocks
passageways, preventing the flow of blood
to the heart.

If you subscribe to a low carb weight loss plan,
you should monitor your intake of nitrates and
nitrites carefully to mitigate the accumulation
of carcinogenic nitrosamines and prevent
“stalls” or high levels of bad cholesterol
caused by over-consumption of fatty
cured meats.

If you do continue to consume a sizable
portion of these meats on your low carb
diet, you should try to find a source of
preservative-free, fresh meat, whether
it be a local butcher or a mail-order meat
source.

In addition, you should specifically
choose meats and portions that keep
your cholesterol consumption below 300
mg/day–and your fat intake at a reasonable
level according to the precepts of your low
carb diet.

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.

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Food Intolerance and Low Carb Diets

January 4th, 2009 by admin

Food intolerance is a pharmacological reaction to the consumption of certain foods. In many cases, food intolerance may appear to be
the side-effect of pharmacological drugs, but in fact, it is generally caused by the consumption of natural foods products, additives, or the combination of both.

The majority of food products that commonly
cause food intolerance are high-protein.

As a low carb dieter, you will have abnormally-
high exposure to high-protein food, including
dairy products and meats, which means
your chance of experiencing food intolerances
(if you have any) will increase.

In contrast to food allergies, which
are easily identifiable because they affect
an almost instantaneous reaction of hives, shock,
and a range of other symptoms, food intolerances
are somewhat harder to identify.

Food intolerance generally has milder affects,
such as minor headaches, general irritation,
upset stomach, restlessness, and a loss
of sleep. This makes it much harder
to identify and treat.

If you are new to your low carb diet,
you may have already experienced some
of these symptoms, but attributed them
to something other than food
intolerance.

If you have been exhibiting these symptoms
for less than three days into your low carb
diet, they are more than likely related to withdrawals
from caffeine or carbohydrates. They could
also be related to dehydration. Conversely,
if you have been exhibiting them for more than
three days, they are more than likely
the result of a food intolerance.

You should immediately start the process
of weeding out foods that could be
causing the intolerance.

The following is a list of foods you may
be consuming on your low carb diet
that are likely perpetrators:
eggs, nuts, milk, fish, shellfish, pork, bacon,
chicken, cheese, and tomatoes.

You should try to remove one of these
from your low carb diet at a time. If you cannot
solve your intolerance problem within
a week, it would be wise to get off
of your low carb diet and contact
a physician to determine the
source of your intolerance.

This article is for informational purposes only, and is not intended as substitute for medical advice. Before embarking on any diet or fitness program, consult your physician.

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.

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Can I Eat Sugar Alcohols On My Low Carb Diet

December 29th, 2008 by admin

“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.

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.

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