Low Carb Living

  

I’ve been living a low carb lifestyle for quite a while now and I must admit I feel so much better when I limit the amount of carbohydrates I consume as opposed to when I indulge and eat a lot of them.  Carbohydrates are the sugars in the foods we eat that once consumed get stored as fat until our bodies require them for energy.  As one that isn’t overly physical on the daily (I’m no athlete) it doesn’t take long for those carbs to stack up and accumulate where I don’t want them to.  I also find that when I eat too much starchy foods or sugar it leaves me feeling sick and sluggish.  I don’t digest them well and it often results in heartburn or an upset stomach, which is rather unpleasant at best.  Limiting my carbohydrate intake makes me feel better.

 

Low carb doesn’t mean no carb.  What constitutes a low carb lifestyle is different for each person.  Some want to keep it Keto or Atkins low, consuming less than 35 grams per day while others are quite happy if they keep it under 100.  I tend to do well if I keep it between 35 and 50 grams per day.  Sometimes I go over that, but I try not to go over 100 grams if I can help it.

 

The carbohydrates I tend to consume are in the form of simple natural foods like rice, oatmeal or potatoes and low carb breads (Hero) with really clean ingredients.  On occasion I’ll enjoy a bit of pasta or some homemade bread or muffins.  I really limit the pasta and no longer buy regular bread products at the store because most of those foods aren’t the best quality and have a lot of processing and unnatural ingredients.  I seem to tolerate these ultra processed foods less and less.

 

For the most part I try to stick to plants and animals.  My plate usually contains a nice serving of protein and a lot of vegetables.  I do eat a lot of salads, cooked or raw vegetables and some fruit, mainly berries, that I will put in my smoothies, plus bananas, apples and oranges.  My smoothies contain a bit of organic milk, all natural organic yogurt, about a third of a banana for a little sweetness, some berries and a good handful of raw spinach.  I also add in a scoop of unflavored organic collagen powder.  The more variety of healthy and nutritious foods I consume, the better I feel.  The collagen helps me with joint pain and has the added benefit of healthier hair and nails.

 

With a brand new year it is always a good time to look at what we’ve been eating and look for ways to improve our nutrition.  We can always make better choices, especially after all of the holiday indulgences.  I am constantly looking for a variety of better quality, fresh foods with clean ingredients.  I find my meals taste better and are far more satisfying.  I also find that I am less hungry after a good meal and less apt to snack or overeat.  My body responds better and I have more energy too.  I really like this healthy and low carb way of eating so I will be keeping it up this year.