While carbohydrates often get a bad rap, it’s a myth that they need to be avoided completely.
Being mindful of your carbohydrate intake and watching out for hidden carbs from drinks or ready meals are good ways to make sure you don’t consume too many.
What you drink between and during your low-carb, high protein meals is equally important as anything you eat.
Drinking enough water is of course the first recommendation of any nutritionist but, while drinking water can be a bit boring, make sure you don’t get fooled by fancy “diet” drinks on the market.
The ugly truth is that no “diet” drink is a good option if you’re looking for a healthier lifestyle. In fact, drinking diet soft drinks can actually increase your chances of high blood pressure and obesity due to the artificial sweeteners that send the wrong messages to your body.
Another main disadvantage of any diet drink is psychological. Scientists believe that people who drink diet drinks regularly tend to eat more and stray away from their healthy habits, simply because they believe that they’re saving the extra calories by opting for these types of beverages. Swap fizzy drinks with some tasty homemade ones instead, which are not only delicious, but rich in nutrients and low in carbs.
Infused Water – This is a great ally for weight control. All you have to do is add some fruit, herbs or spices in a bottle of water and wait for a few hours for it to infuse. You still get all the benefits from drinking water, but you also get to enjoy your favourite flavours at the same time.
Make sure that you use fresh ingredients and try mixing up lemon, berries, mint, strawberries, cinnamon, citrus fruits, pineapple, and cucumbers. Apples and pears contain larger amounts of carbs, but you can use them from time to time, for a change.
Unsweetened Tea – Tea in moderation can be a good substitute for plain water. Green tea can protect you from cancer and premature aging and, if you drink it without milk and sugar, has no carbs and no calories.
Moreover, green tea has the ability to slow down the release of glucose from carbohydrates, which helps keep you healthy and fit.
Coffee – Yes, coffee, can be a good choice, no matter what type of meals you’re eating. The key word for coffee is of course moderation. One coffee a day won’t harm you, maybe not even two, but pay attention to any symptoms that could indicate low blood sugar, such as dizziness, anxiety or fatigue, and make sure you’re not overdoing your Starbucks craving.
Wine - That’s right; a glass of wine (especially red wine) can actually be good for you and contains a limited amount of carbs. Red wine helps your heart and circulation and dry white wine is fairly low in carbs if you want to indulge from time to time.
Try to drink healthier, more natural drinks and stay away from canned beverages. Learn to prepare infused water and tea at home, drink moderate quantities of alcohol and stay away from “diet” drinks of any type. You don’t have to quit on the taste, just on the useless calories and bad carbs.
