Cutting down on carbohydrates with a low carb diet is easy when you see the wide variety of proteins and vegetables that are on the acceptable foods list.
However, if a weight loss plan claims that it is a no carb diet, this should raise a red flag.
No carb diets are not healthy and virtually impossible.
Even veggies have carbohydrates.
A lot of the American diet centers around complex carbohydrate foods like breads and pastas.
Snack foods are full of sugars and refined carbohydrates.
However, there are many carbohydrate substitutes that can fill in the gap.
Some of the most popular replacement items are sugar substitutes.
These can be good or bad depending on how you react to them.
Each person has a different reaction to artificial sweeteners like aspartame and Splenda.
They can be helpful in baking low-carbohydrate treats and making things taste sweet without risking sugar use.
However, many people find that using artificial sweeteners makes them crave sugar even more.
If you find you want more sweet treats after drinking a diet soda or eating a snack made with Splenda, its best to eliminate them entirely from your diet.
Bread is the number one challenge that many low carb dieters face when looking at their new diet plans.
Bread is a staple food for many people, and eliminating it can be somewhat of a problem.
There are some low carb breads available out there, but you have to watch for hidden carbohydrates and other unacceptable ingredients.
If you are ambitious, you can try making your own bread out of almond flour or other non-traditional flours.
It does take some time and adjustment to get used to this new way of eating, including a low carb diet.
But remember, a no carb diet is really no diet at all.