Low Carb & Sugarless Foods

If you're following a low-carbohydrate diet for weight loss and want also to avoid sugar, you're probably looking for sugarless foods that contain just a few carbohydrates. It is possible to find food options that reduce carbohydrates significantly and eliminate sugar, according to the University of California.

Significance

Low-carb diets such as Atkins and South Beach seek to induce weight loss by throwing your body into a state of ketosis, where you'll burn fat instead of sugar for cellular fuel, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. These diets require you to eliminate all sugar, at least in the early stages. However, you may have other health-related reasons for wanting to eat low-carb and eliminate sugar, such as pre-diabetes or diabetes.

Types

Many fresh vegetables contain low carbohydrates and no sugar, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Green vegetables, for example, would suit a low-carb, no-sugar menu plan, since they contain no sugar and only about 1 gram of carbs per four stalks. Raw cabbage also contains no sugar and only about 4 grams of carbohydrates per cup.

More Types

You're also safe eating all forms of plain beef, chicken, turkey, fish and shellfish on your low-carb and sugarless foods diet, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. None of these contain any carbohydrates or sugar. Instead, they're 100 percent fat and protein. Just be careful of any sauces or seasonings, as they can contain sugar and carbs.

Avoidance

You'll need to avoid virtually all fruit on your low-carb and sugarless foods diet, since fruit contains lots of sugar. And many vegetables also contain too many carbs or too much sugar for your diet. Ban potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets and carrots from your plate while you're following the diet.

Considerations

You don't necessarily need to avoid all sweets while following your low-carb and sugarless foods diet. You just need to choose low-carb foods made with sugar-free substitutes such as sugar alcohol or artificial sweetener, according to the University of California. However, these foods can contain high calories despite their reputation as "diet" foods, so minimize their use.

References

Article reviewed by James Dryden Last updated on: Jun 14, 2011

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