Low carbohydrate diets can lead to weight loss, report doctors at the Mayo Clinic. A long-term commitment to eating foods that are low in carbohydrates (carbs), as well as low in fat and calories can result in a healthy eating lifestyle and prevent obesity, as well as lead to lower cholesterol levels. Most low-carb diets limit or restrict the intake of foods high in carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, milk and rice, which typically make up half a day's caloric intake.
Meat
Low carbohydrate diets are usually filled with meat because most meat, cooked plain with no fillers or breading, is carbohydrate-free. Popular meat choices that contain no carbs are steaks, chicken, bacon, ham, lamb and turkey. Meat products that have less than 10 grams of carbohydrates per serving (about 100 grams) include beef burgers, beef stew, fried liver, salami and hot dogs.
Fish
Most steamed, poached, canned and grilled fish have little or no carbohydrates. Flounder, tuna, cod, crab and haddock all are carb-free choices, as are lobster, flounder and salmon. Oysters, mussels and scallops carry trace amounts of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates pile up on fish and seafood dishes when they are breaded prior to cooking.
Vegetables
Most fruit is very high in carbohydrates, but there are wide ranges of vegetables that have a very low carbohydrate content. French beans, broccoli, eggplant, mushrooms, green peppers, celery and asparagus have less than 5 grams of carbs per 100 gram serving. Other low carb vegetables include lettuce, cauliflower, carrots and tomatoes.
Cheese
Most cheese only has trace amounts of carbohydrates and includes Swiss, cheddar, Parmesan, cream cheese and Danish bleu cheese. Other low-carbohydrate dairy products include goat's milk, fresh milk and low-fat yogurt that typically stay below 5 or 6 grams of carbs per 8 ounce serving.
Eggs
No matter how an egg is cooked, whether fried, poached, scrambled or hard-boiled, dieters will only receive trace amount of carbohydrates. Eggs cooked in butter, margarine and oil continue to remain low carbohydrate alternatives, as the cooking bases also do not contain carbohydrates.
Nuts
Carbohydrate amounts vary widely among different kinds of nuts. The nuts with the lowest amount of carbs are almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts and peanuts that provide 6 grams or less of carbohydrates for every five to 10 nuts.
Drinks
In addition to water, coffee is one of the best drinks to employ on a low-carb diet because it contains no carbohydrate grams when taken black. Dry sherry, white wine and red wine are the best alcoholic drinks, as they contain little more than 1 gram of carbohydrate per 8 ounce serving. Tea and spirits such as whiskey also are low carb drinks that contain just trace amounts of carbs.
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