The first thing most people do when they find themselves wanting to lose weight is to begin a diet. And to most people a diet only means to stop eating. This isn’t true! If you want to be healthy then stop eating high calories and carb laden foods and start eating simple foods like veg, fruit and grains. But, what is a Carbohydrate Anyway?

A key staple of any healthy diet are carbohydrates. Eaten regularly, carbs do not lead to weight gain, unless they are eaten to excess. Carbs provide energy to the body and mind. Eating too much and lack of exercise means gain weight.

Many fad diets recommend cutting the amount of carbs in one’s diet to an extreme level, which can deprive oxygen and energy to healthy cells and in turn has an adverse effect on one’s health. Of course, as with everything there is always the good and bad, so cutting sugary carbs can have extremely healthy and fat burning effects. The foods listed below are all based on healthy carbs, so it will help you lose weight.

Things such as wholegrain breads, pasta, rice and cereal are all parts of a balanced and heart healthy diet. These foods are crucial as they are generally quite light when eaten in moderation, so always follow package recommendations for serving sizes. These foods are crucial as they are generally quite light when eaten in moderation, so always follow package recommendations for serving sizes. They are high in wholesome fiber, necessary for regular digestion, but also to fill you up.

Fruits.

Fruits contain what is normally classified as sugary carbs but the good news is: they are natural, and are much lower in calories than cakes, biscuits, lollies and the like. Eating 2-4 fruits a day will meet your daily vitamin and mineral requirements as well as meeting your water needs.

Vegetables.

Yes, will if there was a certain food that you could generally have unlimited amounts, it would probably be vegetables. Green leafy vegetables are the best, as they contain plenty of minerals and antioxidants. However, a good mix of colourful vegetables each day will certainly cleanse your body of waste matter, and will leave you feeling energized. Generally very low in calories, try and aim for 5 or more serving of vegetables per day.

There to be no long term differences between low carb and low fat diets as far as weight loss is concerned. There is no substitute for simply watching how much food you take in and making healthy choices. Avoid fatty foods if it’s at all possible!