Discover The Carbohydrate Counting Diet

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

The Carbohydrate Counting Diet is something that all diabetic should consider because of the effect that carbohydrates have on blood sugar levels when they are converted into sugar. This happens so that your body can convert your food into the energy that is required for you to live. Excess carbohydrate consumption can result in an increase of blood glucose levels.

Because this can be hazardous for diabetics, controlling and monitoring your carbohydrate intake is vital. This should be done at every meal as well as during snacks and even when drinking. Balancing protein and carbohydrates at each meal will assist in controlling your intake.

There are generally two types of carbohydrates: good and bad (in simple terms). Good carbohydrates are often called complex carbohydrates and consist of mainly whole wheat varieties like wholemeal bread, rice and pasta. These are the darker colored or brown types. White bread, rice and pasta as well as other foods are considered simple carbohydrates and are not so nutritious.

Vegetables also contain carbohydrates, with potatoes, peas and corns being some of the most carbohydrates rich vegetables. Fruits also contain carbohydrates, so do cereals and grains.

The Carbohydrate Counting Diet requires you to, you guessed it, count the carbohydrates that you eat. You can do this by reading the food labels on canned and jarred foods, or by weighing the fresh foods that you eat or cook. You can then estimate how many servings of carbohydrates you are consuming as well as what types of carbs.

Generally 15 grams of carbohydrates is accepted as one serving size. So if you are allowed to have one serving of carbohydrates you will have to look at the packaging (or weight your food) to find out how much is an acceptable amount to have to equal one serving of carbohydrates. Whilst this sounds a little complicated at first, you soon get the hang of it and the Carbohydrate Counting Diet becomes second nature to you.

Over time you will adapt to a certain eating pattern and you will no longer have to count all the carbohydrates in everything that you eat. For example, you will know how many carbohydrates exist in certain recipes. That means practice and perseverance pays off with this particular diet and it is well worth sticking to for the long run.

The health benefits, particularly to diabetics, make the Carbohydrate Counting Diet one to consider in conjunction with the advice of your doctor and dietician.