The important thing in a low-carb vegetarian diet is to avoid the most common mistakes.
If you follow a vegan diet, be clear about where to get all the nutrients your body needs. Talk to your health practitioner or a registered dietitian about good alternatives to animal products and correct supplementation.
Read on for our 5 top tips on a low-carb vegan diet:
When starting a vegan diet, many of us rely on store-bought foods, which is usually full of sugar and refined flour. This inevitably causes weight gain and nutritional imbalances in our diet.
The consumption of whole grains, will considerably reduce the proportion of carbs in the diet, as they contain a greater amount of protein, give us a feeling of satiety which helps moderate our total calorie intake.
As an option, we can substitute cereals for quinoa or oatmeal, use brown rice instead of white rice, choose amaranth, whole-wheat, rye or buckwheat flour and other whole grain cereals to replace refined ones.
On the other hand, an excellent alternative is legumes, rich in vegetable proteins and fiber, and with a lower contribution of carbohydrates than cereals.
Choose wisely. We should all consume more veg than fruit. Add more leafy greens and try to “eat the rainbow”. The more color, the more nutrients. Don’t be scared to try new types of vegetables. And stick to berries. They are full of antioxidants and have fewer calories than other fruit. Keep in mind that tropical fruit has more sugars than most so lowering the portions may be a good idea (say one banana or half a mango instead of the whole pack?)
For its part, seeds and nuts are the perfect mechanisms to satisfy anxiety, without resorting to other carbohydrate sources. They also offer plant proteins and good fats for the body, accompanied by fiber and other nutrients that will undoubtedly be a welcome addition to our overall health.