Best Lo-Carb Foods for Snacking and Meals

Following a lo-carb diet can be confusing sometimes, knowing what to have for snacks and meals. I posted an article with tips on following the Atkins Diet or other low carbohydrate diet plans.

If you're trying to cut down on carbs or want to start a low carbohydrate diet plan, check out these tips that list the best low carbohydrate foods for your diet. I wrote about the Atkins Diet suggestions from my four years following it myself.

I hope these lo-carb suggestions help you out with your diet plan.
Low Carbohydrate Foods

Also, check out some of the low-carbohydrate recipes I have posted on this blog. They are great for times when you're looking for something a little different to spice up your lo-carb diet.

Have You Tried Making Homemade Tomato Relish?

I posted the recipe to Homemade Tomato Relish, also known as Tomato Piccalilli. It is delicious on hot dogs, hamburgers or baked beans. My father used to like it with his fried eggs.

Homemade Piccalilli 

You can also make a version of the Piccalilli with hot peppers, if you like hot stuff. I've also put this in sandwiches and as a topping for baked chicken's breasts.

Take a look at the Piccalilli recipe and give it a try. I use a canner and make about 15 to 20 pints to store in my vegetable closet.

Photo Credit: By jeffreyw (Mmm... Cajun recipe pork sausage  Uploaded by Fæ) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMmm..._Cajun_recipe_pork_sausage_(5821603644).jpg

The Benefits of Taking Fish Oil

Fish oil plays a role in heart health by providing you with omega-3 fatty acids. It also adds vitamins A and D to your diet, which a beneficial to eye health and bone growth. Another benefit of fish oil is its anti-inflammatory properties that provide relief from rheumatoid arthritis and menstrual cramps, according to the

New York Langone Medical Center.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which decrease the risk of heart disease and help lower cholesterol, according to the University of Massachusetts Medical School. You can get your recommended daily allowance of 0.8 to1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids by eating two 3-ounce servings of fish per week or by taking daily fish oil supplements that equal 1 gram of omega-3.

Fish Oil Vitamins

Cod liver oil is the only fish oil that contains vitamins A and D. One teaspoon of cod liver oil provides you with 4500 micrograms of vitamin A, which is six times more than the recommended daily allowance of 700 micrograms. One teaspoon of cod liver oil also contains 450 micrograms of vitamin D, which is 30 times more than the recommended 15 micrograms per day. NYU Langone Medical Center recommends caution when taking cod liver oil, so you do not exceed the upper limit of 3000 micrograms of vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can be toxic, while toxicity from too much vitamin D is less likely.

Fish Oil Supplements

When choosing a fish oil supplement, check the label for the two ingredients that make up omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). Even though a fish oil supplement states it is 100 milligrams of fish oil, that doesn’t mean it contains 1000 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids. Consult the pharmacist if you can’t determine which fish oil contains the most omega-3 to ensure you get the health benefits of the fish oil.

Precautions

Fish oil thins the blood, so if you take blood thinning prescriptions, such as warfarin, consult your doctor before taking any fish oil. One other drawback to taking fish oil is fishy tasting burps.

References:

University of Massachusetts Medical School: Omega-3 FattyAcids – Fish Oil

New York University Langone Medical Center: Fish Oil

USDA National Nutrient Database: Fish Oil, Cod Liver

Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs):Estimated Average Requirements

Harvard Medical School: List of Vitamins

Image: By Wuhazet (Henryk Żychowski) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons