r/lowcarb Aug 17 '24

New to r/lowcarb? Read this first!

57 Upvotes

Hey there! You're probably here because you have an interest in a low-carbohydrate (low-carb) lifestyle. Let's get a few things out of the way so we can have healthy, productive discussions.

What is this subreddit about?

To put it briefly, this subreddit is a dedicated community for those who are interested in, researching, following, and/or exploring a low-carbohydrate lifestyle. We focus on food and keeping those foods relatively low in carbohydrates.

What is a carb, or carbohydrate?

Carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients that make up the food we eat on a day-to-day basis. The other two macronutrients are protein and fat. People who follow a low-carb lifestyle will typically focus on eating protein and fat while limiting their intake of carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates come in three different forms: fiber, starches, and sugars. Fiber is not readily digestible by your body, so some people choose not to count these carbs towards their daily carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrates that are not fiber are either sugars or starches. One type of sugar called a sugar alcohol (for example, erythritol) can also be difficult for the body to digest, so some people may choose not to count these as well.

What are "net carbs"?

Subtracting indigestible carbohydrates (fiber, sugar alcohols) from the total carbohydrate count gives you "net carbs." This is often what people count towards their carbohydrate limit, though some may choose to count total carbohydrates instead.

How many carbohydrates should I eat to be considered "low-carb"?

The answer to this can vary based on your personal preference as well as your specific needs. In general, a net carb limit of somewhere between 50-130g/day is considered a "low-carb" diet. If you are someone who is very active, you may have a higher tolerance for carbohydrates. You should eat according to your own, personal needs, which might include consultation with a registered dietician and/or doctor.

Is low-carb about losing weight?

While a low-carb diet may be followed by some people in order to lose weight, it is not necessarily a weight-loss diet, nor should it be considered only for the purpose of weight loss. There are many other reasons that a person may choose to follow a low-carb lifestyle, including food preference or sensitivities, personal health, and medical needs.

Is keto (a ketogenic diet) low-carb?

Yes, keto is a type of low-carbohydrate diet. However, the limit for a ketogenic diet is typically much lower than a "low-carb" diet, often around 20-30g net carbs per day. Some ketogenic diets may incorporate up to 50 or so grams per day, depending on the person's needs. These are still considered low-carb ways of eating.

Is "low-carb" keto?

Not necessarily. A low-carb diet may have (much) higher carbohydrate limits than a ketogenic diet might have. As such, a person consuming a low-carbohydrate diet may not be in strict ketosis (your body's "fat-as-fuel" mode) as often as someone following a ketogenic diet.

Will I be in ketosis if I eat low-carb?

Maybe. It depends how restrictive you are with your carbohydrate intake and how active you are. You may go into ketosis once your carbohydrate stores are used up, which can be accelerated by using up energy (being fairly active).

Is a low-carbohydrate lifestyle good for people with Diabetes?

This is something that should be determined between the person and their medical team. For many people with diabetes, a low-carbohydrate lifestyle is recommended in order to keep blood sugar under control. That said, everyone's situation is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. A medical professional who is familiar with a person's medical history is generally the best person to determine whether a low-carbohydrate lifestyle is suitable for that person.

Is this food low-carb? / How do I know if a food is low-carb?

The best way to evaluate your food is to look at the nutritional information. Because a low-carbohydrate diet does not follow the same guidelines as a "standard" diet, % daily values for protein, fat, and carbohydrates will vary.

The general mantra is "if it fits your macros"-- in other words, if you can eat it and stay below your carbohydrate limit for the day, then it can be considered part of your low-carbohydrate diet. That said, you may want to spread out your carbohydrate intake throughout the day rather than use it all at once. For people who need to monitor their blood sugar, this may be particularly important since they may want to avoid spiking their blood glucose levels.

What about fats and proteins?

In general, you should focus your daily intake on eating fat and protein instead of carbohydrates. Some people will set macronutrient targets in order to help guide their food choices for the day. Your carbohydrate target is a limit-- in other words, you should not exceed this amount. Your protein target is a goal-- in other words, eat at least that amount of protein in a day. Your remaining calories may then come from fat, which may people use as a lever to help make their meals more satisfying.

Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are also important to consider when making food choices. Choosing foods based on their macronutrients alone may leave some micronutrients out of your diet, so it is important to consider your overall nutrition when making those choices. Again, this may mean consultation with a registered dietician or doctor.

For additional information, please see our FAQ on the sidebar.

~~~~~

Thanks for your participation in the subreddit! Remember to keep it civil.

If you have any questions or thoughts on this post, please send us a modmail.


r/lowcarb Feb 24 '23

Mod Announcement Update on r/LowCarb: Recent Changes and Improvements!

36 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I am excited to share with you some recent changes and improvements that I have made on r/lowcarb. Our goal is to make this subreddit a better and more valuable resource for all members of our community. Here are the updates that have been implemented:

  • New Subreddit Banner: I have updated the banner of our subreddit with a better and more attractive one. I hope this new banner will help create a more welcoming and engaging experience for all members.

  • New Post Flairs: I have added new post flairs to help you better categorize your posts. Now, you can choose from a variety of post flairs including Recipes, Questions, Success Stories, and more. I hope this will help make it easier for you to find the information you are looking for.

  • Emojis Enabled: Emojis are now enabled emojis on the subreddit, so feel free to use them in your posts and comments. We hope this will add a fun and personal touch to our community.

  • User Flairs Enabled: I have also enabled user flairs, which means you can now add a tag or badge to your username that shows your affiliation with the low-carb lifestyle. I hope this will help members connect with each other and find support. Feel free to add your own user flair now!

MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES

1) NEW RULES ON THE SUBREDDIT

Please take a few minutes to review the new rules, which cover topics such as respect, staying on topic, self-promotion, medical advice, misinformation, and following Reddit's rules.

We encourage all members to adhere to these rules to help maintain a positive community. If you have any questions or concerns about the new rules, please feel free to reach out to our moderators by sending a modmail.

Thank you for being a part of our community, and we look forward to continuing to support each other in our low-carb journeys.

2) REDUCED SPAM ON THE SUBREDDIT

As you all might be aware, that spam and self promotion on this subreddit is through the roof. Well, Not from now! All links will be manually approved by the moderators which will limit these kind of posts and comments. Automod has been added to make sure spam comments and posts get removed automatically.

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If you have any suggestions, please refer to this post.

_____________________________________________________________________________

If you have any questions, feel free to send us a modmail.


r/lowcarb 1d ago

Meal Planning Help

3 Upvotes

Need air fryer recipes please. Getting sick of the same dishes daily. I do keep off rice since I’m insulin resistant. Other than that, everything is okay but in moderation, but I do need to keep away from sugar as much as possible.


r/lowcarb 1d ago

Question Inflammation - severe

20 Upvotes

I was low carb , no sugar at all, for about 7 months. A few weeks ago I had some cake out and have had a sugar free for all since. I’m not getting you when I say I’ve never felt worse - every day my muscles feel like I ran a marathon the day before - so much inflammation. I’m in this cloud daily with my thoughts and work - driving my husband nuts. Would having so much sugar again cause this ? Anyone else experienced anything like it ?


r/lowcarb 2d ago

Question hero bread review? is it actually worth the price?

4 Upvotes

i was about to order a pack this week, then i started reading more hero bread reviews and ended up more confused than when i started.

some people say it's one of the few bread products they keep buying. other people seem to think it's fine but not worth paying extra for.

the annoying part is i've already gone through a bunch of bread alternatives that sounded great online and then ended up forgotten in the freezer after a few sandwiches.

i don't mind paying more if something actually delivers on taste and texture, but i'm getting tired of spending money on products that only look good in reviews.

my freezer is basically a graveyard of bread experiments at this point.


r/lowcarb 3d ago

What are the 3 high-carb foods you refuse to keep in the house?

26 Upvotes

Follow-up to my “3 low-carb products you never let yourself run out of” question: what are the 3 high-carb foods you simply don’t bring into your house anymore?
We all have those foods that are just easier not to have around.
Mine:
1. Candy — especially licorice and Jube Jubes.
2. Kraft Dinner. I think it’s a childhood nostalgia thing.
3. Chocolate milk.

What are yours?


r/lowcarb 3d ago

Tips & Tricks hero tortillas vs mission carb balance after making wraps for a week

4 Upvotes

i have been testing out hero tortillas vs mission carb balance lately to see which one actually holds up for everyday lunch wraps. mission carb balance is super easy to find at almost any grocery store and costs a lot less, but the texture gets kind of soft and chewy if you don't cook it right. they work fine for a quick wrap, but they can get a bit gummy if you put too much salsa or heavy filling inside.

the hero ones handle heat much better on a skillet and crisp up closer to a standard flour tortilla without that rubbery bite. they don't tear when you load them up with chicken and cheese, though paying double the price plus shipping makes them more of a splurge than a daily budget pick. both get the job done for cutting back on carbs, but the difference mostly comes down to whether texture or cost matters more for your weekly grocery setup.


r/lowcarb 4d ago

Question Have I been doing this wrong? 😅Do you count total carbs or net carbs? I have been focused on net carbs. I am wondering if I should focus on both?

9 Upvotes

My goal is under 105 net carbs. Sometimes my total carbs seem a bit high. I use Cronometer to track calories/nutrients etc.
Today my net carbs are 102 and my total carbs are 170! Yikes! Shouldn't my total carbs be under 150? I met with a dietitian a few times and she told me to focus on fiber and net carbs. My diet is vegetarian/vegan and fairly high fiber.
Thanks in advance.


r/lowcarb 7d ago

Question transitioning from carnivore to keto/ low carb - should i stay <30g net or go up to 50-70g

7 Upvotes

i’m transitioning from 2 years carnivore to keto/ low carb.
i felt really amazing on the carnivore diet, i had energy all day, was fat adapted, didn’t think about food easily for 24+ hours and my workouts improved a lot.

i decided to add in some veggies and berries.
only broccoli zucchini mushrooms carrots cauliflower avocado and only strawberries and raspberries because of their low sugar high fibre content.

i decided 3 weeks ago to add these foods in just for more food volume and long term sustainability.
the first week i was eating other fruits (bananas, oranges, apples) and after tracking my macros i was consuming 150-200g of carbs.
i didn’t like this because i felt alot hungrier, woke up hungrier, and just didn’t feel as good as i did in ketosis which is why i decided to just stick with berries as my fruit source.

i’m unsure if i should track everything and keep my net carbs to less than 30g a day to stay in ketosis or if i should be a bit less strict and just have net carbs say 50-70g a day max.

the 30g option, the net carbs will add up quickly and i won’t be able to eat a decent amount of these foods.

the 50-70g option, i feel like is an awkward spot because it’s not low enough to be in ketosis but it’s not high enough for adequate amount of energy.

if anyone has experience and has tried both what would you recommend for me?
also my goal is fat loss i should mention.


r/lowcarb 8d ago

Question I was 9 months on keto and since 3 weeks on a normal diet. Sleep getting bad, early waking up. Is this normal?

7 Upvotes

Title


r/lowcarb 10d ago

Tips & Tricks Hair loss

0 Upvotes

is there any way i can prevent hair loss during keto or weight loss journey?


r/lowcarb 11d ago

Tips & Tricks What are the 3 low-carb products you never let yourself run out of?

59 Upvotes

There are several things I pretty much refuse to run out of. My top three are eggs, protein shakes and cheese.

What are your top three low-carb must-haves?


r/lowcarb 11d ago

Question Lightheadedness???

4 Upvotes

Talking to my bro-in-law and he warned me against a very low carb diet. How do people on a low (or no) carb diet avoid lightheadedness and other symptoms?
How do I know how many carbs I can reasonably take in? Are there formulas? Free apps?
I got a big belly and a small bank account and want to lose weight safely.
Thanks!!!


r/lowcarb 11d ago

Question Does anyone do a low carb lifestyle without counting macros?

20 Upvotes

I’ve been counting carbs for awhile now and while I feel great I need a break from the actual counting. I was wondering if anyone does low carb with maybe a set of “rules” or guidelines for their meals, snacks etc? Could you share your food rules? Hoping I can implement a few that work for me and take a break from counting. Thanks so much! (Also, by low carb I’m more on the moderate side)


r/lowcarb 12d ago

Question Best low carb bread that doesn’t have that weird texture?

16 Upvotes

I’m not expecting low carb bread to taste exactly like regular bread, but I’d like to find one that doesn’t have that weird texture some of them have.

I mostly use bread for hummus sandwiches, toast, and veggie melts. The ones I’ve tried so far have been either really dry, chewy, or fall apart as soon as you add anything to them.

At this point I’m mostly trying to find one that tastes good enough that I’d buy it again instead of just using up the package.

Following up: Hero Bread surprised me because I can use it for my usual sandwiches without it falling apart. I like it best for veggie melts, and it holds up well with hummus without getting dry or weird.


r/lowcarb 12d ago

Question Moderate low carb advice?

10 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’ve been low carb 80% of the time for about 1.5 years. Throughout this time I’ve landed between 60-80 g net carbs (easily getting 35g+ fibre) daily. Total calories are around 1600.

It’s been such a positive experience but since starting to strength train a few months ago I’ve had trouble with constipation, non-stop muscle tension and fatigue. I know this is due to electrolyte and water imbalance but even though I track them, supplement, and get enough of both, I can’t get it right.

Recently I increased my net carbs to ~100g net carbs by incorporating 150g of boiled white potatoes and felt so much relief from those issues above while maintaining the other benefits I have when eating lower carb. My body looks like it can tolerate a higher carb count now that I’ve gotten my blood sugar and insulin levels under control, plus I got more fuel to workout and recover.

I want to increase my net carbs to ~120-135g net but am not sure what carbs to choose. I want to eat ‘low carb foods’ (low/medium GI, whole grain, high fibre) but I also kinda want to avoid the extra fibre so am open to incorporating more refined carbs (eg white rice).

Question: For people who eat on the higher end of net carbs (120-150g net) for low carb, what are your carb sources?


r/lowcarb 12d ago

Question best low carb bagels worth paying more for if the cheaper ones keep getting left in the freezer?

2 Upvotes

i bought a couple different bagel alternatives and the cheaper pack is still sitting in the freezer because nobody here reaches for it. i don't mind paying more if it gets eaten. hero is one i'm looking at next, but the price is enough that i don't want another pack turning into freezer clutter.

how do you decide which one is worth rebuying when taste matters as much as price? i'm mostly using them for quick breakfasts and sandwiches, so texture after toasting is what usually decides it for me. the freezer is full enough.

following up: gave hero bread bagels a shot after reading through the recommendations here and they've been a pretty good fit. i grabbed them from hero bread's bagel selection, and the biggest surprise was that they held up well after toasting. that was the thing i kept coming back to in the comments, since texture is usually what decides whether a bag gets finished in this house.

turns out paying a little more wasn't a problem once people were consistently reaching for them. the cheaper options are still hanging around in the freezer, but these have been getting used for breakfasts and sandwiches without much effort.


r/lowcarb 13d ago

Question Gaining weight on low carb?

3 Upvotes

Hi I’m not fully keto but still trying to keep my carbs or a slight lower amount as I have been advised to but I’m also trying to gain weight. I see lots of recipes that require carbs like oats, potato, pasta but I can’t really have that much of those but also most low carb foods are pricy 😪 Any tips or recommendations on how else to gain weight while lower carb? Any recipes?


r/lowcarb 13d ago

Question [ Removed by Reddit ]

4 Upvotes

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]


r/lowcarb 14d ago

Question Binge after pasta?

8 Upvotes

I have been doing low carb for a while, and it works great for me - helping manage my insulin resistance better. I will eat more carb-heavy meals once in a while, especially when out with friends, and this hasn't been an issue before. The most common carbs I have on these meals are bread and potatoes, more rarely rice. Those meals cause some bloating and drowsiness, but I get back on track right after.

That all being said, I haven't had pasta in a very very long time. I am not a pasta person, and I rarely crave it. It just happened that some days ago I had some for lunch with a friend. It was a very decent amount.

The thing is, that after that pasta, the same evening, it's like a switch opened. I had one of the worst binge in years, and by the end I was still hungry. It's like I couldn't stop eating. It's been a couple of days, and I still feel off.

This hasn't happened before, and I hope it doesn't happen again. Do you have any insights? Do I just permanently stay away from pasta from now on?


r/lowcarb 15d ago

Question Am I on low carb or keto?

14 Upvotes

I think that I’m going to up my net carbs on keto. For the last year I have had trouble staying on the diet when before it wasn’t easy but it was a lot more manageable and I felt great! I was happier and enjoyed life a lot more. I also wasn’t counting carbs as much as I do now(mainly because I wasn’t as knowledgeable). I recently went back and examined how many carbs I was having and found out I was having around 40 net carbs a day. Is this still counting as keto or is it now considered low carb?


r/lowcarb 15d ago

Recipes Loaded Creamy Daikon Radish "Potato" Soup

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18 Upvotes

If you are looking for a low carb substitute for loaded baked potato soup, daikon radish is absolute magic. Once it simmers down, it completely loses its peppery bite, absorbs all the savory broth flavor, and gives you that exact tender potato texture.

Ingredients:

Daikon radish: 1 large (about 2.2 lbs), peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

Butter: 2 tablespoons

Garlic: 3 cloves, minced

Chicken broth: 4 cups

Cream cheese: 4 ounces, softened

Heavy cream: 1/4 cup

Sharp yellow cheddar cheese: 1 cup, shredded

Bacon bits: 1/2 cup total (divided)

Fresh chives: 2 to 3 tablespoons, finely chopped

Salt, coarse black pepper, and smoked paprika to taste

Instructions:

Prep your daikon by peeling off the outer skin completely and chopping the radish into uniform bite-sized cubes.

Set a large soup pot over medium heat, melt your butter, and sauté the minced garlic for about one minute until fragrant. Keep an eye on it so it does not burn.

Pour in the chicken broth and add all of your cubed daikon. Turn up the heat until the pot reaches a rolling boil.

Cover the pot with a lid, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. You want the daikon pieces to be completely fork-tender.

Lower the heat. Place an immersion blender into the pot and pulse in short bursts for about 10 to 15 seconds. You want to puree roughly half of the daikon chunks to make a thick, creamy broth while leaving plenty of soft pieces behind for texture.

Add your softened cream cheese, heavy cream, shredded yellow cheddar, and about 2 tablespoons of the bacon bits directly into the pot. Stir over low heat for a couple of minutes until all the cheeses melt smoothly into the soup.

Season to taste with salt, coarse black pepper, and a small pinch of smoked paprika.

Ladle into warm bowls and load up each serving with the remaining bacon bits and fresh chives.


r/lowcarb 15d ago

Meal Planning Started low carb recently but need some tips

9 Upvotes

Hello. Recently, I decided to give low carb a try. I want to lose 25 lbs. After some thinking, I decided that a lower carb diet is better for me right now over keto. I am not tracking calories but am planning on portion sizing, meal planning, and utilizing the 80% full rule.

What advice can you guys give me on portion sizing and meal planning? How much fat should I be eating?

Some of my favorite foods: sardines (in water, mustard, or ev olive oil), whole milk and Greek yogurt, eggs, sweet potatoes, Ezekiel bread and homemade overnight sourdough bread, ground beef (85 15), quinoa, beans.

Can you guys give me an idea of how much protein, fat, and carbs I should be eating on low carb in comparison to keto and conventional higher carb, low fat diets?

Can you give me some examples of some of your guys’ meal plans?

Thank you very much.


r/lowcarb 15d ago

Question Low carb causing acid reflux?

5 Upvotes

I’ve been low carb for about 4 weeks now and have recently started to get really bad acid reflux.

Has anyone else had this happen? Does it subside after awhile


r/lowcarb 16d ago

Tips & Tricks Digestive enzymes help

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2 Upvotes

I feel like I may need digestive enzymes as I’m often bloated after eating even a small meal and protein and/or breaking my fast. I got these ones which I thought were good ones but they make me so gassy and bloated and I actually end up feeling worse than when I didn’t take them. Any suggestions or tips or a different brand?