Top Ten Low Carb Products

Eating low carb is no longer just a fad but a way of life for many people. If it's done right, it can lead to lasting weight loss and better health. Many people also think that low carbing is about eating lots of meat. However I can tell you that's far from the truth. I personally don't like a lot of meat so I try to stick to soy products, beans and vegetables. I have an insatiable craving for sweet desserts and that's where great tasting low-carb substitutions come into play.

I have found that low-carb foods that are of good quality and tastes good makes for enjoyable meals and snacks. In fact, it almost doesn't feel like dieting if you make sure you enjoy what you put into your mouth. Eating this way is a way of life and it has worked for me for many years.

Sugar-free and low-carb products that I can buy online has helped me with my diet, especially when I first started. I knew nothing about cooking the low-carb way and it was just easier to have these low-carb versions in my house to keep me from deviating from my diet plan.

How I lost weight and keep it off

If you're on a low-carb eating plan or just starting on one, you'll find some great products on this page to keep you on track. They include many delicious items such as sugar free chocolates and low carb cookies. Almond flour is perfect for those who like to make their own treats at home.

Sugar-free chocolates have come a long way. Many years ago, they tasted completely artificial and could not even compare to the real thing. These days however almost every chocolate company has a sugar-free version and they keep getting better. Not only is a little chocolate good for you, they curb your sweet tooth and help you stick to your eating plan.

Sugar free chocolate or more precisely dark chocolate, has many nutritional benefits. To get the maximum benefit from chocolate, choose dark chocolate over other kinds. Experts claim that a small amount 2-3 times a week can help lower blood pressure and releases endorphins to keep you happy. Dark chocolate is also full of antioxidants which can help protect you from many types of cancer. It also contains a significant amount of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, copper and iron.

One more thing. Although sugar-free chocolates are great for diabetics and low carbers, eating too much of it may cause a laxative effect in some people. I personally don't seem to be affected by this as I regularly indulge in sugar-free chocolates on a daily basis.

Some of my favorites are the ones made by Amber Lyn. They taste indulgent and satisfy my sweet tooth in a really good way.

If you're like me, an afternoon treat of cookies or some other sweet with a cup of tea is a big part of your life. That's where low-carb versions of cookies and other goodies come into play. They will help you stick to your eating plan and will satisfy your taste buds keeping you happy in the process.

I usually prefer to make my own sweet treats at home but I don't always have the time. I can usually get a good brand of low-carb chocolate in my neiborhood store but that's about it.

Home made low-carb ice cream

Home made low-carb coconut gelatine squares

There is a wide variety of sugar-free and low-carb treats available to choose from these days. They range from lip-smacking delicious to barely edible. So if you're a first timer, you'll probably spend too much time and money on trying to find the good ones. In the beginning, I used to buy large cases of low-carb products on the internet to do my research. Now I know which ones to avoid and only buy those that I like and trust. Obviously everyone has different tastes so please remember that these are just my personal preferences.

Almond flour is a great substitute for wheat flour and can be used to make great tasting low-carb pancakes as well as other baked goodies. Not only are they tasty, they are highly nutritious. I have a great recipe for making low-carb pancakes using almond flour. They are just as satisfying as white flour pancakes and full of nutrition. Almond flour can be used for so many things such as low-carb pound cake and even low-carb cupcakes.

How to make pancakes using almond flour

There are many brands of almond flour to choose from. Bob's Red Mill is one of my favorites while I lived in America. Here in Japan, I can still find it, but I usually buy the one that's sold in the nearest health food store.

Did you know that you can have pizza on a low-carb diet? No, not the one that comes from Domino's but the kind you make at home.

This recipe shows you how easily you can use almond flour to make a delicious low-carb pizza dough.Don't knock it until you tried it. Pizza made this way can be pretty awesome!

I am not much of a meat eater and usually prefer fish or soy products. Tofu has been one of my favorite foods as it is the perfect convenience food as well as an incredibly versatile ingredient for many dishes. Tofu has a neutral taste so it goes well with many different spices. Tofu also comes in many forms but can usually be found as a block that's either soft or firm. The soft ones make great dips, dressings and sauces while the firmer tofu can be stir fried with your favorite vegetables. Tofu is naturally low in carbs and is a great source of protein.

Here in Japan, the easiest and most common way to eat soft tofu is to cut the block of tofu into 3-4 smaller blocks, scatter some diced scallions and katsuobushi flakes on it. Pour some soy sauce on it and that's it! A simple, refreshing and highly nutritious side dish.

We also have deep-fried tofu which come in blocks or flat squares. You can even make breadless pizzas with the deep-fried tofu. They are easy to make and delicious.

An easy way to get the nutrition of tofu into your diet is to add soft tofu to dips or dressings. Mash some avocados with some soft tofu and add spices to create a healthy guacamole. Even easier is to make a salad using sliced firm tofu, sliced tomatoes and fresh basil leaves. Drizzle some olive oil and salt to taste.

Tofu is easy to use and is neutral in taste letting you add your own flavors to the final dish. Here is a great video on how to make teriyaki tofu.

Edamame is a great source of protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. It's also fairly low in calories and fat and taste great.

In just a small 1/2 cup serving you get 9 grams of fiber, 11 grams of protein, 10% of your daily recommended allowance of vitamin C and iron, 8% of your daily allowance of vitamin A and 4% of your daily value of calcium.

When I'm lazy to cook, I just add a handful of edamames to my meal for the protein. For those on a low-carb diet, edamames are one of the lowest legumes on the glycemic index making it a perfect snack.

Whoever invented sugar-free syrups are genius because they can be used to make a variety of treats. I love the syrups that Torani makes and the varieties they offer are just amazing. I was first introduced to sugar free syrups when I tried the vanilla version in some coffee at a friend's house.

I was shocked at how delicious it was as I was expecting it to taste bad and artificial. I kept waiting for some kind of strange aftertaste but it never came. I was hooked!

I was expecially happy when they came out with the summer flavors because they let me enjoy things such as mango seltzers, shaved ice with lime syrup and peach frozen pops. They are so easy to use and taste fantastic!

Coconut milk is used around the world for many dishes from curries to ice cream. Not only is it delicious but it also packs a healthy punch. Coconut milk contains a healthy dose of iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, copper, selenium, zinc, folate and vitamin C. Coconut milk also may raise the levels of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) which protects the heart.

Coconut nutrition information

Fabulous benefits of coconut milk

Making low-carb coconut gelatin squares

Coconut milk is versatile enough to be used in savory dishes such as curry and dips to making coconut desserts.

If you want to do yourself and your body a favor, eat a handful of nuts everyday. The are rich in vitamins, minerals and protein in addition to having omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts help you lower LDL cholesterol ( the bad kind ) and increase HDL ( the good kind ) which helps prevent a lot of scary things such as strokes. You can find more information about nuts here.

There is a variety of nuts you can choose from. Some of my favorites are almond, cashews and macadamia nuts. Because I like to watch my salt intake, I do reach for a mix of unsalted nuts most of the time. My mother sends me batches of macadamia nuts which are absolutely delicious. I eat these in moderation but it's really difficult to eat more because of how rich and buttery they are.

Nuts will keep the low-carber hunger free. It's the ultimate convenience food.

Shirataki is a common food here in Japan and is usually eaten in sukiyaki and other savory dishes. Here in Japan, you'll see desserts made from Konnyaku created as a weight-control food. Shirataki is made from the root of a plant called Amorphophallus Konjac or the konyak plant, where the ingredient got its Japanese name. The non-noodle version of shiratake is called konnyaku in Japanese. Shirataki is what we call the konnyaku that comes in noodle-like strands. Shirataki has virtually no flavor, calories or carbs. It also contains a soluble fiber called glucomannan which combined with water, expands up to 17 times its size, helping you feel full.

To use shirataki in western noodle dishes such as pasta, make sure to rinse it well in cold water for at least 5 seconds. I also like to boil the shirataki for about 1 minute, drain and pat dry with a paper towel before cooking with it. This ensures that the shirataki noodles taste pure.

We can find shirataki pretty much anywhere here in Japan as it's such a common ingredient we use. However in other countries, you may have to search for it in Asian groceries or purchase them online.

Shirataki noodles are perfect for those days when you want to dig into a plate of noodles. You can have your faux pasta and lose weight too! Just remember to rinse well pat dry before using.

Finding the right sugar substitute that you like is important especially if you're trying to lose weight the low-carb way. You will be using them in everything from sweetening your coffee to adding them in your baked items. There are different types of sweetners available and everyone seems to have their preference.

I personally like to use splenda because it's made from sucralose which is ok by me and is reasonably priced. Although it doesn't taste exactly like sugar, there is no bitter aftertaste like saccharin and retains its sweetness even after being heated.

When it comes to baked goods, I prefer to use Xylitol as I find that results come out better with them. Although pricier than Splenda, it's worth using this to get the tastiest results.

Here are some other low GI treats you might like. Check them out!

• How to Make Almond Flour Pancakes
• My Collection of Paleo Cookbooks
• Low Carb No Sugar Cream Cheese Brownies