If you want a slim and shaped body, you certainly need to cut your extra carbohydrate intake. But this needs a careful selection of foods. Moving to low carbohydrate diet doesn't mean just giving up meat for pasta or egg fro morning bread. Below are 9 useful tips to make the changeover or shift from the usual high carb diet to a low carbohydrate diet.

1. Count the carbohydrates. When you eat carbohydrate you must go in for complex ones like wholegrain breads and pasta, pulses and non-starchy vegetables and fruits.

2. Go for foods that lower glucose response. Fruits and vegetables that have the lowest glycaemic index are apples, apricots, broccoli and asparagus.

3. Avoid soft drinks. Soda, sweetened juices, aerated drinks are storehouses of low quality carbohydrates. You must stick to water when one feels thirsty.

4. Stock up on low carb food. You must fill your fridge and kitchen with non-starchy foods, fruits, vegetables, fish, dairy products so that snack time is also easier.

5. If you have to eat out, you must go to a restaurant that offers more than breads or pasta, seafood joint, for example.

6. Read food labels. Food labels have to show the grams of carbohydrates each serving contains. You must read the food labels carefully and keep track of the carbohydrates in the various foods consumed.

7. Nutty nuts. Peanuts and other nuts are full of mono-saturated fats and help contribute to weight loss and hearty health.

8. Change cooking oils. You must choose mono-saturated oils like peanut oil, olive oil, canola oil for cooking and salad dressing. They are healthier for the heart.

9. Stick to lean meats. Just because you are switching to a low carb diet you need not gorge on fatty meats. These have high levels of saturated fats (bad for the heart). You must opt for lean beef, pork, and poultry. You must remove the skin and any fat you can see.

No matter what diet you are on, you must exercise. It increases metabolism and flexibility, burns calories and strengthens muscles, improves circulation, and your mood. There are many more such benefits. The aim must be 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. Combined with a healthy, low carb diet, you can lose weight and stay healthy.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

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