Mom, Fitness, and Hormones: Today's Eat Clean Tip: Get Healthy Carbs From Fruits and Veggies #sweatpink #girlgonesporty #mompowerteam

It seems that the' low-carb' or 'no-carb' diet trend is still on the rage! It really frustrates me to hear these diet companies promote that carbohydrates are causing weight issues and health problems. They claim that if you decrease or eliminate carbs all together, you will see positive results with weight loss. The truth is that this is a bit misleading.
For instance, we all need carbohydrates to survive! Carbohydrates are composed of glucose molecules which is needed for many of our bodily systems from the liver to the brain. If we consume no carbohydrates our body, will probably not function probably and ill health will result.
In addition, people associate the word "carb" as mainly breads, cookies, pastas, etc. Another point to remember is that fruits and vegetables are composed of carbohydrates as well.

1/2 cup Carrots - 7.3g carbs (5.7 cooked)
Medium Onion - 11.6g carbs
Baked Potatoe - 14.7g carbs
Apple - 10.5g carbs
Mango - 9.5g carbs
Orange - 8.5g carbs

Reference For Carbohydrate Values:

http://www.weightlossforall.com/carbohydrates-fruit.htm
http://www.realfoodnutrients.com/Diabetes/Carbs/Vegetables.htm

So looking at these values, fruits and vegetables do have carbs as well. However, they are relatively lower in the value compared to many grains, and they have a great deal more fibre. Fibre is crucial when consuming sugars. It slows the digestion time and absorption and prevents quick spikes of glucose levels in the body. Another benefit is that many fruits and vegetables are nutrient dense with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants as compared to grains.
So my point is that the you can go relatively low-carb with eating many fruits and vegetables, but these are also great choices in terms of their nutrient content and fibre. It is vital to eat fruits as a whole along with the fibre as compared to having fruit juice which can have up to 30 g of sugar per cup (with no fibre).
Everything is good in moderation. It is important to enxure that you are getting the right variety of food in your diet. The one thing these 'low-carb' diets have going for them is that they promote eating a lot more fruits and vegetables and replacing a lot of our snack foods with these. But you can't call it a 'no-carb' diet because there can be no such thing. So go ahead and eat a carrot!
On the same note, today I decided to try a new protein bar recipe! And, there are no grains! It is called Almond Butter Pumpkin Brownies (doesn't that sound delectable). I got the recipe from This Primal Life blog, and made a few of my own adjustments. I added some walnuts and chocolate chips for a crunchier texture as well as Vega protein powder! I also needed to add Epicure Selection's pumpkin spice to the mix!

Ingredients:
1 cup almond butter
¾ cup mashed pumpkin or other squash, canned or steamed
1 egg
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup chocolate chips (vegan)
2 scoops Vega Natural Flavour protein powder.
1/2 tsp. Epicure Selections Pumpkin Spice

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Mix well. Pour into a greased 8 x 8 in pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Serves 8.