Low Carb Cookies That Fool Even the Sweetest Tooth

a woman eating low carb cookiesEverybody loves cookies.  Kids like them with milk, the British take theirs with tea (although they call them biscuits), but low carb dieters have to go without!

 But hang on, just because you’re on a low carb diet it doesn’t mean you have to forgo all your favorite sweet treats. There are lots of recipes for low carb cookies, low carb cakes and other baked goods on the internet, but if you’re short on time or are somewhat domestically challenged when it comes to home-baking, fear not, there is now a fantastic range of low carb cookies and other low carb treats on the market today that will help you stay on course with your low carb eating plan while still being able to indulge every now and again.

Supermarkets may have aisles full of wonderful cookies to choose from but sadly very little in the way of sugar free or low carb cookies. Lucky for you that online low carb stores stock an array of tasty low carb cookies so that you can enjoy them with your milk, tea or just on their own.

Dixie Diner Everyday Gourmet Good Low Carb Cookies

These Everyday Gourmet cookies from Dixie’s Diner are ready to eat and have only 2 net grams of carbs for 2 cookies. They are gluten free, contain no sugar alcohols or polydextrose and are made with totally natural ingredients. They also come in 7 delicious flavors for you to choose from.

Atkins Low Carb Cookies

These Atkins Low Carb Cookies come in either double chocolate chunk or chewy peanut butter flavors. With only 5 net carbs per pack of 5 and just 3 diet counts these can be a tasty snack that won’t derail your diet.

ThinSlim Foods Low Carb Low Fat Biscotti

Biscottis are great eaten either on their own or served up with a low carb dessert such as yogurt, mousse or low carb cheese cake. These biscottis from ThinSlim have been sweetened using erythritol instead of maltitol or splenda which means that there is no bitter aftertaste.  They have also been manufactured so they don’t produce a spike in blood sugar so are great for low carb dieters and diabetics alike.


Grammys Girl Shortbread Low Carb Cookies

If you prefer a more buttery cookie then these Grammy Girls Shortbread are just the thing for you. They are deliciously crumbly and buttery and come in a range of six different flavors for you to try.


Jennies Macaroons - Low Carb Cookies

Macaroons make a delicous coconut snack or treat and these Jennie’s Macaroons are zero carb!  Not only that but they are 100% natural and free from soy, wheat, sulfites, lactose and transfats.

Take a look at our full range of low carb cookies and other low carb foods at our www.lindasdietdelites.com website.

Low-Carb Diets May Improve Acne

We all know that a low-carb diet is good for our waist-line, and that it has also recently been proven to be good at reducing cancer risk and type 2 diabetes, but now a new study has shown that a low-carb diet could be great for our skin too.

With over 15 million teenage sufferers of acne in the USA, could a simple change of diet help?

A report published by the Department of Dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York, has shown that some people who have the skin complaint, acne, could be suffering from a disorder called ‘hyperinsulinemia’.  Hyperinsulinemia is an excess of insulin in the blood, and acne sufferers could benefit from reducing the amount of carbs they eat to reduce the overload of insulin.

The MD of the department of dermatology, Dr. Alan R Shalita, said: “Foods that are low in the glycemic index (GI) may contribute to the hormonal control of acne.  I would encourage patients with acne to moderate the amount of carbs that they eat and not to overdo diary.”  (Which has also been proven to aggravate acne).

Consuming foods which are at the low end of the glycemic index will ensure that a person will avoid the blood sugar level spikes that occur with processed, starchy foods such as white rice, flour, bread, pasta, sugary foods etc.  A diet rich in fresh foods such as non-starchy fruit and vegetables, and plenty of proteins will keep insulin levels under control and the acne condition should improve.

Dr. Shalita was also keen to debunk some myths about acne causes and pleased chocolate lovers everywhere by stressing that it was unlikely that chocolate was to blame for outbreaks of acne, citing that it would be more likely the fault of the fat and sugar in candy bars rather than the cocoa.

“One study that compared Hershey chocolate bars with carob bars found no difference in acne risk,” Shalita says. “There is sugar and fat in both, so for people that do react to chocolate, it has more to do with the sugar than the cocoa.”

low carb chocolate 1
CarbRite SugarFree Chocolate Bar

Great news for fans of our low carb chocolate bars and cookies.

Dr. Shalita did stress that if a low carb diet didn’t show a significant improvement in patients’ acne condition, then they should see a dermatologist for further medical treatments.

 

The Low Carb Lunch Conundrum: How Low Carb Bread Can Make Lunch Enjoyable on a Low Carb Diet

low carb bread hamburger buns
Healthwise Bakery FlavorRich Zero Net Carb Hamburger Buns

Lunch on a low carb diet can be the most difficult meal to traverse. But better tasting low carb bread products are helping to make low carb lunches more enjoyable.

When it comes to lunch — and this is particularly true in the U.S. — going low carb can be quite difficult. Whereas the typical American breakfasts and dinners feature proteins like eggs, breakfast meats, steak, chicken, and fish, and only require a low carb dieter to take breads and carby side-dishes out of the equation, lunch foods tend to center around bread. Hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches — all of which are built around bread — just don’t retain their tastiness when you take bread out of the equation. And because most Americans have neither the time nor patience to sit down to a dinner-like lunch, many low carb dieters often skip lunch, thus leading to hunger — the biggest diet killer of them all.

Fortunately for low carb dieters, a wide array of low carb breads have hit the market that feature much-improved taste and texture, allowing lunch items like hot dogs, hamburgers, and sandwiches to stay on the menu.

Some of the biggest innovations in low carb bread are coming from HealthWise Bakery, who have long since been leaders in the best low carb breads on the market. Their new line of FlavorRich hot dog and hamburger rolls leverage high levels of fiber to offset carb counts for a zero net carb effect. Ingredients like natural oat fiber, natural wheat protein isolate, chicory roots, organic wheat bran/ corn bran all supply the fiber needed to counteract the carbs. HealthWise has added the use of olive oil and other flavors to greatly improve the moistness and texture of these low carb breads, so that now you can enjoy and hamburger or hot dog with a bun.

low carb bread hot dog buns
HealthWise Bakery FlavorRich Zero Net Carb Hot Dog Buns

When it comes to sandwiches, HealthWise has a sliced low carb bread that delivers on taste and zero net carbs as their FlavorRich line of hamburger and hot dog buns. The HealthWise low carb bread is slightly springy, with a very light weight texture and great taste, all while netting out at zero carbs. It also toasts well for both lunchtime sandwiches and breakfast.

Of course, the introduction of a few carbs usually improves all low carb breads, which is why HealthWise also offers a low carb bread alternative to their zero net carb loaf. The FiberRich option of low carbs breads from HealthWise features just 3 grams of net carbs per slice, but also ups the ante on flavor as well.

From a dieter’s perspective, these two versions of low carb bread offer a perfect two-stage approach to keeping bread on the menu at lunchtime. The zero net carb bread option guarantees that it will not affect blodd sugar levels, thus preserving ketosis for those on an Atkins version of the low carb diet, whereas the FiberRich option is a perfect stage-two alternative.

Whatever HealthWise low carb bread product you choose, you can be assured that it will not lead to loathing lunchtime.

Thanks for reading our article! Did you know that Linda’s Diet Delites carries all of the HealthWise low carb bread products discussed in this article? Take a look here!

Extra Low Calorie, Low Carb Diet found Successful at Reversing Type 2 Diabetes

A British University study has found that patients with Type 2 diabetes were able to completely reverse the disorder through diet alone. The Newcastle University ran a study with just 11 patients and put them on a low carb and 600 calorie a day diet for eight weeks.

The research found that the extremely low calorie diet removed fat from the pancreas which then allowed normal insulin levels to be secreted. The researchers at the Northern England based university also discovered that 7 of the 11 patients remained free from diabetes 3 months after the diet had finished.

The diet consisted mainly of non-starchy vegetables and diet drinks, and over the eight week period the volunteers had the amount of fat in their livers monitored, along with the insulin in their pancreas. These results were then compared to a group of individuals who did not suffer from diabetes.

The results were astonishing; with pre-breakfast blood sugar levels at normal after just one week of the trial. MRI scans showed that the fat levels in the pancreas had dropped, allowing the organ to produce more insulin.

Professor Rob Taylor, who led the trial, said: “To have people free of diabetes after years with the condition is remarkable – and all because of an eight week diet.”

Professor Taylor, who is director of Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, continued:
“We believe this shows that type 2 diabetes is all about energy balance in the body. If you are eating more than you burn, then the excess is stored in the liver and pancreas as fat, which can lead to type 2 diabetes in some people. What we need to examine further is why some people are more susceptible to developing diabetes than others.”

The disease, also referred to as adult-onset diabetes, develops when the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to regulate the blood sugar levels and fat metabolism. It differs from Type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes), which is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin.

Gordon Parmley from Newcastle, was one of the patients on the trial, the 67 year old ate only vegetables and salads and drank 3 diet shakes a day. He said that he found the diet incredibly difficult: “At first the hunger was quite severe and I had to distract myself with something else – walking the dog, playing golf – or doing anything to occupy myself and take my mind off food. But I lost an astounding amount of weight in a short space of time … after six years, I no longer needed my diabetes tablets.”

Indeed Professor Taylor himself warned that only a minority of people, perhaps 5% or 10%, would be able to stick to the harsh diet necessary to get rid of diabetes, and that diabetes sufferers should not undergo such a drastic diet without full medical support from their doctor.
Scientists at Diabetes UK, who commissioned the study said that although the trial was with a very small number of people they were looking forward to future results. Particularly if those results showed that diabetes could be completely reversed in the long term.

6 Bizarre Fad Diets

Here at Linda’s Diet Delight we encourage healthy eating as a way of weight loss.  Following both low carb and low calorie diets are both effective and healthy ways of losing weight and changing the way you eat food forever.   However, every now and again some very strange and weird diets do the circuit, usually with supposed celebrity endorsement.   We look at some of the most bizarre diets that have been around in recent years.

Cabbage Soup Diet

Obviously a diet that consists of only eating just one thing is going to get very boring, very quickly.  However, this diet will probably have you losing friends quickly as well, not only will your house smell disgusting, but imagine the windy effect that consuming that much cabbage will have.

Cayenne Pepper Diet

Also known as the Master Cleanse Diet it’s reportedly backed by many an A-list celebrity, this concoction of maple syrup, lemon juice and cayenne pepper must leave you absolutely ravenous.  Sure, you’ll lose some weight, I mean, there isn’t any actual solid food in this diet, but you’ll probably lose the will to live by day 2.

Twinkie Diet

A diet that consists of eating cake certainly has its appeal, but we rather suspect that it wanes rather rapidly.  Severely lacking in anything remotely healthy, we can only imagine this diet regime would have you feeling very ill.

Baby Food Diet

Regress and embrace your inner infant by going out and buying some jars of baby food.  Instead of eating your regular meals, have a jar of pureed mush instead.   Quite besides how hideous they probably taste to an adult, the lack of being able to chew, the loss of any texture (except for mush), and the minute portions will have you falling off this wagon quicker than you can say goo-goo gaa-gaa.

Tapeworm Diet

This diet consists of digesting beef tapeworm eggs and then allowing the tapeworms to grow in your intestines.  The tapeworms will then eat all the excess food in your system so that you are free to eat as you like, which is about as medieval as it gets.   You don’t get to keep the tapeworms forever though; as soon as you’ve reached your goal weight you can take some medicine to kill the parasites.  Side effects from this bizarre diet include vomiting, diarrhea, malnutrition, squashed internal organs and possible death. Nice!

The Air Diet

The principal behind this diet is that we don’t change the foods we eat or embark on a vigorous exercise regime, no this diet apparently works by simply breathing.   Allegedly the more air you breathe, the more weight you lose.  A big selling point to this diet is that you can do it anywhere, breathe that is, just in case you weren’t doing it before!

When you think about how the mischaracterization of the low carb diet as a “bizarre fad diet” has endured ever since Vogue Magazine published Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution in the late 1960s, you can see how unfair it is for diet and nutrition world to equate the restriction of carbs in one’s diet to one of these completely unfounded diets. While there is no doubt that the restriction of calories is the most obvious approach to weight loss, the restriction of carbs has clearly been proven to be just as viable and effective, and certainly deserving of a better moniker from the mainstream health organizations just a “fad diet.”

Low Carb Alternatives to Bread

As one of the mainstays of the western diet bread is often incorporated into at least one meal a day, and many people consume bread with breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Finding low carb alternatives to bread can be major hurdle for those on a low carb diet, but we’ve come up with some tips that you will find useful whether you are on the Atkins diet or just following a Low GI regime.

Lettuce Leaves

Believe it or not some sturdy iceburg or romaine lettuce leaves can hold most sandwich fillings and you can do away with burger buns if you really don’t want to go down a low carb alternative route.  Obviously you will need to let hot food cool down a bit if you attempt to eat it as hand-held food.

Egg Plant

Two slices of broiled egg plant make a delicious and healthy alternative to a regular sandwich, you can have a hot filling as well, try mozzerella, tomato & basil drizzled with olive oil for a truely Mediterranean lunch.

Tortilla Wraps

A standard white tortilla has a GI of 30 so is still much better for you than regular bread, however these wholemeal tortillas have only 3g of net carbs in each tortilla, so a delicious and healthy alternative to your lunchtime sandwich.

La Tortilla Factory Low Carb Wraps

Pita Bread

Compare the Gyclemic Index of a regular white pita of 57 to a baguette that’s 95 and you’ll immediately see the sense in switching, however these zero net carb pitas are just the thing if you’re following a stricter low carb diet.  Pita bread also makes a great alternative to pizza bases, just pile all your favorite low carb toppings on and you’re good to go.

Healthwise Bakery Zero Net Carb Pitas

Crisp Breads

Crisps Bread are great alternatives for both toast and sandwiches alike.  You can spread anything you want on them and they are excellent for snacks to keep you going between meals.   They are usually very high in fibre and these GG Scandinavian Crispsbreads have just 7g of carbohydrates per cracker.  They can even be used crushed up instead of breadcrumbs.
Low Carb Bread
There are many low carb breads on the market and we at Linda’s Diet Delites have a fantastic range to choose from with different levels of net carbs and of course, different tastes and flavors.  This Healthwise Bakery loaf has just 2g net carbs per slice so your breakfast toast may not have to be a thing of the past.
Healthwise Bakery Rich & Hearty Multigrain Bread

Bagels

Again, thanks to the popularity of low carb diets there are now many types of low carb bagels available.  These ThinSlim Foods Low Carb Bagels have just 3g net carbs and 50 calories per bagel.

ThinSlim Foods Low Carb Bagels

Burger and Hot Dog Buns

If you really can’t face that family BBQ get together without your burgers being in a proper bread bun then consider our low carb burger buns and low carb hot dog buns. These Healthwise Bakery Zero Net Carb Burger Buns currently have 25% off.

Healthwise Bakery Zero Net Carb Burger Buns

6 Reasons to Start a Low Carb Diet Now

Have you been thinking of beginning a low carb diet? If so, you are not alone. Many people begin living the low carb lifestyle for a variety of reasons. Below are six of the main reasons to start a low carb diet today:

To Lose Weight

This is one of the most common reasons to begin a low carb diet, and there’s a reason. Low Carb/High Protein diets have been found time and time again to be a very efficient diet to help you lose weight and keep weight off, and many tests have proven low carb diets to have better results in weight loss than low calorie diets.

There are many different low carb diets that differ vastly in their strictness in carbs, from Atkins to Dukin, Low GI to South Beach. Before beginning a low carb diet, be sure to learn about the different types so you can pick a diet that will best suit your lifestyle and be easier to stick with long-term.

It’s Summer Time

Summer is the best time of year to start any diet plan and a low carb diet is no exception. This is a common reason to start a low carb diet, simply because the heat often lessens our appetite. High carbohydrate foods tend to make you feel really full, but for a short period of time. In addition, our bodies tend to naturally crave more water during the hottest months of the year. With such an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in water content during the summer, it makes it much easier to increase intake of healthy low carb foods.

Family History of Heart Disease

Low carb diets increase good cholesterol (HDL) and decrease triglyceride levels, essentials for heart health. A recently-disclosed ten year study has shown that glycemic load is the biggest factor in the effects of carbs on heart health- those with higher glycemic load diets had nearly twice the incidence of heart disease compared to those with the lowest glycemic load diets. Not only that, but low carb diets have also been found to lower the saturated fatty acids in blood.

Continue reading 6 Reasons to Start a Low Carb Diet Now

The Vegetarian Low Carb Diet

Because of the health benefits of a high protein/low carb diet a lot of vegetarians are now choosing this diet as a way of life. In a traditional high protein/low carb diet a person would tend to eat a lot amount of meat or fish to obtain their protein, obviously vegetarians need to find alternative sources of protein that are not animal derived.

We’ve compiled a list of high protein food sources that will enable vegetarians to reap all the benefits of a healthy low carb diet.

Tofu

Tofu is commonly used as a meat substitute for vegetarians, and it can also be used as a high protein food source that can replaces other traditional vegetarian mainstays that are high in carbohydrates such as legumes or beans.

Tofu Shirataki Noodles

Tofu has a unique texture that soaks up flavors making it an extremely useful food to use in marinades, casseroles and with sauces. It is extremely versatile and can be cooked in many ways, fried, scrambled, mashed, sliced, diced… you name it. Whatever you can do with meat, you can do with tofu.

A 3oz serving of tofu contains 2 net grams of carbohydrates.

Tempeh

Tempeh is made from fermented whole soya beans, it’s great used in stir fries, casseroles and other dishes where you would traditionally use meat. Whilst tempeh isn’t as low carb as tofu – cooked tempeh has 9 grams of carbs per 3oz serving, it does have a low glycemic index score.

Quorn

Quorn is a mycoprotein extracted from a fungus called fusarium venenatum, related to the mushroom family. It is usually sold in a ground or diced form and it’s also available as various convenience foods such as sausages and burgers. Its carb count varies depending on the product so you need to check the labels of any Quorn product you buy. Quorn does contain egg whites so is not suitable for vegans.

Dairy

Cheese, yogurt, cream and milk are all excellent sources of protein, as well as other vital nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and zinc. Vegans can use soy variations of traditional dairy products which are high in protein.

Different low carb diets advocate different types of fats, the Dukin diet for instance would promote the eating of low fat dairy products and no more than 4 eggs a weeks, whereas the Atkins diet would allow full fat versions of dairy products and an unlimited amount of eggs.

Eggs

Eggs are an incredibly versatile protein source and an excellent meat alternative. A whole egg contains 0.5 grams of carbohydrates. A light meal can be made very quickly with eggs, and eggs are a great breakfast food for those steering clear of high carb cereals.

Most of the fat and cholesterol are found in the egg yolk, so if you are on a diet that restricts your fat intake you may need to limit the number of egg yolks you eat in a week. You can however, eat as many egg whites as you like.

Vegetables

Some low carb diets are stricter than others when it comes to the types of vegetables you consume. However, the less starchy a vegetable the lower the carb count. Eat a variety of vegetables that takes in different colors and textures to ensure that you are getting a wide range of vitamins and minerals

Berries

Again some diets are strict about which fruits you can eat as a lot of fruits are quite high in carbohydrates. Berries, however, are an excellent choice, most fall into the superfoods category and are full of antioxidants, vitamins and other essential nutrients, and most importantly low in carbs. A ¾ cup of strawberries has just 9 grams of carbs compared to 21 grams in a medium sized orange.

Nuts & Seeds

Woodstock Farm Organic Almonds

Nuts are a fantastic source of protein as well as magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium, zinc, copper and B and E vitamins. Whilst they are regarded as very high in fat they are full of the unsaturated kind that helps lower cholesterol and keeps your heart healthy.

Nuts and seeds can be used instead of breadcrumbs for crunchy coatings, sprinkled on your berries and yogurt in the morning or simply eaten on their own as a snack. Nuts and seeds are a must for a healthy low carb diet.

Low Carb Alternatives

Obviously low carb diets are big news and thankfully there are many products on the market that allow vegetarians and meat eaters alike to eat some of the foods that they love without spiking their blood sugar levels.

Linda’s Diet Delights has a great range of low carb foods, which covers low carb breads, low carb pastas, low carb muffins, low carb cereals and low carb candy to ensure that you stay in ketosis and keep yourself healthy and trim.

Sugar Substitutions in Low Carb Candy & Foods: What You Need To Know


Sticking to a low carb diet can be dull, whilst we know we can’t have a regular candies thankfully there are plenty of low carb candy that can satisfy ourneed for something sweet whilst still keeping us in ketosis.

Low carb candy and other low carb food products use sugar substitutes to achieve a sweet taste. Different sugar substitutes do different things and whilst some are completely carb and calorie free, we have to be careful about the quantities we consume of others as they are often bulked out with agents that are not quite so low carb.

Most of the low carb candy products or other sweet products that you’ll find at Linda’s Diet Delights will have one of the following ingredients:

Sucralose

Also known as Splenda, sucralose is 600 times sweeter than regular sugar. In its pure form it has no calories or carbs.It is mainly used in baked goods or products that require a long shelf life.

Splenda is derived from regular sugar and has much the same properties as sugar; it remains stable in heat making it a perfect substitute for home baking.However if you buy the granulated splenda it will have been bulked out with Maltodextrin which contains 24 net carbs per cup.

There is a concentrated liquid form of sucralose available called Sweetzfree which isn’t bulked so contains zero net carbs and calories.One drop of this is the equivalent sweetness of 1 ½ teaspoons of regular sugar.

Sucralose is approved by the Atkins Diet.

Dixie Diner Boston Cream Pie



Sugar Alcohols

Sugar alcohols, or polyols as they are also called, are used quite a lot in low carb candy bars and other low carb treats.The most common ones you’ll see on food labels are Maltitol, Mannitol and Sorbitol.They tend to have between ½ and ¾ of the calorie count of regular sugar, but perform differently in the body so that they do not get completely absorbed into the small intestine; they are also absorbed a lot slower than regular sugar.This slower absorption means and much slower rise in blood sugars, therefore less insulin is produced.

Some type 1 diabetics say they have a sugar rush after consuming foods that contain sugar alcohols, whilst others have no problems at all and stay in ketosis after eating foods containing sugar alcohols. Maltitol is particular is sometimes blamed for carb cravings and slower weight loss.

Consuming too much sugar alcohols can leave people feeling gassy and may have a laxative effect on some people.Sorbitol and Mannitol tend to be more prone to this, Maltitol much less so.Newer sugar alcohols are now being used that do not cause a laxative effect:Erthritol, Inulin, Isomalt and HSH (Hydrolyzed Starch Hydrolysis)—often labelled as Maltitol syrup.

As the different sugar alcohols have different properties they are used in different types of food. Sorbitol produces a clear candy that remains hard and dry under any condition.It doesn’t crystalize which makes it perfect to use in low carb ice cream as it helps the product to stay creamy.

Mannitol can absorb a lot of moisture before going damp or sticky so it is used to dust sticks of sugar-free gum or candies.

Carb Krunchers Low Carb Brownies
Maltitol and Erythritol are used as bulking agents for low carb chocolates and soft candies to give a creamy consistency.

Xylitol is often seen in sugar-free gum and mints, particularly as it actively restricts oral bacteria as well as being zero calories.

To stay in ketosis with these sugar alcohols you will need to watch your intake and you should avoid them during the Induction Phase on the Atkins diet.

Stevia


Stevia is generally regarded as the best sugar replacement.  It has been used for centuries by Guarani Indian tribes in Paraguay to sweeten drinks. Stevia is derived from the leaves of the Stevia Rebaudiana plant which is a member of the Chrysanthemum family and grows in Paraguay and Brazil.

Steviva Stevia Powder

It is 300 times sweeter than table sugar but has a negligible effect on blood glucose levels yet it has no calories, no carbs and a zero glycemic index.

Currently Stevia has not been approved by the FDA as a food additive and can only be used in diet products.

Stevia is reported to have health benefits for the pancreas and helps to maintain normal blood sugar levels.It has also been shown to reduce the level of tooth plague.

Stevia can be used in baking but is primarily used as a sweetner.