Low Carb Vegetarian by Margo DeMello
Book Description:
At last, a vegetarian alternative to the Zone and South Beach Diets. Here are tasty, easy, nutritious recipes for anyone who wants to lose weight-vegetarian or otherwise. Includes a listing of protein, fat, carbohydrate, and calorie content, and recommended brand-name meat alternatives that can be found in most supermarkets.
What is this book about?
The description presents it as a vegetarian alternative to the Zone and South Beach diets, with recipes for anyone who wants to lose weight, vegetarian or otherwise.
Who is behind Low Carb Vegetarian?
The author named in the title is Margo DeMello. The description does not say whether she has any nutrition training.
What is in the recipe collection?
The recipes are described as tasty, easy and nutritious. The book includes a listing of protein, fat, carbohydrate and calorie content, and recommended brand-name meat alternatives that the description says are available in most supermarkets.
This summary of the book description is not medical advice.
What does the evidence say about low-carbohydrate eating?
Low-carbohydrate diets are popular, and the research is mixed but not empty. The Harvard low-carbohydrate diets page says there is some evidence that a low-carbohydrate diet may help people lose weight more quickly than a low-fat diet. The same source also notes that healthy diets with different proportions of carbohydrate, fat and protein performed similarly over the longer term.
For vegetarians the practical question is what replaces carbohydrate. Beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, tofu, eggs, dairy and non-starchy vegetables are the usual answers, and the MedlinePlus vegetarian diet page lists the nutrients to keep an eye on when you cut food groups.
Quality counts: vegetables, legumes and nuts differ from refined starches and sugars, whatever the carbohydrate count. If you take diabetes medicines such as insulin, tell your doctor before cutting carbohydrate, because doses may need to change. Weigh any plan against how you feel and how long you could keep it up.
Related on this blog: Diet and Fitness: How Carbs, Fat and Protein Fit Together and Healthy Diet: A Guide to Weight Loss
Practical considerations before changing carbohydrate intake
“Low carb” can describe many different patterns, from modestly reducing refined starches to heavily restricting all carbohydrate. Vegetarian staples such as beans, oats and fruit contain carbohydrate but also bring fibre and other nutrients. The quality of the overall diet matters more than one headline number.
A practical vegetable-forward meal might pair tofu, nuts, seeds or eggs with roasted greens, mushrooms and a dressing rich in unsaturated fats. People using glucose-lowering medication should seek individual clinical advice before making a major diet change.
Finding the original
Book: Low Carb Vegetarian: Meatless Alternatives for Popular Low-Carb Diets by Margo DeMello
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