Carb Cravings and Carb Substitute on the HCG Diet

It’s a vicious cycle for many dieters who try to lose weight when it comes to carbohydrates: the more you eat them the more you crave. Just name your poison-donuts, bread, chips, cookies, and French fries. Once you feed your craving you’ll become hungry again in a couple of hours. And so it begins. The same goes for when you’re in the HCG Diet. Overconsumption of carbs is what causes you to be in the current state you are in, overweight, obese.

Carb cravings usually take the form of an intense desire for foods in the carb family. It occurs most often at the start of the HCG diet. It’s actually part of daily life but there are a number of ways on how you can stave them off even when you are on the HCG Diet.

Are carbohydrate cravings addiction?

Carb addiction is real. A study revealed that high-carb meals stimulate regions of the brain that are related to cravings. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, high-glycemic “bad carbs” like potato and white bread can trigger the same brain mechanism as substance abuse does. Carbs are mostly turned to pure sugar in the stomach which are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. If not metabolized immediately, the sugar will turn into fat and produces more hunger and the need for more carbs.

What are carb cravings feel like?

Your body’s addiction to carbohydrates is the same way an addict needs their next fix. You’ll experience the side effects of low blood sugar levels such as:

• Extreme hunger and thirst
• Excessive tiredness and fatigue
• Anxiety, irritability and mood swings
• A hollow, nauseous, churning feelings

Your body will crave carbs as a quick fix for all those side effects but there’s always a light at the end of a seemingly never-ending tunnel. Carb cravings are not that difficult to break. Once you make it through the first few days of the very low-calorie diet, your carb cravings will slowly disappear.

Low-carb, low-calorie alternative to ordinary carbs

Just because you are on the HCG diet doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to pasta, bread, cookies or chips. Below are low-carb, low-calorie alternatives that will satisfy your carb cravings while you still lose weight.

1. Cauliflower: Cauliflower is a cruciferous veggie with tons of health benefits. It’s rich in folate, fiber, vitamin C, E, and K and low in carb. 100 grams of cauliflower contains only 4 grams of carb. You can make bread, crisps, bites, cauliflower rice, cauliflower pizza crust, and tons of other cauliflower recipes while you’re on the HCG diet.
2. Spaghetti Squash: It’s an excellent alternative to your pasta. 100 grams of Spaghetti Squash has only 6.5 grams of carb. It’s rich in vitamins A, C, E, K, and B vitamins.
3. Zucchini: Zucchini is a great source of fiber making it an excellent food for weight loss. Aside from its fiber content, zucchini has almost 40% of your daily dosage of vitamin C. It’s a good source of vitamin B6 too. 100 grams of zucchini has approximately 3.1 grams of carb only.
4. Tofu-Shirataki noodles: It’s a variation to the traditional Shirataki noodles made from tofu and Konjac yam roots. It’s low in calories but high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. 100 grams of Tofu-Shirataki noodles contain only 3 grams of carb.
5. Seaweed pasta: Seaweed pasta simply consist of seaweed that has been harvested, rinse and dried. It’s packed with a good source of bioavailable, plant-based magnesium, iodine, and iron. It offers a wide range of health benefits such as promoting weight loss, improved thyroid health, enhance heart health, and reduce inflammation. ½ cup of seaweed noodles has 3.8grams of carbs only.
6. Shirataki noodle: This zero-calorie miracle noodle is a unique food that’s very filling yet with zero-calorie. The fiber content has very impressive health benefits particularly when it comes to weight loss. Shirataki noodles are made from glucomannan, a type of fiber from the roots of the Konjac plant. 100 grams of Shirataki noodle contains only 3.44 grams of carb.
7. Sprouted grains: Sprouted grains are trendy and nutritious alternatives to refined wheat flour. They are even healthier than whole grains. Sprouted grains essentially have higher fiber content, antioxidant, amino acids, and phenolic compounds than standard whole grains. But there’s more to them than good nutrition. Sprouted grains are sweeter with no added sugar. All this is due to the breakdown of starch into simple sugar during the sprouting process.
8.  Celeriac Couscous: Celeriac is made from celery roots. It’s especially rich in manganese, vitamin C, phosphorous, and vitamin B6. 100 grams of celeriac contains 6 grams of carb, slightly higher carbs than the carb content of cauliflower.
9. Cabbage noodles: Cabbage noodles are low carb noodles. 100 grams of cabbage noodles contains 6 grams of carbs. It’s also a good source of folate, vitamins and minerals. You can substitute lasagna sheets with cabbage leaves or chop them in strips, and pan fry with onion, green apple, bacon, vinegar, or stevia.
10.  Kale: Kale is a green leafy veggie packed with a huge nutrition punch. It’s a great source of vitamins A, K, and C and plant-based sources of calcium. The protein and fiber content of kale can help you feel full and satisfied after eating. Kale chips are perfect options for savory snack lovers. 1 cup of kale contains only 0.9 grams of carb.