While carbohydrates are an important part of most people’s diets, if you’re trying to cut down for health reasons you may want to get familiar with which vegetables are low in carbs.
Carbohydrates are one of the three important macronutrients that we need for a healthy and balanced diet. Low-carb vegetables generally grow above the ground, while root vegetables and starchy underground vegetables – such as carrots, parsnips and yams – can be fairly high in carbohydrates.
While carbs are an important part of most people’s diets and the body’s preferred source of energy, if you are consuming a higher percentage of your caloric intake in protein or fat, like on a low carb diet or a keto diet, you may find yourself wanting to cut down on carbohydrates to make room. So here are the best low carb vegetables to include in your meals.
1. Mushrooms
According to Roxana Ehsani (opens in new tab), registered dietitian nutritionist and national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, mushrooms are one of the only sources of vitamin D found in the produce department, but that also contain just 2g of total carbohydrates per 1 cup. “They are a great plant-based meat substitute thanks to their meat-like flavor,” she says.
Roxana Ehsani, MS, RD, CSSD, LDNRegistered Dietitian
Roxana Ehsani is a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics and a National Media Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Pittsburgh. Below, she gives her advice on what to look for in a multivitamin for women.
Dr Deborah Lee, a medical doctor and writer for Dr Fox Online Pharmacy (opens in new tab), also adds that mushrooms are high in B vitamins, which are especially important for the production of red blood cells and for heart health. “They also have a high mineral content, for minerals such as selenium, zinc and copper,” she says. “Mushrooms are also rich in those all-important antioxidants and high in fiber.”
You can add mushrooms into stews or soups, or grill them…