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Our healthier hunter-gatherer ancestors killed animals for meat and foraged for berries, plants, herbs, fruit, roots and termites. Young stems and leaves of herbs were a succulent form of protein. Vitamins and minerals were abundant in fruit, herbs and berries. The medicinal quality of herbs would have been extremely beneficial to them and many of us are returning to using them for that purpose today. They acquired necessary carbohydrates from roots among other things, beating and chewing them before sucking out the succulent insides.

I can claim that carbohydrates are necessary because our brains utilize sugar that is found in them for energy. We need carbohydrates for our primary fuel source. They contain the elements Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen, whose characters are found in the word carbo-hydr-ate and perform important biological functions.

N.B Sugar can also be found in fruit and vegetables so any other form of it is surplus to our requirements.

Although carbohydrates are necessary we only require a small amount. We have all heard of the importance of a balanced diet; this does not necessarily mean equal amounts of protein, carbohydrates and fruit and vegetables. A healthy diet will contain carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, mineral salts and fiber and not much of this will include carbs.

Starch is where we obtain most of our carbohydrates and can be found in potatoes, breads, cereals and rice among other things but if a person wishes to cut down on their carb intake, to lose weight, become healthier or both, a good low carb diet plan could include quinoa, millet, buckwheat and amaranth eaten on a rotation system.

Quinoa's seeds and leaves are valuable for their high nutritional value and have a protein content of 12%-18%, it contains essential amino acids, dietary fibre and phosphorus, magnesium and iron.

Millet was used in certain prehistoric cultures rather than rice. It is a species of cereal or grain. It contains 11% protein, Vitamin B, folic acid, iron, calcium, potassium, zinc and magnesium. It is helpful useful for those with Coeliac disease.

Buckwheat is a crop plant not related to wheat. It has a protein content of 18% and is rich in iron, zinc and selenium and has antioxidant properties.

Amaranth is utilized for its leaf vegetables, cereals and grains. Its grains have a higher protein value than wheat, rice, oats, rye and flour. If eaten regularly it can reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, is an antioxidant and may help the immune system.

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