What You Should Know About Low Carb Diets

Low carb diets often seen in Atkins and Zone diets have been a popular choice among most weight watchers. There are explanations behind the low carb diets and why they have a role to play in weight loss.

The Insulin Factor

It all boils down to the simple theory that high carbohydrate foods when taken in excess cause you to gain weight. The reason is simple. High-carb foods when taken will cause your blood sugar to rise quickly. The body secrets a hormone called insulin which carries the extra sugar to the liver and muscles to be stored and any excess sugar are converted to fat. If the amount of carbohydrates intake is immediately converted to sugar, there is no problem with our blood sugar level as it is in a balance mode. On the other hand, if there is an over consumption of carbohydrates food, insulin is required to work harder and more will be produced and in time to come, the insulin becomes less responsive. This leads to diabetes and other health issues.

The Fat and Protein Factor

If we consume a low carbohydrate diet, the available carbs are easily used up so the body will turn to fat and even protein for the energy it needs when the carbs sources run out. This is the basis behind the Atkins diet that promotes a low carb diet but high protein and fat component. We are aware that a diet that is rich in protein has been commonly linked to bad cholesterols and heart related complications. However, there were interesting studies to show that low carbohydrate diets are more effective than low- fat diets though the calories count are the same.

Choose Complex Carbs

Let us review the types of carbohydrates that are available. We have the simple carbs such as sweets, fizzy drinks and white bread that get digested quickly and converted to energy for use in the body. Unlike simple carbs, the digestion and conversion of complex carbs such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables are slower and you don’t get that sugar spike followed by a sugar crash. Therefore it makes sense that unrefined carbs are naturally the best choices due to its high fiber content, its low calorie along with the many antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. In fact, the very low calorie content of these fruits and vegetables is enough to result in negative calorie expenditure for the body. Thus you will lose weight no doubt about it.

Low Calorie or Low Carbs

For weight watchers, if you think that all low carb fad diet is good, you better rethink. Low carb diet is good enough if you take a conscious effort to include whole natural foods such as fruits and organic vegetables in your diet instead of following a particular low carb fad diet blindly. For example, some low carb diet recommends an extreme low percentage of carbs to calories, for example 20 per cent of the total calories consumed. Even then the carbohydrates recommended should come strictly from non-starchy vegetables. In addition, there are some low carb diets that tell you to continue eating pasta, ice-cream and cookies due to their low calorie content but these are processed foods. There are concerns that these fad diets, if followed long-term, may lead to kidney, and other health complications.

Consuming a balanced and healthy mix of food combined with regular exercise is still the most effective and safe method to lose weight permanently. The results may be slow but you can still lose weight with discipline and determination.

What’s All the Beef About a Low Carb Diet?

Does a low carb diet actually work or can it potentially be harmful to you? People who have followed a low carb diet have seen successful results. However, these individuals quickly regained their weight after stopping the diet. This should not be surprising to anyone since no specific diet will work for everyone. Let me go into detail on a few facts and difference of opinion with medical experts out there.

When we think about a low carb diet we draw a conclusion that people are eating an unhealthy diet with no fruits or vegetables and people are following a high fat pork and bacon concept since the popular Atkin’s diet was introduced. Most will validate that this is only promoting heart disease and a short life span for everyone. Now, let me address a few points about low carb diets so you can make your own decision.

1. Researchers have stated that a low carb diet has improved people with high blood pressure and individuals who are diabetic.

2. People think that low carb diets discourage people with eating fruits or vegetables. A matter of fact, fruits or vegetables are the carbohydrates eaten when on a low carb diet.

3. Low carb is often considered no carb with most people. However, most authors have never stated to stay on a low carb diet but temporary for 1-2 weeks the most.

4. I believe the carbohydrate intake should be adjusted to that specific person.

5. A low carb diet will include inadequate amount of fiber. On the contrary and there are low carb foods high in fiber.

Foods that are referred to low empty carbs are foods not rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients to make us healthier. Often people follow the quick results of a successful high fat and low carb plan. However, you will regain the weight quickly after you stop the low carb diet. The sensible choice or an adequate plan should consist of lean meats, low fat, healthy fats such as olives, avocados, nuts, and fatty fish. Results will promote more of a successful weight loss .

My thoughts and beliefs on a low carb diet would conclude it to be healthy or unhealthy depending on that person. What I mean is it depends if that person is selecting the right foods going into their body. Does that suggest we eat all beef, meat, or eggs with no fruits or vegetables in our diet? My approach is that you still need to include vegetables like broccoli, spinach, asparagus, leafy greens that contain phytonutrients or fiber that is important for everyone. When following a low carb diet it should include enriched foods rather than hot dogs, bacon, or pork as your protein intake. Choosing the correct foods is the key and eating reasonably through out the day that includes protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates.

The most important question you need to ask yourself is “am i willing to make a permanent change in my lifestyle”? Making a diet change permanent is following a healthy diet. No diet out there will last if you are not ready to make those changes for yourself. When it comes down to it, the people who are successful or achieving a balanced weight have not only followed a healthy diet but included exercising in their life. So, what kind of exercise routine should I follow? Well lets leave that for another author since its time for me to grab a nutritious meal!

** Graphic Display of loose skin around my stomach near the end — Viewers may want to ensure a bag is available ** Today’s episode I deal with the one of the most common questions people ask me after hearing of my 200 pound weight loss. That is, “do you have much problems with loose skin?” In the end, I have to admit that I do have a bit of loose skin (I affectionately & sometime not so affectionately my “SharPei”) around my torso and legs, but it could be much worse. I could have the sheets of skin some dieters (more often low Calorie big losers) have or even worse be my original weight still living in fear of loose skin. There are times that I actually like my stretchmarks as they server as reminders of what might be if I think I can lax up. It also serves as a talking point like my pathetic driver’s license does for people looking for hope, but most days I am just thankful for shirts. There are other things that are claimed to help, but I have not tried. Cocoa Butter and Mederma are both used by pregnant women to ease the appearance of stretchmarks. Additionally, I believe the content of this Diet helps in maintaining the elasticity due to protein and fat being featured. The body does not cannibalize its own resources like on other diets, and many report their skin looks as good and clear as it ever had. Good skin health implies good skin elasticity to respond to the weight loss as well. One final theory about loose skin: www.bodyfatguide.com To summarize the above …

Benefits of Low Carb Diet

A Low carb diet or low carbohydrate diet is a dietary program that limits carbohydrate consumption typically for weight control. Foods high in digestible carbohydrates are restricted or replaced with foods containing a higher percentage of fats and proteins.

A general mistake of low carb diet is to associate low-carb with the very low carb phase of some popular diets, the Induction Phase of the Atkins Diet for instance. These phases are typically intended to be fairly short, with more carbohydrate phased in after that.

However, any diet whose main focus is the carbohydrate reductions in any way is “low carb”. Usually, a diet with 40% or less energy from carbohydrates is considered a low-carb diet, though people also determine it in different ways.

A low carb diet is well-known to have given great benefits to the majority of the people. In fact, a low carb diet is regarded as the best diet fad that strikes at the true cause of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and hypoglycemia.

A Low carb diet is also known for its positive effects on diseases such as anxiety disorder, panic disorder, digestive disorders, high triglycerides, irritable bowel syndrome, binge eating, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. With such results that the low carb diet contributes, many doctors and nutritionists are now starting to recognize the nature about the low carb diet.

When you are on a low carb diet, you must know that foods made from white flour and sugar are prohibited in low carb diet. Most of the fruits in this diet are not allowed. Nevertheless, you still have an option of eating certain fruits.

The amount of carbohydrates per grams allowed on a daily basis varies from one person to the other. Some may need 25 grams or even less amount of carbohydrates in order to lose weight. There are others who can easily lose weight by consuming about 50 or 60 grams on a daily basis.

Today, a Low carb diet is one of the hottest diet fads in the world. A Low carb diet has swept many parts of the world through the introduction of its function and contributions to the diet industry. So now, it is no doubt that the low carb diet is highly praised for its popularity and the great health benefits that it gives to the people.

Low Carb Fad Diets Revealed

With all of the conflicting studies and open interpretation of advice, it’s no stunner that disorder reigns when it comes to the value and safety of low-carb diets. Whether it’s Atkins, the South Beach or another low-carb set up, as many as 30 million Americans are doing a low-carb diet.

Advocates swear that the elevated quantity of carbohydrates in our diet has led to increasing problems with obesity, diabetes, and other health conditions. Critics, on the contrary, attribute obesity and associate health conditions to over-consumption of calories from any source, and shortage of physical movement. Critics also contend that the shortage of grains, fruits, and vegetables in low-carbohydrate plans may lead to deficiencies of some key nutrients, like fiber, vitamin C, folic acid, and several minerals.

Any plan, either low or high in carbohydrate, can generate substantial weight loss during the primary stages of the diet. But bear in mind, the key to prosperous dieting is in being capable to part with the weight for good. Put another way, what does the scale reveal a year after going off the diet? Let’s see if we can debunk some of the mystery around low-carb diets. Further down, is a listing of some relevant points taken from latest studies.

Differences Between Low-Carb Diets.

There are several popular diets designed to reduce carbohydrate intake. Reducing total carbohydrate in the diet means that protein and fat will represent a proportionately larger quantity of the whole caloric intake. Atkins and Protein Power diets limit carbohydrate to a point where the body becomes ketogenic. Other low-carb diets like the Zone and Life Without Bread are less restrictive. Some, like Sugar Busters assert to remove only sugars and foods that raise blood sugar levels excessively.

What We Know about Low-Carb Diets.

Just about all of the studies to date have been small with a broad range of research objectives. Carbohydrate, caloric consumption, diet length and participant characteristics have varied greatly. Most of the studies to date maintain two things in common: Not one of the studies had participants with a mean age above 53 and Not one of the controlled studies lasted longer than three months. Findings on older adults and long-term results are scant. Several diet studies fail to monitor the amount of exercise, and consequently caloric expenditure. This helps to explain discrepancies among studies.

The weight loss on low-carb diets is a business of caloric restriction and diet length, and not with reduced carbohydrate intake. This discovery suggests that if you desire to lose weight, you should eat fewer calories and do so over a prolonged duration. Little data exists on the long-range safety of low-carb diets. In spite of the medical community concerns, no short-term adverse effects have been established on cholesterol, glucose, insulin and blood-pressure levels amongst participants on the diets. Adverse effects may not be exposed because of the short period of the studies. Researchers have found that losing weight typically leads to an improvement in these levels anyway, and this may offset an increase caused by a high fat diet.

The extended range weight difference for low-carb and other types of diets is comparable. Most low-carb diets invoke ketosis. Some of the potential consequences are nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and confusion. During the first stages of low-carb dieting some fatigue and constipation may be encountered. Ususally, these symptoms go away quickly. Ketosis may also give the breath a fruity odor, somewhat similar to nail-polish remover (acetone).

Low-carb diets do not permit the consumption of more calories than other types of diets, as has been frequently reported. A calorie is a calorie and it doesn’t matter weather they originate from carbohydrates or fat. Study discrepancies are likely the effect of uncontrolled circumstances; i.e. diet participants that cheat on calorie intake, calories burned during exercise, or any number of other factors. The drop-out rate for rigorous low-carb diets is somewhat high.

What Should You Do?

There are 3 significant points I would like to re-emphasize:

The long-range success rate for low-carb and other types of diets is comparable.

Despite their acceptance, little data exists on the long-term efficacy and safeness of low-carbohydrate diets.

Rigorous low-carb diets are generally not sustainable as a routine way of eating. Boredom most often overcomes willpower.

It is clear after reviewing the subject, that more, well-designed and controlled studies are required. There just isn’t a lot of satisfactory information available, especially regarding long-range effects. Strict low-carb diets generate ketosis which is an unusual and potentially stressful metabolic state. Under some circumstances this may cause health related complications. The diet you choose should be a blueprint for a lifetime of better eating, not just a hasty weight loss plan to reach your goal. If you can’t see yourself eating the prescribed foods longer than a few days or a week, then chances are it’s not the proper diet for you. To this end, following a somewhat low fat diet with a healthy balance of fat, protein, carbohydrate and other nutrients is beneficial.

If you do resolve to follow a low-carb arrangement, bear in mind that certain dietary fats are associated with reduction of disease. Foods high in unsaturated fats that are free of trans-fatty acids such as olive oil, fish, flaxseeds, and nuts are preferred to fats from animal origins. Even promoters of the Atkins diet now say men and women on their system should curb the amount of red meat and saturated fat they eat. Atkins representatives are telling health professionals that just 20 percent of a dieter’s calories should come from saturated fat (i.e. meat, cheese, butter). This switch comes as Atkins faces contention from other popular low-carb diets that call for less saturated fat, such as the South Beach diet plan.

Another alternative to “strict” low-carb dieting would be to give up some of the bad carbohydrate foods but not “throw out the baby with the bath water”. In other words, foods high in processed sugar, snacks, and white bread would be avoided, but foods high in complex carbs such as fruits, potatoes and whole grains, retained.

Related Low Carb Articles

aka how one Iowa guy lost over 200 pounds and gained his life back. I can not say enough about how positively the Atkins Diet and low carb in general has been for me. I went from a 429 pound guy who could barely make it up a flight steps to a guy running half marathons and rejoining the National Guard. My health is fantastic, and my blood work (cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, heart) could not be better.

Low Carb Diet Side Effects

Many people curious about starting a low carb diet wonder if there are side effects they need to be aware of before getting started. Many also wonder if there are harmful low carb diet side effects too, so let’s look at the most common side effects of low carb dieting, and talk about whether any of these are harmful.

Some of these low carb diet side effects can be problematic for people with health conditions, particularly if they’re taking medications for those conditions. Often the side effects are good, but you need to be aware they can happen and talk to your medical care provider because they’ll need to monitor your progress and possibly change, reduce, or eliminate medications as you progress.

For instance, a very common low carb diet side effect is lowered, or more even blood sugar levels. This is an important low carb diet side effect for any diabetic, particularly ones that take insulin shots or medication. Since low carb diets can drastically reduce your blood sugar levels naturally, your doctor may need to adjust your medication levels to compensate for those changes.

Another low carb diet side effect is of course losing a lot of weight. This by itself is not technically a side effect, but related effects of losing weight can include regulation of blood pressure, easing or disappearance of digestive tract problems, and resolution of breathing problems too.

If you’re taking high blood pressure medication, then the side effect of having that lowered from eating a low carb diet will need to be addressed by your doctor or medical care specialist. The same applies for digestive troubles, if you experience resolution to those problems as a low carb dieting side effect, your doctor will need to adjust or eliminate the medications you take.

Now if you don’t take medications for conditions such as those listed above, you may still experience low carb diet side effects, but they’re likely to be ones you’re happy to have.

Common, “good” low carb diet side effects include reduced cravings for sugars and starches; increased energy; reduced bloated and gassy, upset stomach feelings; improved bowel movements; regulated blood sugar levels and blood pressure levels; loss of excess water retention; and of course, loss of excess body fat.

There are some low carb diet side effects that are not harmful, but you need to be aware of them because they are uncomfortable at best. These low carb diet side effects are more common during the first one to five days on the diet, and are side effects of your body adjusting to your eating changes. These side effects can include headaches; nausea; dizziness; lethargy or low energy; severe sugar cravings; irritability; and constipation.

There are also a couple of women specific low carb diet side effects. In the first week or two of your new low carb diet, you may experience oddities with your monthly menstrual flow. Usually this side effect lasts a short time though, and is caused by your body adjusting to the new eating lifestyle you’ve chosen. A great low carb diet side effect comes later: Women’s menstrual flow is usually reduced, and there is generally much less pain or other problems involved while you’re on a low carb diet.

Many of those early low carb diet side effects can be reduced by drinking extra water and getting plenty of rest, plus making sure you don’t go hungry. In rare cases these initial low carb diet side effects can last as long as ten days, but usually they’re present from approximately the third to the fifth day of your low carb diet.

Find More Low Carb Articles

Atkins Diet – Low Carb

Statistic: 61% of people in the United States are overweight. Weight loss is more than cosmetic — it can have a major affect on your health.

People diet for two primary reasons, to lose weight, or to improve health–or both. If there’s one thing we can always count on almost automatically from most media coverage of people who have lost weight on the low-carb lifestyle is they’re just gonna get it wrong.

I tried low-fat, South Beach, Hellers, Eades, and Nutri-System, as well as and none of them has worked. The popularity of low-carbohydrate diets has introduced questions of safety for long-term weight management.

Dieters following Atkins diet are encouraged to stick with the fourth phase of Atkins diet for life, to remain healthy and avoid gaining weight. While it has been asserted that it is too early to promote low carbohydrate or carb low diets, there is a general acceptance amongst health professionals that further research is warranted.

The only weight-control regimens that work for life require both eating in moderation and exercise. Actually Atkins is sort of a “Welcome to the wonderful world of 20 grams of pasta per day” because that’s how much you’re going to get.

As soon as you lose control and started eating carbohydrates again, the weight comes back. Atkins has gained increased popularity in the past several years, and seem to offer a quick and easy weight-loss fix.

Many low glycemic index foods, like apple juice, chocolate and cherries, should not be eaten if your goal is to lose weight. Dieters are at risk of developing other ailments while in the process of trying to lose weight. Atkins is based on the belief that diets high in sugar and other refined carbohydrates increase the production of insulin, a hormone that stimulates the storage of calories as fat.

Studies have shown that many people have achieved short term weight loss results from using Atkins.. Additional research has shown that during the ongoing weight loss phase, Atkins dieters consumed only 1500 calories a day on average, much less than their previous caloric intake.

Ask your friends, ask your peers, find others with whom you can share recipes, success stories and the great fun that comes from losing weight the Dr. Atkins diet plan way. The program promises up to 9 pounds every 11 days, but most people will lose about 6-8 pounds in that time if the program is followed correctly. That said, a high-fat diet does carry an inherent metabolic disadvantage in that fat has nine calories per gram, while carbohydrates and protein each have four.

Scientists in the past have suspected that the weight loss seen in people on the Atkins diet is mainly due to water weight loss or a stepped up metabolism. Atkins’ diet can lead to the kind of rapid weight fluctuations that adversely affect the heart. The modified Atkins diet does increase total cholesterol and the discontinuation rate was high.

Related Atkins Diet Articles

The Atkins Diet – the Origin of Low Carb Diets

The Atkins Nutritional approach has been used nationally since the 1960′s. Long before Dr. Robert Atkins published his popular low-carbohydrate diet plan, his patients were reaping the benefits of the Atkins diet.

Dr. Atkins divided his meal plan into four phases. “Induction,” phase one, is designed to force the body into ketosis, a physical condition which occurs in response to starvation. The “ketogenic” diet is widely used in medicine not only to treat obesity, but also to treat conditions such as epilepsy and diabetes. During this particular two-week period, no alcohol or caffeine can be consumed.

The second phase, “Ongoing Weight Loss,” is geared toward finding the “Critical Carbohydrate Level for Losing.” This process involves increasing the carb intake by five grams per week until the subject a person is within 10 pounds of their target weight.

“Pre-maintenance” is the next step. Like phase two, this phase calls for an increase in carb intake, the difference between the two phases being that this phase is designed to find the “Critical Carbohydrate Level for Maintenance.”

Step four is “Lifetime Maintenance,” a phase intended to reinforce the habits learned through the diet plan so as not to regain the weight lost during the diet. Dr. Atkins also emphasizes making use of the option to jump back to any of the other phases if weight begins to return.

While many testimonials of success have been recorded, the Atkins diet has been under fire in recent years as more and more analysis is conducted. Recent studies have compared Atkins to other diet plans and found that it scores among the highest for short-term weight loss but ranks as the lowest for long-term weight loss. And after Atkins Nutrionals released their line of Atkins diet bars and meals, Forbes Magazine analyzed several diets and found that the average consumer would pay up to 80% more in food costs than people not on the diet. Even when faced with these facts, many still sing praises of the Atkins diet.

Both the New England Journal of Medicine and the American Journal of Medicine confirmed that Atkins is still the most effective published diet plan for short-term weight loss. They do, however, acknowledge that it does come at greater risk for coronary heart disease. As for weighing out the pros and cons to determine exactly how much more at risk those who participate in the Atkins diet are, all reports found that no evidence documented has yet to prove that the risks are greater than the benefits.

Nearly forty years later, the late Dr. Atkins is still recognized for his approach to weight loss. Thanks to the innovation of the internet, Atkins meal plans, Atkins diet bars, Atkins recipes, magazine articles and research regarding Atkins and virtually anything else associated with the Atkins diet has never been easier to access.