Friday, May 18, 2012

Do Low Carb Diets Really Work?

August 1, 2010 by Diana Sabrain  
Filed under Nutrition, Personal Training

Since the 1980s, the popularity of low carb diets have increased greatly. Some can vouch for the success rate and others oppose the low carb diets as not a long term solution for weight loss.

The question is – whether low carb diets really work? Is our health safe in consuming low carb diets?

Before answering this question, let us consider the types of low carb diets that exist today. One type of low carb diet resorts to the extreme, which means allowing only few green vegetables, dairy products, and little more than meat. One drawback with this plan is that the diet does not include the beneficial nutrients that our body needs.

The other type of low carb diet is more flexible as it focuses on removing the simple carbohydrate from our system. These simple carbohydrates have detrimental results on our body and it is necessary to eliminate them. How the body reacts on low carb diet consumption depends on the individual – the results always vary!

One thing is for sure that reducing the intake of simple carbohydrates from the body is beneficial for overall health and also for losing weight.

A major disadvantage of low carb diets is that though they they decrease the intake of carbohydrates, they have very high fat content. This fat content is especially found in meat and whole milk dairy products.

There is doubt whether the low fat diet actually helps. A group of surveys say they are not useful in the long run as such diets can lead to the development of heart related risks; another group of people vehemently supports the low carb diets.

The best way to deal with low carb diets and to increase its benefits in the long run is to eat low carb diet but keep a check on the amount of fat consumed.

Here are some proven ways for reducing the intake of carbs easily:

- Eat Healthy Fats

Heart healthy fats that will reduce the consumption of simple carbohydrates like olive oil, omega – 3 fatty acids, and avocados should be more focused upon. These food products contain healthy fats and not saturated fat, which is utterly harmful for health.

- Moderate Wheat Grain Consumption

Though whole grains do not have any drastically negative impact on the health as white flours do, it is advised to moderate the consumption of wheat grains. For instance, you could reduce intake of wheat grain bread, eat more fresh vegetables instead of pasta and eat white omelet instead of a bagel. Yes, wheat grains do not have any impact on the blood sugar but by keeping them in check, we can be sure not to exceed the level of carbohydrate intake.

- Fruits With Low Sugar

Some low carb diets recommend elimination of any kind of fruits from the diet but this need not be a necessary step. Nutrients from fruits are also necessary so what you can do is eat fruits with low sugar content like cranberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries.

Never begin a low carb diet without consulting a doctor. Not all body metabolism is suitable for this diet and you need a doctor to analyse and tell you that. Combined with this knowledge, empower yourself about other options available.

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