Low-carbohydrate diets have been shown to be effective for people trying to lose weight, according to the Mayo Clinic. They are all similar in that they minimize dietary carbohydrates, starches and sugars to control insulin. This allows dieters to attain ketosis, a state in which stored body fat is used as a primary source of fuel, resulting in weight loss. Because of the amount of animal proteins and saturated fat allowed on some of these diets, you may have concerns about your cholesterol. It's a good idea to talk with your physician before going on a low-carbohydrate diet, or any other diet, for that matter.
Protein Power Lifeplan
The Protein Power Lifeplan is a diet designed by Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades. The principles of the diet are outlined in the Eades' book, "Protein Power Lifeplan." They claim that the human body has evolved very little in terms of fuel requirements since early men and women were hunters and gatherers. They say most of the diseases of civilization, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes didn't exist before the onset of agrarian societies that cultivated grains, and it is likely that humans haven't reached a stage in their evolution where they can eat cultivated grains without attendant health issues.
Recommendations for the Protein Power Lifeplan include eating less than 10 g of carbohydrates per meal and selecting foods that early hunters and gatherers would have had access to, such as full-fat animal proteins, vegetables, fruits and nuts. Eating this way maximizes health and allows the body to return to a healthy weight, the doctors claim. No independent studies of the Protein Power Lifeplan have been done. But studies of ancestral-style dietary plans based on the same principle have found that they are an effective way to control insulin.
Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet was developed by Dr. Robert Atkins in 1972. Since its inception, many people have had weight-loss success following Atkins' principles --- including those who have had difficulty losing weight on traditional diets.
In "Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution," Dr. Atkins maintains that getting into ketosis and staying there are key to weight loss. He recommends that dieters start out eating fewer than 20 g of carbohydrates per day. As dieters progress through the plan, they gradually introduce new foods with slightly higher carbohydrate counts, such as berries and nuts. The New Scientist Health website reports that at least two studies have backed up the efficacy of the Atkins Diet.
South Beach Diet
Dr. Arthur Agatston, a Miami Beach cardiologist, developed the South Beach Diet to help his patients prevent strokes and heart attacks, but it quickly became a way to treat obesity, as well. The diet doesn't rule out all grains and carbohydrates, as other diets do. Instead, the diet recommends foods with a low glycemic index. According to Dr. Agatston, eating low-glycemic foods will keep your blood sugar stable and minimize the release of insulin into your body, resulting in weight loss. Although no independent studies have been done on the South Beach Diet, studies of low-glycemic diets in general have shown them to be effective in lowering blood glucose.
References
- MayClinic.com; Low-carb Diet
- "The Protein Power Lifeplan"; Michael R. Eades M.D. and Mary Dan Eades, M.D.; 2000
- "Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution"; Robert Atkins, M.D., 2002
- "The South Beach Diet Supercharged: Faster Weight Loss and Better Health for Life"; Arthur Agatston, M.D.; 2008
- New Scientist Health: Longest Scientific Study Yet Backs Atkins Diet"
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