The vanguard low-carb diet used to be the Atkins Diet. This was considered one of the most effective for quick weight loss, however the severe restriction of carbohydrates pose health risks over the long haul. Other low carb diets such as the Paleo, Zone and South Beach have gained popularity over the past decade and are not as detrimental to your health as some of their predecessors.
Paleo Diet
The Paleolithic Diet reverts to our cavemen ancestry to determine healthy eating for society. The core of this type of diet involves consumption of unprocessed foods. The proteins you eat should be mostly lean meats and fish, carbohydrates sources should be from fresh fruits, vegetables and other plant sources. You cannot eat refined sugars, dairy products and potatoes and water is the only beverage allowed. Basically, any food source that was unavailable thousands of years ago should be banished on the Paleo Diet.
The Zone
The Zone diet places emphasis on a 30-30-40 plan, where 30 percent of calories come from fat and proteins and 40 percent come from carbohydrates. This diet focuses on the importance of restricting carbohydrates for weight loss but not to a point where your health is compromised. Complex carbohydrtaes like fruits, veggies and whole grains should be consumed in the Zone while very few empty calories and simple sugars are allowed. This helps stabilize insulin levels in your bloodstream.
South Beach
South Beach was created by Dr. Arthur Agatston and Joseph Signorile. They promote the South Beach diet as an effective method to burn body fat and calories and improve overall health and overcome cravings for simple sugars and carbohydrates. There are three phases in the South Beach Diet. The first two weeks are the most restrictive because you are not allowed to eat almost any carbohydrates including fruits and vegetables. You consume mostly lean protein sources such as chicken, poultry, fish and eggs. The only veggies allowed are of the non-starchy variety including leafy greens. Phase two allows healthy carbs like whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables. Phase three begins at the point you have attained your weight-loss goal and is oriented toward maintenance of that weight.
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