Starting with the popularization of the Atkins diet, low carbohydrate high protein weight loss diets are popular and exploited such as South Beach, the Zone and the Ketogenic diet according to Everydiet.org. Consumers of these diets may have many questions regarding efficacy, duration, hazards and what they can eat on a low carb diet. Thanks to their popularity, enough research has been completed on these diets to actually answer some of those common questions.
How They Work
According to the MayoClinic.com, low carbohydrate diets work by changing the mechanism used to create energy and store fat. Carbohydrates are an easy energy source for the body; pastas and grains are quickly broken down into simple sugars and excesses are stored in fat. On low carb diets, the carbs are decreased so the body must use its own fat stores to make oxygen, supplementing this fat with lean protein ingestion from the diet.
What to Eat
Anyone choosing a low carb diet must follow a regimented meal and snack plan. Rather than calorie counting as in traditional weight loss diets, low carb dieters must count their daily milligrams of carbohydrate intake. Sweet foods, soft drinks and alcohol are usually forbidden on these diets according to MayoClinic.com. Lean proteins, such as chicken, pork and lean cuts of beef are the staple of a low carb diet. To be considered low carbohydrate, MayoClinic.com suggests limiting the diet to 50 to 150mg of carbs a day.
Hazards of the Diet
Those who have succeeded on a low carb diet may start to wonder if it's too good to be true. Dangers of a low carb diet are usually focused around the food choices made by the dieter. Choosing to eat a fast-food hamburger and tossing the bun is not nearly as healthful a choice as eating some carrots and a soy protein. MayoClinic.com also suggests that some foods encouraged on low carb diets are full of fat and can increase risk of heart disease and stroke.
Diet Duration
As with any diet, questions can arise involving the duration of the diet needed to lose weight and maintain weight loss. MayoClinic.com states that some low carb diets are a lifelong endeavor. It stands to reason that if the dieter resumes a high carbohydrate diet the lost weight can return.
Member Comments