Unlike some low-carb fad diets, many diets that are lower in carbohydrates contain minimal saturated or trans fats, and thus naturally reduce cholesterol levels and your risk for heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. These diets tend to focus on healthy lifestyles that include sensible eating plans, which contain lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables and some whole-grains.
Sugar Busters
Like many low carbohydrate diets, the Sugar Busters diet aims to keep insulin levels low. Thedietchannel.com reports that it is believed that eating foods that cause high insulin levels can accelerate weight gain and impede weight loss efforts. High insulin levels can also cause high cholesterol levels and may lead to heart disease. The Sugar Busters diet is a 14-day diet and consists of eating 30 percent protein, 40 percent fat and 30 percent carbohydrates. Though you are permitted to eat 30 percent of your daily calories from carbohydrates, there is a restriction to the carbs that you may consume. Everydiet.org reports that you may eat small amounts of slow-digesting carbs, such as sweet potatoes, brown rice and oats. Fruits and vegetables are also allowed. Fast digesting carbs such as sugar, white potatoes, white rice, white bread and pasta are not allowed. Additionally, you may eat heart-healthy poly and monounsaturated fats, lean meats and fish.
The South Beach Diet
Everydiet.org states that the South Beach Diet "is becoming known as the healthy version of the Atkins diet". The reason is that the South Beach Diet permits you to eat more carbs than Atkins, though the amount and type of carbs are contained so that you experience weight loss, lower cholesterol levels and a decreased risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston developed the South Beach Diet in order to treat his patients who had high cholesterol levels and heart disease. Carbohydrates are severely limited during the initial induction phase, but after two weeks, users are allowed to start slowly reintroducing carbs back into their diet. Other foods eaten on the South Beach Diet are lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables and healthy poly and monounsaturated fats. Foods to be avoided are sugars, white flour, saturated fats and trans fats.
Atkins
The Atkins diet is the original low carb diet. It is also the most severely restricted in terms of the food that you are allowed to eat. During the first two weeks, the only foods that are permitted are protein, healthy fats and vegetables, according to Thedietchannel.com. The Atkins Diet also allows you to eat some foods that are high in saturated fat, such as cheese, bacon and sausage. However, Thedietchannel.com reports that surprisingly, people following the Atkins Diet have experienced a reduction in cholesterol levels and a decreased risk of heart disease. The late Dr. Robert Atkins, who developed the Atkins Diet, claimed that it is the sugars and starchy carbohydrates, and not fat, that cause medical problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke.
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