Protein And Low-carb Diets

After Dr. Robert Atkins introduced his high protein/low carb diet in 1972, other diets using a similar methodology appeared on the national weight loss scene. Based on the assumption that eating a lot of carbohydrates causes the body to store excess fat and lead to obesity, these diets restrict sweets, starches and other carbs in varying amounts, but they encourage the dieter to consume plenty of protein. Consult your doctor for advice before starting any new diet.

Atkins

The Atkins diet has four phases: an induction phase, a leveling-off phase and two maintenance phases. Carbohydrate reduction is severe during the induction phase, which encourages ketosis, a state in which the body begins to burn fat. The Atkins diet allows the dieter to eat as much meat, fish, poultry and eggs as desired, but carbohydrates are limited to only 20 g per day during the induction phase. In the subsequent phases, the dieter may have up to 100 g of carbs daily.

The Zone

Although it is still a low-carb diet, the Zone diet does not produce ketosis. According to Northwestern University, Dr. Barry Sears promotes carb reduction in the Zone diet in an effort to reduce high insulin levels, which Sears believes are the source of excess body fat. Sears released the Zone diet in 1995 with the idea that eating foods in a specific ratio would lead to weight loss. Every meal on the Zone diet must comply with the ratio of 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein and 30 percent fats. Because it is difficult for many dieters to duplicate that ratio, prepackaged Zone meals are available for home delivery.

Hamptons

Created in 2004 by Dr. Fred Pescatore, the Hamptons diet is low in carbohydrates and high in protein. The Hamptons diet encourages consumption of healthy fats, such as macadamia nut oil, olive oil, nuts and avocados, according to the Gale Encyclopedia. Dieters choose foods from various lists, depending on how much weight they want to lose. Lean proteins are encouraged and small amounts of complex carbohydrates are allowed. The Gale Encyclopedia says that the Hamptons diet does not offer enough fiber, vitamins C, D and E, folate and calcium.

Scarsdale

In the 1950s, cardiologist, Dr. Herman Tarnower wrote a two-page paper that would one day become the Scarsdale diet, although Dr. Tarnower would not release his diet until 1978, six years after the Atkins diet. In addition to low carbohydrates, the Scarsdale diet is very low in calories, permitting as few as 650 calories per day for an adult woman. Scarsdale uses a food ratio of 43 percent protein, 22.5 percent fat and 34.5 percent carbohydrates. Scarsdale, like Atkins, relies upon inducing ketosis for rapid weight loss. Scarsdale is a short-term diet, lasting from only one to two weeks.

Medifast

Originally developed as a medical weight loss program because of its severe calorie restrictions, Medifast is now available directly to consumers through the sale of its meal replacement products. On the Medifast diet, only shakes, bars and soups sold by Medifast are permitted. Medifast also induces ketosis, and weight loss may be rapid because the dieter consumes only 800 to 1,000 a day, according to the Gale Encyclopedia.