The Mayo Clinic defines a low-carbohydrate diet as an eating plan that limits starch, such as grains, rice, bread and some fruits and vegetables, and promotes high protein foods, such as meats, cheeses and eggs. Dramatically reducing sugar intake is also a tenet of low-carb diets. By eliminating or reducing these food groups, the premise is that resulting reduced blood glucose levels will allow the breakdown of fats and promote weight loss.
Atkins Diet Plan
Atkins provides a free, comprehensive diet plan that involves menu planning, recipes and a four-stage approach to weight loss. Its program offers a quick weight loss induction phase and three other phases to continue and maintain your diet. There are numerous recipes that cover appetizers, main courses and desserts, all based on low carbohydrate consumption. The program stresses the importance of high fiber in the diet and allows a gradual increase of carbohydrates as you near your weight loss goals. It includes various weight loss tools, such as a carb counter, a glycemic index counter and online courses.
Low Carb Diet
The Low Carb Diet site offers an overview of the principle behind eating foods low in carbohydrates, as well as several weight loss tools, including a low-carb food list and a carbohydrate counter. It provides several options for menu planning, such as a 1,500 calorie meal plan, recipes for low-carb desserts, and food groupings of vegetables, snacks, sweeteners and fruits. It follows the basic low-carb premise of stressing proteins and fats and minimizing starches and sugars. It does provide a list of high-carb foods to avoid while on the diet. You can also find a critique of other low-carb diets on the site.
Scarsdale Diet
The Scarsdale Diet is a low-carb, low-fat and low-calorie diet. It requires strict adherence to the meal plan, with no substitutions or variations allowed. The meal plan is for two weeks, at which time you must go off the diet and go into the next phase, or holding pattern, to help with developing healthy eating habits. A food list, and dos and don'ts, are provided. If you want to lose more weight, you can go two more weeks on the diet, but never longer. Motivation and food tips are provided, as well as beginner's tips.
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