Low-carb diets may aid in weight control as they curb appetite and give a slight boost to your body's metabolism, MayoClinic.com reports. However, certain low-carb diets limit delicious and healthy foods, such as fruits and whole grains. If you're looking to drop pounds on a low-carb diet but not give up fruits and grains, consider choosing low-carb diets that include fruits and grains. As with all diets, talk to your doctor before beginning a low-carb diet.
Atkins Diet
The Atkins diet is a low-carb diet that's gained popularity because it allows fat-rich foods like steak, pork and whole eggs. However, the Atkins diet does allow minimal amounts of fruits and vegetables as part of phases two through four of the diet. Following the Atkins diet over the long-term can be an effective weight loss strategy, reports the March 2007 "Journal of the American Medical Association." In this study, a group of overweight volunteers who followed the Atkins diet over a single year lost approximately 12 lbs., on average.
Zone Diet
The Zone Diet is a low-carb diet plan that allows more total carbohydrates than many other low-carb diets. The Zone diet emphasizes the consumption of slow-digesting carbohydrates like fruits and grains -- making this an ideal diet for fruit and grain lovers. In the "Journal of the American Medical Association" research study, volunteers who stuck to The Zone diet lost, on average, approximately three pounds.
South Beach Diet
The South Beach Diet was created by cardiologist Arthur Agatston, MD, in 2003. The diet is split into three distinct phases to promote rapid weight loss followed by long-term weight maintenance. The two-week introductory phase of the South Beach diet strictly limits fruits and grains in favor of fresh vegetables, leans meats and healthy fats. However, phases two and three -- the latter of which is supposed to be followed for life -- do allow fruit and grain intake.
Sugar Busters
Sugar Busters is a low-carb diet plan based on the best selling series of books written by a team of physicians. Sugar Busters allows moderate consumption of fruits like apples, pears and strawberries as part of the diet plan. It also allows you to eat whole grains like quinoa, whole grain brown rice and millet.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Low-carb diet
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and LEARN diets for change in weight and related risk factors among overweight premenopausal women: the A TO Z Weight Loss Study: a randomized trial; M Danzinger et al.; March 2007
- Atkins.com: Four Phases
- SouthBeachDiet.com: How The South Beach Diet Works
- SugarBusters.com: Sugar Busters Concept
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