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Low-Carb Diet, Should I or Shouldn't I?

by: james ellison

It is no wonder that confusion reigns when it comes to the worth also reliability of low-carb diets after all the conflicting studies also confusing interpretation of the information. It seems like debates are popping up everywhere!

No matter if it's Atkins, South Beach or some other low-carb plan, there are approximately 30 million Americans are on a low-carb diet.

Supporters contend that the large amount of carbohydrates in our diet has led to increased problems with obesity, diabetes, also other health situations. On the other hand, some attribute obesity also related health problems to over eating of calories also lack of physical activity. They or else express concern that without grains, fruits, also vegetables in low-carbohydrate diets may lead to deficiencies of some key nutrients, including vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, also many minerals.

It is already known that any diet, whether high or low in carbohydrates, can produce meaningful weight loss during the early stages of the diet. Keep in mind, the key to a diet being successful is in being able to lose the weight on a permanent basis.

Let's see if we can expose some of the mystery about low-carb diets. Following, is a listing of some related points taken from recent studies also scientific literature.

Point one - Some Differences Between Low-Carb Diets

There are many famous diets created to lower carbohydrate consumption. Lowering total carbohydrates in the diet means that protein also fat will take up a proportionately greater amount of the total caloric intake.

Low carbohydrate diet like the Atkins Diet restrict carbohydrate to a point where the body becomes ketogenic (a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that includes normal amounts of protein). Other low-carb diets like the Zone also Life Without Bread are less confined. Some, like Sugar Busters announce only
to eliminate sugars also foods that elevate blood sugar levels excessively.

Point two - What We Know about Low-Carb Diets

+Close to all of the studies to date have been small with a diversity of research objectives.
Carbohydrate, caloric intake, diet duration also participant characteristics are wide-ranged greatly. Most of the studies to date have two things in common, none of the research studies had people in the study with a average age over 53 also none of the controlled studies lasted more than 90 days.

+The results on older adults also long-term results are scarce. Many diet studies fail to keep track of the amount of exercise, also therefore caloric use, while people in the study are dieting. This helps to explain the variances between studies.

+If you lose weight on a low-carb diet it is a function of the calorie intake also length of the diet, also not with reduced amount of carbohydrates.

+There is very little evidence on the long-range safety of low-carb diets. Even though the medical community has concerns, no short-term bad effects have been found with cholesterol, glucose, insulin also blood-pressure levels among the people in the study on the diets. Because of the short period of the studies the adverse effects may not show up. Losing weight typically leads to improvement in these levels, also this may offset an increase caused by a high fat diet. The over-all weight changes for low-carb also other types of diets are similar.

+Most low-carb diets can cause ketosis. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, also confusion are some of the potential consequences. When first starting a low-carb diet some fatigue also constipation may be met also these symptoms usually disappear quickly.

+Some report that you can have more calories when on a low-carb diet. Remember a calorie is a calorie no matter what you intake. When the study is not closely supervised variations will result by people cheating in the study on many factors of the study.

There are three important factors I would like to re-emphasize:

1.- The over-all success rate for low-carb also other types of diets are similar.

2.- Small amount of information exists on the long-term efficacy also safety of low-carb diets despite their huge popularity,

3.- Dieters usually experience boredom with a strict version of the low-carb diet also are not able to stay on diets of low carb food.

After observing the subject, a more severe also controlled study are needed on a long-range basis. The ketosis produced is abnormal also stressful metabolic state. The results may cause more problems than it solved.

By picking a reliable diet you will benefit over a lifetime of proper eating also not a weight loss quickie.
An excellent rule of thumb is look at the diet long-range also see if you can see yourself still on that diet after a couple of weeks. However, by following a diet with fat, carbohydrates, protein also other nutrients in moderation may be the best way to go also a little more exercise will not hurt either.

About the author:
Jim has been interested in health factors for most of his life. Most of his knowledge is from investigating the many faucets for a healthy being. You can learn more of low carb dieting by visiting:

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