The Truth Behind Low Carb Diets

After reading a variety of nutritional magazines and watched a number of TV shows, I have become to realize that low carb diets can be considered healthy or unhealthy depending on the foods one chooses to consume. In my opinion, a low carb diet should include fish, white meats, a variety of vegetables and fruits, plenty of water, nuts, and low-fat dairy products. If one followed consistently such a diet it would be possible to receive the daily amount of needed vitamins and minerals, while he or she would not exclude the necessary protein intake. What would be rather excluded would be added chemicals and food additives, which are not beneficial to the human organism. But since people tend to think that the main issue is to follow a low-carb diet and loose taste while in the process, tend to select foods that extra taste has artificially been added, like processed cheese, diet sodas, and low-carb snacks. All these types of foods have low-calorie and carb levels, but do not help people build a healthier body and maintain a strong immune system. Thus, although it is important to follow a low-carb diet, it is also imperative to understand why the right type of "low-carb" diet actually makes a difference in the long run.

Though their popularity may have passed its peak, low-carb diets may still have something to offer, a new study suggests. According to research conducted at Children's Hospital of Oakland, cutting back on simple carbohydrates can help lower blood cholesterol. The study was based on data from a clinical trial of overweight men who were randomly assigned to a variety of eating plans. At the conclusion of the nine-week study period, those men who had followed a diet low in starchy carbs and sugars were found to have lower levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol and an increase in the ratio of "good" HDL cholesterol than their peers whose diets were higher in starches.

As the previous research study has portrayed, one big positive from following a low-carb diet is the removal of starchy foods like white bread from the diet. In addition, by removing sugary foods that have a lot of calories and generally not much of nutritional value, your organism will reach a better state and your energy level will increase. But apart from lowering your "bad" cholesterol and increasing your "good" one, low-carb diets are supposed to keep your insulin level low, which in turn is supposed to help you loose weight.

Some people are concerned with the possibility that a low carb diet that is high in protein intake may be too acidic, which could possibly cause some imbalances in the body and cause calcium to be lost from the bones. Although this has not been suggested by research outcomes, it is still a possibility. Thus, to be sure, people on low-carb diets should take extra minerals like calcium and magnesium to prevent their loss.

Finally, a low-carb diet that excludes fruits may be deficient in vitamin C, which is needed for a healthier immune system and a stronger connective tissue. Although many low-carb vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers, contain vitamin C, nutritionists advice people to take extra vitamin C in order to maintain its levels constant. Thus, before deciding to follow a low-carb diet it is best to ask an expert's help in determining whether or not this type of diet will serve your particular nutritional needs without negatively influencing the outcome of your efforts.

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