How Low-carb Diets Work

Dieting appears to be a constant activity for both women and men today. If it's not a compulsion, it sure feels like one. Most everyone I know is on a diet either to lose weight, and/or improve their health. The low carb diets are becoming ever more popular and varied.

Interestingly, overweight people are not the only group engaged in low carb dieting. Healthy folks, at or around their "true" weight, are looking to also maintain or increase their vitality, energy... even mental acuity by following at least the basics of these high-protein regimens.

Many doctors and nutritionists are starting to recognize the low carb diet as being the best type of diet to attack the root cause of obesity, high cholesterol, hypoglycemia, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

There are many variations, including the Protein Power, Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, NeanderThin, The Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program, Life Without Bread, The Dukan Diet, and many more. All of these iterations have this in common: a strict reduction in the consumption of carbohydrates.

Generally, dieters are advised to replace the carbohydrates with fats and/or proteins. They must get at least 60-70% of their calorie consumption from fat (in Dukan's case, forcing the body to burn its own stored fat). Carbohydrate intake may be as little as 5%, or even 0% during the Dukan Diet's initial "Attack Phase".

Some of the low carb programs allow fruit, others do not in the first phases: Dukan is one such program. Vegetables are allowed on alternate days on the Dukan Diet. This can be a problem for folks who love a full plate, rich in variety. Spaghetti squash is an excellent substitute for pasta, and cauliflower covers a tasty mashed potato. Pureed vegetables can provide lovely sauces, too. Red peppers, a little onion and low sodium beef broth will gourmet-ize any lump of meat!

On most of the popular low-carb diets, you may eat until you are full, so long as you eat only what the regimen permits. Some low carbohydrate programs' permissible foods list include meats, fish, poultry, and cheese, which are then coupled with a limited amount of green vegetables. That may make them perfect for you if you like meat or fish.

It's a comfortable diet, if you don't mind a little bad breath and occasional constipation, because, with all that protein, you will always feel full! Plus, the lack of carbs means that the diet will work quickly. Removing carbs from your daily meal plan burns fat much faster than taking the slow route with a purely low-fat, calorie-counting program.

The other peculiarity with low carb diets is that if you cheat, or fall off the wagon, there are a full three days to work through until you start losing weight again.


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